Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have had a rollercoaster season, yet as they approach the final six matches of the Premier League, there is still a major goal at stake: securing a top-five finish to guarantee UEFA Champions League qualification for the 2025-26 season. But with key injuries and an ever-tightening race, Guardiola has his hands full.
Injuries Continue to Haunt Guardiola’s Squad
The injury list continues to dominate as City get made ready for a clash with Everton this Saturday. Erling Haaland’s absence will disappoint City fans, anyway, given his injury since March, but knowing the reason for his absence offers some comfort. Guardiola stated that Haaland will not be there in the upcoming matches leaving a big hole in the attacking department. Add to that the fact that goalkeeper Ederson himself bears an injury problem, after a superb long-range pass last match against Crystal Palace, with the nature of his problem yet to be clarified.
The Return of Key Players
There’s no cause for City to be gloom and doom. Fortunately, there is some good news regarding the injured players, as Manuel Akanji has been training once more and could potentially be available for this weekend’s squad. Guardiola said Akanji is recovering well while Foden is in front of him in terms of recovery, but could not confirm whether Akanji would be available for the match. He’s making good progress and has only returned to training after he went down with injury, but Foden will likely miss Saturday’s game.
Pep Thinks A Top-Five Finish is Critical
With only six games remaining, every match is vital for Guardiola and his men. Their impressive 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace last week demonstrated their attacking prowess, but with the top five so competitive, there is no margin for error. The combination of injuries and the quest for that Champions League spot means Guardiola will have to dig deep into his squad’s depth to navigate these final hurdles.
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