Ahead of Liverpool Clash, Guardiola Worries over Fitness of World Cup Players
While the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan have returned to Manchester following their exits in the group stages of the World Cup, City’s players who made it to the knockout stages of the Qatar tournament – including those who featured for the likes of England, Brazil, Portugal and the Netherlands – are currently unavailable.
Speaking to City’s in-house media after De Bruyne and Erling Haaland scored in a 2-0 victory over Girona at the Academy Stadium, Guardiola said: “We have no players. Four or five players [are here] so we have to see how and when they [all] come back.
Read Also:
“We are in a difficult [position]. We don’t have players but the big brains in football made this schedule so we are going to play this game.”
When asked if he was expecting any of those who have been at the World Cup to return this week, Guardiola responded: “Some players are coming now, yeah, in the next few days.
“Step by step they will rejoin the people here. Nathan [Ake], Aymeric [Laporte] and Rodri are coming back and later the English players and Portugal are coming back.”
As Guardiola mentioned, City’s schedule is hectic to say the least over the festive period. After the Liverpool Carabao Cup tie, the Blues travel to Leeds United on Wednesday, December 28 before hosting Everton on New Year’s Eve.
City’s start to 2023 is no easier as they begin the year with a Chelsea double-header in the Premier League and FA Cup before travelling across the city to face Manchester United in the derby.
