The Manchester derby is coming up in Manchester. The Skyblues are on their last legs. Pep Guardiola complains.
There have been more pleasant times for Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager. After years of great success, the Skyblues are in the throes of a real crisis – and it doesn’t look like that will change in the near future.
Seven defeats in the last ten games don’t just happen, and City’s slump has obvious reasons. For months, the English champions have been on their last legs, going round in circles. Time and again, key players have been sidelined, although only world footballer Rodri is suffering from a protracted injury.
It’s the little aches and pains that are bothering Guardiola’s men. Normal reactions to the constant stress. When players return from the massage table, they have to get back on the pitch and perform. There are no so-called “warm-up phases” at ManCity.
“We got our four central defenders fit again last week, but they went from the massage table to the pitch – and after the game back to the massage table. Normally, you need pace and training after a massage, but under the circumstances, we couldn’t do that,” Guardiola explains his dilemma.
The Spaniard has had to field a starting XI that has included Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan in all six of the matches since the international break. Kevin De Bruyne, who had only just returned from injury, has played the last three games, while Ruben Dias, who also only recently recovered from an injury, has been in the starting lineup for the last four games.
This is not how Guardiola wants to run his team. He cannot respond to dips in form, which undoubtedly exist, despite the wide squad, even for a top team. And there is a risk that players will continue to be unavailable because there is simply no replacement. And if there is, then there is a lack of quality. “The solution is: ‘Give me my players back’, but it’s not possible at the moment, and I don’t think it will be for a long time,” complains Guardiola.
With the upcoming city derby against Manchester United in mind, the defense in particular is in trouble. Rico Lewis is suspended, and John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Aké are injured. “I don’t know, I don’t know what to do,” said Guardiola at Friday’s press conference. ‘I need players, we have three… and we’ll see what happens today and tomorrow with the players we have.’
Is Matheus Nunes defending at right-back?
The 53-year-old also gave insights into his tactical considerations. “Maybe a winger has to play as a full-back, Matheus Nunes can maybe play as a full-back, or maybe we play with five at the back when the full-backs are wingers.”
One thing is clear: Guardiola doesn’t have a lot of choice. And he won’t have any more.