Pep Guardiola admits concern over Manchester City injury crisis as they play catch-up in title race – Daily Mail, Dailymail.co.uk

            

‘We are in a bad period in that sense’: Pep Guardiola admits concern over Manchester City injury crisis as they play catch-up in title race

• Full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko underwent knee surgery in Barcelona on Friday
• There are fears the versatile Manchester City star could miss up to six weeks
• Rodri is also likely to be absent for next month’s crucial trip to rivals Liverpool
• No fewer than 11 Manchester City stars have suffered injuries already this season

ByJack Gaughan for the Daily Mail

Published:: 30 EDT, (October)|Updated:17: 30 EDT, 25 October 2019

Pep Guardiolaadmitted concern at howManchester Citywill handle their injury crisis and fears Oleksandr Zinchenko could miss up to six weeks.

Zinchenko underwent knee surgery in Barcelonaon Friday, while central midfielder Rodri is also likely to be absent for next month’s crucial trip toLiverpoolafter sustaining a hamstring injury.

No fewer than 11 City stars have suffered injuries this season, with Leroy Sane and Aymeric Laporte still sidelined until 2020.

Pep Guardiola admits he is concerned over Manchester City’s injury crisis already this season

Oleksandr Zinchenko could miss up to six weeks after undergoing knee surgery in Barcelona

‘When I’m thinking after the international break – November to February – yes I’m a little bit concerned because in a few positions we don’t have enough players, ‘Guardiola said.

‘ We are in a bad period in that sense . We can’t start complaining, “oh what bad luck”. In a few positions there are not many but we have incredibly good players. We’re going with them.

‘It’s not a big issue for Oleks but he’ll be out for five or six weeks. They did something to clean the knee, it’s not a big thing. He had a contact with a knee and felt something in the bone.

Rodri is likely to be absent for next month’s crucial trip to Liverpool with a hamstring injury

‘They told me that after the international break maybe Rodri will be ready again. ‘

Guardiola – who hopes Benjamin Mendy is over the worst of his fitness issues following two serious knee problems – insisted that City

‘Well I think we are not going to buy,’ he added. ‘The club didn’t introduce to me the players they thought could help us. So without that it’s not going to happen.

‘Our need is not just for six months, it’s for a long time and the important players will not be sold (in January). We are going to stay all the season, I think, with all the players we have right now. ‘

            

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