Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola has expressed concern about his group’s squad depth after they misplaced two extra gamers to damage within the Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. The Spaniard mentioned he had not been with out so many key gamers since taking cost of Metropolis in 2016.
Manchester Metropolis Lose 2 Gamers in First Defeat of the Season Towards Tottenham
Reigning English champions Manchester Metropolis succumbed to their first defeat of the 2024-25 season on Wednesday night time (October 30), shedding 2-1 to Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur within the Carabao Cup Spherical of 16. It was Metropolis’s first defeat in all competitions for the reason that 2-1 loss to Manchester United within the FA Cup remaining final season.
The Carabao Cup encounter additionally introduced contemporary damage issues to Man Metropolis boss Guardiola, with him shedding two extra gamers on Wednesday. Manuel Akanji pulled out of the sport after reporting a hamstring drawback throughout warm-up. Savinho, in the meantime, got here off the sphere on a stretcher after struggling a nasty ankle damage within the 63rd minute.
Pep Guardiola Says Man Metropolis Is in Bother
Reacting to contemporary damage issues after the sport, Guardiola mentioned (through Euro Sport):
“We’re 13 gamers [available], so we’re in actual problem.
“We had to take the time final week as a result of the fellows who performed, most of them completed with issues. We are going to see how the restoration [goes]. We’re in bother, as a result of in 9 years we’ve by no means been in a scenario with [this] many, many accidents for a lot of causes.”
The Spaniard then recommended his gamers for giving their all to assist the group in the course of the ongoing damage disaster.
He added:
“The gamers make a step ahead, they’re extra collectively than ever. And we are going to attempt to do [so] this week on this quick time for restoration.
“It’s been getting harder, sport by sport. However perhaps at some point will arrive the place we will probably be all collectively. In order that’s why the fellows who’re right here, they’re making an effort to be with us, combating to be with us and enjoying with ache and focus and residing 24 hours for us. These guys, I can’t neglect it.”
Metropolis went into the Carabao Cup conflict with out Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri (ACL, out for the season), Oscar Bobb (fractured leg), Kyle Walker (knee), Kevin De Bruyne (thigh), Jeremy Doku (unknown), and Jack Grealish (knock). Erling Haaland was additionally an unused substitution, as Guardiola can’t afford to overwork his talisman.