Manchester City faces a deepening injury crisis as they prepare for a grueling series of four away matches over 11 days, with only 15 fit outfield players to manage games against Tottenham, Bournemouth, Sporting, and Brighton.
Pep Guardiola, the City manager, is unwilling to risk his players’ health in the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Tottenham, even if it means reducing their chances of advancing in the tournament. Despite recent victories over Sparta Prague and Southampton with a depleted squad, City’s injury list includes key players like Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne, who have no set return date, while Jack Grealish may be back next week. Jeremy Doku is sidelined until after the November international break, with Rodri and Oscar Bobb also out for the long term.
Guardiola is left with limited options, including fringe players James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly. Southampton’s tough defense recently restricted City to a narrow 1-0 win, limiting Guardiola’s ability to rotate players in the second half, so he plans to rest any player who needs it against Tottenham.
Previously, Guardiola had indicated his intention to rely on academy players for the Carabao Cup clash with Spurs. The under-21 team faces Grimsby in the EFL Trophy and requires a win to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stage. However, Guardiola may prioritize his own squad needs, potentially calling some academy players up for the Tottenham match.
“We have to look after ourselves—good sleep, hydration, nutrition, plenty of rest, and recovery,” he commented. “This is the squad we have, and we’ll manage with it. I don’t know if we’ll bring in academy players for the Spurs match, but it’s a possibility.”
Guardiola clarified that the Tottenham game is the lowest priority among the four away fixtures, which include two Premier League trips and a Champions League match in Portugal. With these demanding matches ahead, he emphasized that he would not take unnecessary risks with his limited squad in the Carabao Cup.
“We’re going to compete but with Bournemouth, Sporting, and Brighton before the international break as the main targets,” he said. “We won’t risk anyone for Spurs. If they’re fit, they’ll play, but if there’s any doubt, we’ll hold back.”
This measured approach is a noticeable shift from Guardiola’s earlier years at City, where he treated every round of the League Cup seriously to build a winning culture, leading to four consecutive titles. However, in recent seasons, City has exited the competition by the quarter-finals. In the previous round against Watford, Guardiola made significant changes, giving starts to squad players, those returning from injury, and debuting 16-year-old Kaden Braithwaite.
