Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered mixed news on the injury front on the eve of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Already without star midfielder Rodri for the rest of the season and Oscar Bobb until next year, Guardiola revealed on Friday that Mateo Kovacic would now be sidelined for up to a month.
However, Guardiola also claimed that John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake were all in with a chance of being fit to face Spurs at the Etihad Stadium.
‘Some of them [could be available], yes,’ said Guardiola. ‘John trained good, Manu trained good. Nathan is coming back to training, so we didn’t have any centre backs and now we have three.
‘Ruben [Dias] is out but hopefully back soon. Some players recover better.
‘These 10 days [of the international break] some players recovered a little. I don’t know if they are ready to play 90 minutes or play from the beginning but to see the training session and see their faces was a really good boost for all of us.’
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had mixed news on the injury front on Friday
City midfielder Mateo Kovacic is set to be out of action for between three weeks and a month
On Kovacic, Guardiola added: ‘He will be a while – three weeks or a month. More or less.
‘Max Alleyne is not fit as well. He was injured from the national team, England U20, because they push our limits and come back injured.
‘Players go to the national team and train with the U21s in the morning then in the afternoon with the U20s after two games. He is not fit, we will lose him. It is what it is.’
It is also understood that Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish are in contention for City’s game against Spurs, although Guardiola did not mention them directly on Friday.
Kovacic had emerged as a key man for City in a holding midfield role after Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in September.
The former Chelsea ace has featured in 15 of City’s first 18 matches this season.
He also played twice for Croatia during the recent international break. Kovacic lasted the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 defeat by Scotland before being subbed off at half-time during a 1-1 draw with Portugal.
Guardiola’s press conference on Friday took place less than 24 hours after City confirmed that the Spaniard had signed a new two-year contract extension.
Ex-Chelsea star Kovacic played 135 minutes for Croatia during the recent international break
Earlier this week, manager Guardiola signed a new two-year contract extension with City
Discussing his extension – which sees him committed to the club until June 2027 – Guardiola said: ‘From day one, I felt incredible love and respect with all my assistants and coaches here. If I did not feel that I wouldn’t be here.’
Asked why he had chosen to extend his contract by two years, rather than one, Guardiola replied sarcastically: ‘For the weather.’
He then continued: ‘Mainly, I don’t want next season in September, October, November, to be “is this the last year of Pep? Will he extend again?” That was the main reason. I don’t want to be in that position.
‘In the end, the contract is there. I would like to stay two more years, but I know that if results are not good it won’t be two years.
‘It’s the same with the players. We have some incredible, legendary players here but you have to perform. If you don’t perform, our owner, chairman and fans will say “what’s going on? We have to change”. Everyone is under pressure, with me the first.
‘Maybe it’s a little bit arrogant but I think we deserve to continue, for what we have done in the last years. But at the same time, we have to do it again, we have to be up there. If we’re not, the club has to find a solution.’
City have lost their last four matches in all competitions – their worst run of form during Guardiola’s eight years in Manchester.
