PEP GUARDIOLA RECEIVES MAJOR BOOST WITH TRIO’S RETURN THREE MAN CITY STARS SET FOR EVERTON COMEBACK
Man City faces a fitness crisis with Rodri's new setback a major concern. Get the latest on his injury, plus updates on Cherki's early return and the latest on Ait-Nouri, Khusanov & Marmoush ahead of a crucial fixture run.
Man City is dealing with several serious fitness issues at a pivotal point in the season. Players have experienced premature setbacks that jeopardise the stability and balance of the group, while others are getting closer to making a recovery. Those who are hoping for a healthy outcome over the international break would have to be content with cautious optimism instead of absolute certainty.
Another setback for Rodri
Players are as vital to City's rhythm as Rodri, so his frequent fitness problems are a serious worry. The midfield player has been closely watched after suffering a severe knee injury, but it seems like his workload has caught up with him.
He was selected again after starting against Monaco, but he only played 22 minutes before leaving the game. Guardiola's recent remarks regarding his health suddenly became more significant.
"Everyone understood why I substituted Rodri against Monaco today," Guardiola told reporters, answering questions. "We are waiting for those tests; I don't know how long he will be out," he continued.
No return date has been set, and a prolonged absence would necessitate an unwelcome midfield reorganisation.
Rayan Cherki's Unexpected Comeback Is Near
At least one sight at the Gtech Community Stadium seemed promising. Originally slated to remain sidelined for "two months, seven or eight weeks", Rayan Cherki unexpectedly made an appearance on the bench about a month ahead of schedule.
Before his progress was stopped by a thigh injury, the £30 million summer acquisition had only made two competitive games, scoring on his debut. Despite missing the Brentford match, his selection suggests he will soon be fully involved following the international break.
Return date possible: against. Everton (H) on October 18, 2025
Defensive Issues Persist
Due to an ankle injury sustained during the August home loss to Manchester City, Rayan Ait-Nouri is still out. His absence from Algeria's most recent roster indicates he is not yet ready to return, since eight games have gone by without him playing.
Date of possible return: Unknown
Similar circumstances apply to Abdukodir Khusanov. He was sent off against Arsenal at halftime, and Guardiola declared him out for "the next three games". The final of those games was Brentford, but he didn't play. Now, he has less than two weeks to get in shape.
Possible return: October 18, 2025, against Everton (H)
A Slower Recovery for Marmoush Than Anticipated
It was anticipated that Omar Marmoush would return before this international window; however, he has not shown up. With Egypt, the forward injured his knee ligament and hasn't returned yet. Uncertainty surrounds whether his recovery has been a setback or if it has just taken longer than anticipated.
Return date possible: against. Everton (H) on October 18, 2025
PEP GUARDIOLA REFUSES TO GUARANTEE RODRI’S RETURN FOR MONDAY’S PREMIER LEAGUE CLASH
Pep Guardiola provides the latest injury news on Rodri, Ruben Dias, and Josko Gvardiol ahead of a crucial title race clash at Everton.
Pep Guardiola has shared the latest on Manchester City's injury situation ahead of Monday’s Premier League match against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
City is in good form right now. They came from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend, making it six wins in a row across all competitions.
But they’ve had to do it without Rodri. He's missed their last two matches, including a tight 1-0 win at Burnley, after hurting his groin against Arsenal a couple of weeks back. Guardiola recently told reporters that Rodri is getting better, but the team’s been cautious and isn’t rushing him back.
At his latest press conference on Friday, Guardiola said Rodri still hasn’t returned to training, so they’re just taking it day by day. There's hope, but Guardiola wouldn’t give any guarantees about Rodri’s chances of playing against Everton. "He’s getting better. Still, he didn't train with us, so we’ll see in the next few days,” he said. When pressed about his confidence, Pep just replied, “I am always confident.”
With Rodri still not training, it sounds like a last-minute decision on whether he’ll play. A start against Everton seems unlikely. That probably means Nico González, who scored the winner against Southampton, will keep his spot in midfield next to Bernardo Silva. Maybe Nico O’Reilly slides into central midfield, too, if he isn’t covering at left-back.
It’s not all good news in defence either. Ruben Dias is still out with the ankle injury that’s kept him sidelined for the last six games, and Josko Gvardiol is recovering from the tibial fracture he picked up in January. Both are working their way back, and Guardiola says they’re improving, but there’s no sign of a return just yet.
Turning to the Everton game, City could head into it trailing Arsenal by six points if the Gunners beat Fulham on Saturday. With the title race this tight, City can’t afford to slip up.
Guardiola knows Monday will be tough. “Everton have always been tough,” he said. “Old Everton was so cool and so British, and I loved to go there, but in the new stadium, they are defending really well, and it has always been tough." He’s not taking recent Everton results lightly, adding, 'They're fighting for a place in Europe. We won with two or three actions here, but we were not good at that moment. We can’t have any result but win, win, win.”
Everton won’t be easy, especially away, but City can at least take confidence from their strong record of 17 league games unbeaten against the Toffees. They won the reverse fixture 2-0, with Haaland scoring both goals. Still, Guardiola isn’t expecting it to be straightforward.
MANCHESTER CITY’S REQUEST TO RESCHEDULE PIVOTAL PREMIER LEAGUE TIES BRUTALLY DENIED
The Premier League has rejected Man City’s plea to swap Palace and Bournemouth matches. See City's brutal end-of-season schedule.
Manchester City are on the hunt for another domestic treble just seven years after the last one. Pep Guardiola pulled it off in 2018/19 with wins in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup. Now he's got his sights set on doing it again.
City’s deep run in the cups has created a mess for their league schedule. Their home game against Crystal Palace, which was supposed to happen during the Carabao Cup final weekend on March 22, got bumped. Same thing with their trip to Bournemouth, originally set for the day after the FA Cup final.
There’s a hold-up with rescheduling Palace; the Eagles’ Conference League semi-final run means they’ve got barely any free midweek dates. The match was pencilled in for Wednesday, May 13, but things got complicated when City reached the FA Cup Final, and Bournemouth got postponed too. The city asked the Premier League if they could play Bournemouth on Tuesday, May 12, then face Palace a week later, to squeeze in an extra recovery day before the Wembley showdown. Plus, that would give them the bonus of finishing their last two league games at home. But the Premier League usually insists that the fixture that was originally scheduled first in this case, Palace, gets played first.
According to The Mirror, City’s request was shot down. So now Guardiola’s team has to cram their last four matches into just 12 days: Palace visits on May 13, then the FA Cup Final, Bournemouth away on May 19, and finally wrapping things up at home to Aston Villa on May 24.
They couldn't play Bournemouth on May 20 because that’s the Europa League final night, and UEFA didn’t want any Premier League games stealing the spotlight when Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest could be involved.
The Mirror says the revised fixture dates and kick-off times are coming out today. Chelsea, also FA Cup finalists, will play their rescheduled match against Tottenham on May 19.
City still has to travel to Everton next Monday and host Brentford on Saturday, May 9. Then comes their jam-packed finish, starting with Palace.
Meanwhile, title rivals Arsenal will be hoping City’s crowded schedule works in their favour. Though Arsenal has its own challenge, a Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid is spread across the next two midweeks.
Arsenal closes out its league campaign with home games against Fulham and Burnley and trips to West Ham and Palace.
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