Injury crisis forces Guardiola to make massive statement with Manchester City set to have long list of absentees.
Injury crisis means Manchester City’s fit squad members will have to continue playing through any pain.
Jack Grealish, Jérémy Doku, and Kyle Walker might not be able to return before the international break, and Rodri, Oscar Bobb, and Kevin De Bruyne have long-term issues. Savinho, Manuel Akanji, and Josko Gvardiol are questionable for City’s Saturday trip to Bournemouth.
The manager might be without nine of these frontline players in total. City’s final game before the break is against Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday after their Champions League meeting against Sporting on Tuesday.
Guardiola was asked how much the available players can be pushed. “They are used to playing with some pain,” he said. “It can be niggles – today almost all of the players play with pain. There are moments when injuries are injuries and you have to be careful but sometimes if you have problems you have to play.
“Rafa Nadal played all of his career with pain. He played and he won I don’t know how many grand slams. You have to deal with it in modern football or you can’t sustain games every three days at a top club. We will adapt tomorrow and in the next games. We have an incredible group of players with a strong mentality in tough moments. This week is so important.”
Guardiola offered an update on De Bruyne: “He’s getting better. The last two, three days the doctor said to me that he made a step forward in terms of pain.”
Rúben Amorin was officially named the next head coach of Manchester United on Friday, but he won’t start until November 11; therefore, he will manage Sporting versus City.
“I expect the best from Sporting,” Guardiola said. “Best advice is that opponents always put on the best performance – I’m sure they will do. It’s the Champions League against Manchester City. But you have to understand my concern is not Sporting [right now].”