City Injury News: Pep Guardiola confirms Exceptional Man City player set to miss 7+ matches due to injury
Matheus Nunes Mateo Kovacic Nathan Ake Manchester City
Manchester City have been handed a major blow as it has emerged that one member of their squad is set to miss at least seven games through injury, including the major Premier League clash with Arsenal later this month.
Manchester City chasing history under Pep
Manchester City are looking for an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title under Pep Guardiola, and have begun their hunt in perfect fashion, winning each of their opening three games to sit top of the tree alongside Liverpool heading into the international break.
But they have been rocked by news that will dampen the feel-good factor around the Etihad over the international break.
Man City defender set to miss at least seven games
Now, it has emerged that Manchester City defender Nathan Aké will miss at least the club’s next seven games, and could yet be sidelined longer. The Dutch defender was injured during his nation’s 2-2 draw with Germany over the international break, and had to be stretchered off the pitch just before half time, leaving City fans fearing the worst.
Nathan Ake injury Manchester CIty Netherlands
Speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Brentford at the Etihad, Pep was asked for an update on Ake, and revealed that he doesn’t expect to have the defender at his disposal any time soon.
“We are unlucky with Nathan and the international team; every time he goes there, he comes back injured,” the Cityzens boss explained. “He’s injured. I think it will be until the next international break.”
That next break comes in the second week of October, but Manchester City have a packed fixture list until then, beginning their Champions League campaign against Inter Milan and also facing last season’s title challengers Arsenal at the Etihad.
Games Nathan Aké is set to miss
Opponent
Competition
Brentford (H)
Premier League
Inter (H)
Champions League
Arsenal (H)
Premier League
Watford (H)
Carabao Cup
Newcastle United (A)
Premier League
Slovan Bratislava (A)
Champions League
Fulham (H)
Premier League
Ake has been a key part of the Manchester City squad since his arrival from Bournemouth, and penned a contract extension last summer which bumped his salary to £160,000 per week to reflect his importance to Guardiola’s side.
Though yet to start a game this season, his versatility has been a key part of City’s success, and Guardiola singled him out for high praise in 2023.
“He is really good in the duels in the box, defending the far post and set pieces is an extra bonus. He is an exceptional guy, there was a period where he didn’t play and he never complained once,” the City boss revealed.
As a result, the club won’t be rushing him back, and may look to slowly reintegrate him as they have with Rodri after his return from EURO 2024 success, something that could see Aké absent for longer than the seven games he will miss through injury.
Josko Gvardiol and Rico Lewis will likely share his duties until Ake returns, but it leaves Guardiola looking thin on the ground in defence during a period in which games will be coming thick and fast.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola holding his sixth Premier League title.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola is convinced he can lure Man Utd forward Marcus Rashford to the Etihad Stadium, according to reports.
The Citizens won their fourth consecutive Premier League title under Guardiola when they pipped Arsenal to finish top by two points last season.
There have been rumours that the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager could decide to leave at the end of the season when his contract at the Citizens expires.
It is unclear whether Guardiola will renew his contract at Man City or not before the end of the season but there’s been speculation that the Citizens hierarchy want him to decide his future before Christmas.
But, if reports in Spain are to be believed, then Guardiola is very much committed to the Man City cause for next season as he wants to steal a player from their arch-rivals Man Utd.
Rashford, who has been having a bad time over the past 12 months at Old Trafford, scored 30 goals in all competitions in 2022/23 but could only eight last term.
The England international was just one of a number of Man Utd players who were poor under Erik ten Hag in the 2023/24 campaign but Guardiola is confident he is the man to reinvigorate Rashford’s career.
A report in Spain suggests that Rashford – who has been poor in his first few matches of this campaign too – could commit the ‘maximum betrayal’ by deciding to join Man City in the summer.
Guardiola is ‘determined to make a splash in the upcoming transfer market’ by signing Rashford from Man Utd in ‘one of the biggest surprises in recent Premier League history’.
The transfer would send a ‘real shockwave’ through Manchester as the possibility that the winger ‘could change sides is almost unthinkable for many fans’ but ‘Guardiola’s interest is real’.
Rashford ‘faces a dilemma of great magnitude’ and ‘such a move would not be easy; betraying the team that saw him grow up could carry a high emotional price and the rejection of many fans who have idolised him’.
But Man City boss Guardiola ‘has not thrown in the towel and is willing to do whatever it takes to bring Rashford to the Etihad Stadium’.
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag was pleased to see Rashford using the international break to work out hard and maintain his fitness.
After seeing footage on Rashford’s social media channels over the break, Ten Hag commented: “The players have to find a good balance between relaxation and keep going, keep in the rhythm you are in.
“Experienced players can manage it by themselves and it’s very good that they are away from the club but do the right things, do the right drills, do the right load. Because when they are back, we also train and that has to be combined with our training, of course.”
Premier League
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