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City have been hamstrung by a long list of injuries that has ravaged some crucial names in the team setup, however, the Spanish tactician added that there was no point in feeling hard done and the scenario demands his team to measure up to the…Read More
Pep Guardiola. (AP Photo)
Premier League champions Manchester City currently endure a tough season as they stand fourth in the PL table at the end of 15 games, eight points behind leaders Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s men face a tricky situation in Europe as well as the revamped UEFA Champions League table sees the English side sit 17th with 2 wins a couple of draws and a shocking loss to Sporting Lisbon in the elite continental competition
Guardiola had to bear a disastrous month in November as the Spaniard’s side went seven games across all competitions without a win, including their defeats to Brighton, Bournemouth, Tottenham, Liverpool, and Sporting and a draw against Feyenoord.
City have been hamstrung by a long list of injuries that has ravaged some crucial names in the team setup including Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne, who recently returned to the squad after an extended bout on the sidelines.
Guardiola had forecast that the season ahead would be an incredibly tough one and that survival was the main goal of the campaign going into the game against Juventus on Thursday.
“The season starts difficult, it will be difficult all season,” said Guardiola after his side’s latest stumble in a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
“We have to survive the season, every game, try to take points, to try to win games and go forward,” the 53-year-old added.
City will be devoid of the services of defenders John Stones, Nathan Ake, and midfielders Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb during their travel to Italy for their game in Turin.
“If the squad is this short then it is always so difficult for all the players to play three days after three days,” star midfielder Bernardo Silva opined.
“With a squad of 20 players, if you only have 13 available, it is not good enough,” the southpaw added.
Guardiola reiterated that the team’s medical staff are working around the clock in order to help players with their recovery, but added that the reality of the situation could prove challenging for the side that won four PL titles on the bounce in a historic feat to follow up on their treble-winning campaign two seasons ago.
“The doctors and physios are working incredibly this season like never before I have ever seen but the reality is we have few players to rotate in this period,” said Guardiola.
“This season will be like this,” he added.
However, the Spanish tactician added that there was no point in feeling hard done and the scenario demands his team to measure up to the challenges.
“Don’t feel sorry, accept the challenge and maybe at the end we will have more satisfaction about the way we behave than in other seasons when we won the titles,” he concluded.
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