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MAN CITY DEALT BIG FITNESS CONCERN AHEAD OF VILLA GAME

Man City face a major test at Aston Villa without the injured Rodri, with replacement Nico González also a doubt. Pep Guardiola's side looks to end a 3-game losing streak at Villa Park against Unai Emery's well-drilled team.

Man City Dealt Big Fitness Concern Ahead of Villa Game
Manchester City's Rodri - Reuters / Nathan Ray Seebeck

The fitness of star midfielder Rodri is the main concern as Man City gets ready for a big Premier League test at Villa Park. The Spaniard will not play this weekend, according to Pep Guardiola, as he continues to heal from a hamstring injury sustained before the October international break. Fans will be keeping a close eye on the champs as they try to get back into rhythm without their key midfield anchor.

"The men who could not [play] against Villareal are still not ready," Guardiola said. Abdukodir Khusanov, who is also recovering to match readiness, and Rodri are still out. "I think he is near, but he is still not ready due to having an injury in a risky, dangerous spot in his body," the Man City manager continued of Khusanov.

Squad Issues With Man City


Man City's previous victories, especially their Champions League victory against Villarreal, have already suffered from Rodri's absence. Since it is hard to replace him as the midfield's stabilising influence, the squad will once more look for other options.

Nico Gonzalez, a midfielder, has just replaced Rodri and impressed with his poise. However, after taking a foot knock during the Villarreal game, he is now doubtful himself. Guardiola clarified: "We will see how he feels today and tomorrow. I did not meet the doctors." Something was wrong with his feet.

Given the possibility of losing two midfielders, Man City might have to rearrange their lineup and employ tactical adaptability to counter a Villa team that presses hard in front of their home crowd.

Man City Wants to Put an End to the Villa Park Conflict


Guardiola's club has lost their last three trips to Villa Park, so it has not been a comfortable hunting ground for Man City lately. This match is significant in the early title race narrative since both teams are motivated for a successful outcome.

After a shock Europa League loss to Go Ahead Eagles, Villa also has a point to prove. "They were far better than us at the two fixtures we played at Villa Park," Guardiola said, acknowledging the difficulty. On Sunday, hopefully, things will be different.

Emery's Recognition and Tactical Difficulty


Guardiola has long praised Unai Emery's tactical savvy and meticulous preparation as aspects of his coaching style. "I have such a great deal of respect for Unai [Emery], and he is always prepared," he remarked. He went on: "They are not in the Champions League this season, but in my opinion, they are because they caused a lot of trouble in the Champions League last season. One of the most difficult away games of the season, well-planned and of high quality.

To defeat an Emery team that has structure, tactical clarity, and confidence at home, Man City will require concentration, intensity, and precision finishing.

TOP MANAGER: KOLO TOURE ANALYZES PEP GUARDIOLA'S AMAZING ENERGY AND PASSION

Man City coach Kolo Toure praises Pep Guardiola, revealing the manager's philosophy is to "just be you." Toure is amazed by Guardiola's lasting energy and passion after a decade in England.

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Toure Reveals Pep Guardiola's Surprising Coaching Philosophy

Kolo Toure thinks Manchester City has the world's top manager, and he shared his thoughts on working with Pep Guardiola. Toure started with City's Under-18s for a year before joining the first team coaching staff at the Etihad.

The ex-City and Arsenal defender was excited to work with Guardiola, something he had wanted to do as a player. Though that didn't happen, he took the opportunity to coach at City and then joined Guardiola's staff when Carlos Vicens left last season.

Guardiola surprised Toure, especially in their first meeting when Toure got his instructions. He's enjoying his job now.

Working with Pep Guardiola is amazing. He lets me be myself, which I didn't expect. The first thing he told me was just be you. "That's incredible," he said.

Some managers tell you what to do, but Pep wants you to express yourself because he knows everyone has something special to offer. He doesn't box you in. He lets you be the best you can be for the team. That's the best thing.

Even after Guardiola's decade in English soccer, Touré is impressed by his energy as City chases Arsenal for the league lead. Guardiola's City contract goes to the end of the 2026/27 season, and he's still setting the bar high for his staff.

The manager's energy every day is amazing. "I'm surprised by how much he still has after all these years in the league, the passion he brings to every meeting and training session," he said.

He enjoys every day, and we enjoy it too. You can see it in the games. No matter what, we have a great team spirit and lots of energy, and we fight for every ball. We try to play our style of soccer since we like to keep possession, but we can also fight when needed, which shows the team's spirit.

ERLING HAALAND JOKES: CITY STAR MOCKS ARSENAL FAN LAURA WOODS AFTER MADRID WIN

Erling Haaland had a funny live TV moment with Arsenal fan Laura Woods after Man City's win, but his ruthless form ensures Arsenal's title-race pressure is real.

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Haaland Knows His Rivalry, Fires Title Race Warning

Erling Haaland had a funny reaction on Wednesday night when he found out TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods is an Arsenal fan. This happened during a live TV interview after Manchester City beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the Champions League. The Norwegian player scored his 21st goal of the season, a penalty right before halftime.

Pep Guardiola's team has only lost three of their last 20 games. They were 10 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal a couple of weeks ago, but now they're only two points behind. Woods knows that Haaland has often been a problem for Arsenal, who haven't won the league in over 20 years.

His rivalry with Gabriel in recent games has made the competition for the top spot in English football more interesting. The funny thing is, Haaland is aware of how Arsenal fans see him.

Woods wanted to know how the Manchester City players were feeling after another big win. She asked Haaland if he thought they could catch up with Arsenal. Steve McManaman and Steven Gerrard quickly told Haaland that Woods supports Arsenal.

Haaland replied, So she probably doesn't like me then...

Haaland has played against Arsenal seven times in the Premier League and has a great record against them. He’s only lost twice, scoring five goals and assisting on two others.

So when Woods agreed that she probably doesn't like him, she was serious. She’s probably tired of seeing him. His response wasn't the only funny moment; he also joked about Mohamed Salah.

Arsenal is probably worried again.

In the past, this was the time of year when Arsenal's title hopes started to fail. They're already repeating old mistakes, dropping points in three of their last five league games: a 2-2 draw at Sunderland, a 1-1 draw against 10-man Chelsea, and a 2-1 loss at Aston Villa.

Their main rivals, Man City, are now only two points behind. If Arsenal wants to win the title, they’ll need to handle the pressure. A few weeks ago, everyone thought Arsenal would finally win the league, but now it's not so sure, and Haaland will likely have a big part to play if Arteta's team can't finish the job.

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