Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faces anxiety as key players Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva sustain injuries during their 3-1 Champions League triumph over FC Copenhagen.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is facing concerns over the fitness of key players Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva following their 3-1 Champions League victory against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday.
Grealish, making his first start in over a month, was forced off after just 21 minutes due to a groin problem, while Silva, who scored the second goal, suffered a heavy knock to his ankle in the second half.
Guardiola expressed worry about Grealish’s injury, stating, “I didn’t speak with the doctor, but it looks muscular with Jack.” The manager revealed that Grealish wanted to continue, but they opted to avoid worsening the damage. Tests are scheduled for Wednesday to assess the extent of the injuries.
Despite the setbacks, Guardiola has received a boost with the return of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland to the squad. However, midfielder Mateo Kovacic and defender Josko Gvardiol couldn’t travel to Denmark due to injuries.
Looking ahead, Manchester City faces Chelsea on Saturday and a challenging March with fixtures against Manchester United, Liverpool, Brighton, and Arsenal.
Guardiola acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming matches, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong squad.
Reflecting on the Champions League win, Guardiola praised his team’s character, personality, and patience.
De Bruyne’s goal and assists for Silva and Phil Foden secured a significant advantage for City in the quarterfinal race, but Guardiola remains cautious, saying, “It’s not decisive, but it’s a good result. Hopefully, we can make the quarterfinals.”
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