Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has explained why ‘most teams except Liverpool’ have been unstable this season.
Guardiola feels it is the hectic scheduling of fixtures that is affecting teams in the Premier League.
The Spaniard noted that most teams in the Premier League, except Liverpool, have struggled with injuries as a result.
The Catalan coach also referenced former Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, saying that the German shared his sentiments on this issue.
DAILY POST can report that teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City have been hit by major injury concerns this season.
Dependable players such as Bukayo Saka and Rodri have remained on the sidelines for Man City and Arsenal, respectively.
Addressing the press ahead of Manchester City’s Week 25 game against Newcastle United, Guardiola said, “I always expect injuries during the season.
“Not as much as we’ve had, but it’s not just a problem for Man City. You see the same at Tottenham, Arsenal, right now, most teams except Liverpool that all the season have been so stable in those terms.
“Real Madrid as well. Many teams. The solution to prevent that? I think Jurgen Klopp and myself have said it in the past. It is the calendar. I don’t see another reason why there are a lot of injuries.”
Pep Guardiola has endured arguably his worst season as manager at Manchester City this season.
City are currently fifth in the league standings, 16 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji will be missing for “eight to 10 weeks” after tearing his abductor muscle, said Pep Guardiola.
The Premier League champions are already without Ballon d’Or winner Rodri who got injured in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad.
Akanji suffered the issue in the first half of City’s 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday and was replaced at the break.
City went on to lose thanks to a Jude Bellingham winner in the 92nd minute, having led twice.
Akanji is expected to spend the majority of the remainder of this season on the sidelines.
Guardiola said: “Surgery on Saturday. Eight to 10 weeks out. His abductor is broken.
“We wish the best recovery for Manu because the effort he has done this season has been unbelievable.
“Him and Nathan [Ake] have played in difficult conditions, not being in top [shape], to help the team in the emergency we had with a lack of players we had in the centre-back position.
“In the end, the body said, ‘enough is enough’.”
Guardiola was more positive with an update on Jack Grealish after he too limped off in the first-half of the Champions League knockout phase play-off first-leg defeat.
The attacking midfielder is a doubt to face Newcastle on Saturday, but his injury is less serious than Akanji’s.
“It’s not as tough as what Manu [Akanji] has done but I don’t know if tomorrow he will be ready,” Guardiola said. “I don’t think so, but we will see, we will assess in the next hours.”
Guardiola also had an update on deadline-day signing Nico Gonzalez after the midfielder was forced off early on his Man City debut against Leyton Orient last weekend and was an unused substitute against Madrid.
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