In response to Manchester City’s consecutive losses and ongoing injury struggles, Pep Guardiola has made one thing clear—he won’t use injuries as an excuse.
Guardiola appeared frustrated on the sidelines as Bournemouth deservedly defeated City. After the match, he admitted, “We couldn’t handle their energy,” and praised City’s previous 32-game Premier League unbeaten run, calling it “amazing.”
Although three injured players returned, two more—John Stones and Ruben Dias—were sidelined with injuries, adding to a season already plagued by fitness issues.
In total, twelve of Guardiola’s 20 senior outfield players have missed games due to injuries. Factoring in Erling Haaland’s personal leave during the Carabao Cup win over Watford, City has endured 59 instances of a senior player missing games this season, averaging four outfield players out per match.
Guardiola has also rested key players to manage their fitness, with Rico Lewis sitting out against Bournemouth and Haaland against Tottenham.
City captain Kyle Walker hurried back against Bournemouth to support his team during this challenging period.
Now, for the first time in over a year, City has suffered back-to-back losses. They face a tough week with an away game against Sporting in the Champions League and then a trip to Brighton in the Premier League.
Despite these challenges, Guardiola refuses to blame injuries or the busy fixture schedule for recent poor performances or the losses to Tottenham and Bournemouth. He acknowledged the strain of the fixture list but chose not to dwell on it.
“If we had five more days to prepare, we might have done better, but who can say?” he reflected. “I don’t want to mark it on the calendar. We lost, so now it seems like an excuse. Congratulations to Bournemouth on their win.”
Reflecting on the demands of past seasons, Guardiola noted that City often plays close to 70 games if they reach late-stage tournaments. He compared it to the NBA’s schedule, though NBA teams get a longer offseason.
Many of this season’s injuries, including those to Phil Foden, Rodri, Walker, and Kevin De Bruyne, stem from the fatigue accumulated over last year’s grueling schedule.
“These injuries are a result of past seasons,” Guardiola explained. “It’s natural and individual. We have to manage it, balance training, and ensure we’re in top shape for each game.”
“We can’t practice as much as we’d like, but that’s how it is. After winning so much, players expect consistency. We need to acknowledge physical limitations, manage them, take what we can from each game, and move forward.”
