skysports: Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City is facing multiple challenges 
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged the array of challenges his team has faced throughout the 2024–25 season. A significant factor contributing to the team’s struggles has been a series of injuries to key players, including Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, and Jeremy Doku. The defense has also been impacted by the absences of John Stones, Rúben Dias, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Aké, disrupting the team’s stability and performance.
In response to these setbacks, Guardiola has emphasized the importance of adaptability and resilience. He stated that both he and his players are diligently working to address and rectify the issues that have arisen this season. The manager highlighted the necessity of understanding and developing strategies to help the team cope better in challenging situations.
Despite these difficulties, there have been positive developments. New signing Omar Marmoush delivered an impressive performance by scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 victory over Newcastle United, showcasing the depth and potential within the squad.
Looking ahead, Guardiola has challenged his team to demonstrate their resilience and quality in the upcoming Champions League tie against Real Madrid. He urged his players to prove that they remain “something special” on the European stage, underscoring the significance of the match in reaffirming the team’s stature and ambitions.
In summary, while Manchester City has encountered multiple challenges this season, including injuries and a demanding schedule, Guardiola remains focused on finding solutions and motivating his squad to overcome these obstacles. The team’s recent performances and upcoming fixtures will be pivotal in defining their season’s trajectory.
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has admitted on Friday that his Manchester City team are not as comfortable in possession as they used to be and that they lack the physicality to compete with their Premier League rivals.
The Citizens led by Guardiola have dominated English football for almost a decade with a possession-based style that chokes opponents but they have slipped from their stellar standards this season.
Guardiola’s team have won Premier League in six of the past seven years but they are realistically out of the title race this season, though they are in fifth spot, just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
City also face an uphill battle to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League after conceding two late goals against Real Madrid in a 3-2 defeat in the knockout phase play-offs on Tuesday.
Guardiola in a Press Conference ahead of Saturday’s tough match against Newcastle said City’s problems were multi-faceted.
“It’s everything, it’s not one,” he said. “(If) it’s one subject, it will be easy to solve it.
“We have been so comfortable with the ball and now we are not as comfortable when we have the ball and after, when it doesn’t happen, we have to make use of our physicality and our physicality is not like other teams.”
He added: “We know the league makes a step forward with all the teams and we make some step backwards compared with previous seasons.”
Guardiola said Switzerland defender Manuel Akanji would be out for up to 10 weeks after suffering a muscle injury against Real.
“(He will undergo) surgery on Saturday (and will be) eight to 10 weeks out,” said the City boss, praising Akanji’s “unbelievable efforts” during a defensive crisis this season. “In the end, the body said ‘enough is enough,’” he said.
Midfielder Jack Grealish, who had to go off in the first half against Real, is also a doubt.
“It’s not as tough as what Manu has done but I don’t know how he will be tomorrow,” said Guardiola. “I don’t think so but we’ll see, we’ll assess in the next few hours.”
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