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
THE REAL: REASON JEREMY DOKU BELIEVES THE NEXT FOUR GAMES WILL DEFINE CITY’S SEASON
Jeremy Doku praises City's pride after Bernardo Silva's red card, eyeing redemption in Sunday's Carabao Cup final.
Jérémy Doku sees winning the Carabao Cup as a helpful way for Manchester City to bounce back from their Champions League disappointment. After being knocked out by Real Madrid for the third consecutive year, with a 5-1 aggregate loss in the round of 16, the team faces a tough challenge to regroup quickly.
Pep Guardiola's squad now has to shift focus to their upcoming trip to Wembley, where they’ll take on Arsenal on Sunday. Despite the setback in Europe, Doku feels that lifting a trophy this week would help erase the recent frustration.
He said, “It’s a good way to recover. We’ll do everything we can to win that game and bring home a trophy. The next four matches really matter. We have to recover well for Sunday and then take it one game at a time.”
What lies ahead will likely define the city's season. After the Carabao Cup final, they face an FA Cup quarterfinal against Liverpool following the international break, as well as two critical Premier League games against Chelsea and Arsenal.
“There’s still plenty at stake,” Doku added. “We’re competing in three different competitions, with three trophies still on the table. If we manage to win one, it’ll still be a strong season for us. Of course, missing out on the Champions League is disappointing. It’s always a special trophy. But we have to learn from those games against Real Madrid, recover properly, and focus on what’s next.”
City endured a tough week, following a 3-0 loss in Madrid with a narrow 2-1 defeat at the Etihad. One pivotal moment was Bernardo Silva’s early red card in the second leg.
Yet, Doku draws some confidence from how the team performed despite being down to 10 men against such a formidable opponent.
“We have reasons to be proud,” he reflected. “Playing against a team like Real Madrid with one less player and still causing them problems isn’t something every team can do. We didn’t get the win, but we can look each other in the eye knowing we gave a good performance both with 11 players and with 10. We created chances and played well.”
He went on to say, “If we bring that kind of effort to every match, we’ll trouble many teams. There are valuable takeaways from this game that we can carry into the next.”
WHY PEP GUARDIOLA CANCELLED TRAINING BEFORE MANCHESTER CITY’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REMATCH
Pep Guardiola cancels Manchester City training to combat fatigue ahead of the 3-0 comeback attempt vs Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola has shared his reasoning for skipping training the day before Manchester City’s crucial Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid at the Etihad. Facing a tough three-goal deficit from their 3-0 loss at the Bernabeu last week, City are up against the difficult task of overturning this against a team that has won Europe’s top trophy 15 times.
Historically, only four teams have managed to claw back a gap of three or more goals in the knockout stages, so the challenge ahead is immense. Guardiola acknowledges his players will need to deliver an almost flawless performance if they hope to stage a remarkable comeback on home turf. Still, he remains hopeful they will create plenty of scoring chances against Alvaro Arbeloa’s side.
In a somewhat unexpected move, Guardiola has decided to give his first team a day off on Monday, opting for a light session just hours before kickoff on Tuesday. At Monday’s press conference, he explained the logic behind this approach, citing the fatigue from travel and recent matches. After returning late from Madrid, then heading to London for a Premier League draw against West Ham, the players have had a packed schedule. Guardiola feels a day of rest will serve them better than trying to squeeze in more training.
He further emphasised the mental aspect, pointing out that mental strength plays a big role in how well they perform. He plans to assess the players’ condition and conduct training on Tuesday afternoon. With travel taking its toll and players spontaneously connecting with their families, he believes keeping them relaxed and fresh is crucial.
Captain Bernardo Silva, who was the only City player present for media duties, supported Guardiola’s decision. He reflected on past occasions when the team took rest days following both wins and losses, trusting the manager’s judgement to help them regroup and come back stronger.
On team news, Guardiola revealed he has most of his starting lineup settled, though one spot remains uncertain. Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture) and Rico Lewis (ankle) are sidelined, but Mateo Kovacic has returned to the bench after recovering from a lengthy ankle and heel injury. With these preparations in place, City will be charging into a daunting but pivotal night against one of Europe’s giants.
