Frank Christian
Manchester City is facing a growing number of injury issues, as defenders Manuel Akanji and Matheus Nunes have withdrawn from international play this week due to fitness problems.
Amidst an unanticipated four-match losing streak in all tournaments, these withdrawals underscore the serious injury dilemma plaguing Pep Guardiola’s team.
Defensive Challenges and Rising Anxiety
The squad has already been coping without essential players like Ruben Dias and John Stones, who missed the recent defeats to Bournemouth, Sporting, and Brighton.
Both players have also been omitted from their national teams for the upcoming international matches. The addition of Akanji and Nunes to the injury list complicates Guardiola’s goal of maintaining competitiveness during this critical phase of the season.
Akanji, absent from the match against Brighton, experienced notable discomfort in training. Guardiola commented on his condition after the Brighton loss, stating, “Manu said he felt so bad in training and could not move properly, so we needed fresh players against that team.”
Guardiola: “Jeremy Doku suffers from muscular problems. He can’t run at full speed.
“After the international break, I hope for Ruben Dias to come back, hopefully also John Stones comes back”. pic.twitter.com/dhqrB5cIcA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 11, 2024
Akanji’s unavailability for Switzerland’s matches against Serbia and Spain is another setback for both Manchester City and his national team.
In Portugal, Matheus Nunes has also been declared unfit for international duty, leaving a gap in the midfield for Portugal. Meanwhile, City supporters are eager for Nunes’s speedy recovery as the Premier League’s key matches approach after the break.
Controversial Selection of Grealish
Jack Grealish’s inclusion in the England squad has sparked some debate. Guardiola has expressed his worries, pointing out that Grealish has neither trained nor played fully since City’s match against Wolves last month.
Though Grealish managed some limited training just before the international selection, Guardiola expressed skepticism about the choice.
“In 17 days, he didn’t train once,” Guardiola noted. “He was in the gym but only trained on the field for 20 minutes. It’s really a question for England’s manager.”
With significant matches against Tottenham and Liverpool awaiting after the international break, City is hopeful for the return of its key players.
Guardiola will require a healthy squad to lift City from its current slump and reclaim their status in the title race.
