As Manchester City prepare to face Tottenham tonight in Carabao Cup action they will be forced to do so without a host of key players. It is well known that Pep Guardiola’s squad will be without six key players tonight. But as Pep Guardiola has explained City have options to cover their injured players, especially Rodri. But he further added that Manchester City are stronger with their missing players available. That is an obvious fact but the situation is what it is for City.
Pep Guardiola told the media during his pre-game press conference that his team is stronger with his best players available. He explained: “Without Rodri, we are less strong. With him, we are better. With Kevin, we are better. And with Kyle Walker, we are better. And with Oscar and all the people without the long injuries, we are better.”
But despite not having a host of key players for tonight’s match Guardiola knows Tottenham is the next challenge for his team. He added: “We have to handle the team game-by-game and try to win games. The challenge is to win tomorrow against Spurs, play a good game, and in the other ones, and we will see at the end of the season what happens.”
The City manager also went into detail about his team’s options to cover the loss of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri for the season. Guardiola told the media that Rodri is irreplaceable but he has options to cover his loss. Guardiola told the media: “Rodri is irreplaceable. We know it, and so do the players, but we have to move on and do it. Kova is playing there, Gundo is playing there. They were exceptional. And one day we will play Manu [Akanji], we will play John [Stones] in that position, and I know they will play good. It’s what we have to do.”
Manchester City are currently depleted by injuries. That is the situation faced by Pep Guardiola and his squad. But despite this they will be looking to continue to win games. That chase continues tonight against Tottenham. But as Guardiola explained he does have options to cover the loss of his injured players. If City can negotiate this period successfully until their key players return it may set them up for what lies ahead this season.