(Football News) Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, affirmed that they will be well-prepared for their Premier League encounter against Newcastle United on Saturday. Following their penalty shootout victory over Sevilla, Guardiola humorously expressed appreciation to the Premier League for scheduling the Newcastle match on such short notice.
Nonetheless, Guardiola emphasized that his team would be adequately equipped for the match at the Etihad Stadium, even in light of apparent fatigue.
“We are definitely prepared. These are the types of challenges we need to embrace. We are dealing with difficulties stemming from injuries and the congested schedule. This challenge before us pushes us to progress,” Guardiola shared with reporters on Friday.
“Given the circumstances—people going to bed at 4 am in Greece after a 10 pm match, dealing with recovery under 35 or 40-degree heat in Greece, returning late, and now heading into this game, followed by another game tomorrow—we find ourselves unable to train today,” the manager explained.
“We triumph because we consistently conquer these types of situations. The tight recovery timelines between matches pose no problem,” the Spanish coach further elaborated.
Kevin De Bruyne’s absence has become prolonged due to his hamstring injury suffered during City’s 3-0 victory over Burnley last Friday. Guardiola’s list of injury concerns doesn’t end there.
Ruben Dias incurred a concussion during a training session before their first league game, which rendered him unavailable for seven days. John Stones, too, was absent from both the opening league game and the Super Cup due to a hip issue.
“Perhaps Ruben (Dias) will be in the lineup. John (Stones) is unavailable. He didn’t feel at ease during the last practice session, and I can’t predict the duration of his absence,” the manager affirmed.
Newcastle, the team set to face City, commenced the season with a remarkable 5-1 victory against Aston Villa just last Saturday. Guardiola was effusive in his admiration for the accomplishments of Newcastle’s manager, Eddie Howe, within the club.
“Eddie Howe has constructed an absolutely remarkable team for a multitude of reasons, excelling in build-up play, transitions, and ball retention. They exhibit control across all facets of the game, and it undoubtedly presents us with a substantial challenge,” Guardiola acknowledged.
At the start of the season, both Manchester City and Newcastle secured three points each, with Newcastle currently leading the Premier League on goal difference.
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