Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stressed the importance of having an extra day to prepare for the decisive Champions League match against Juventus. According to Guardiola, the extra day’s rest will allow the team, overworked after the 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, to recover better.
City are facing an injury crisis that is jeopardising their chances this season. Absent are Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, John Stones and Phil Foden. Manuel Akanji and Nathan Aké, injured in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, have also recently been added to the list.
‘We have already started to study Juventus and, fortunately, we play on a Wednesday, which gives us an extra day to recover the players. At the moment, we don’t have any options available for the return’, said Guardiola.
The coach praised the efforts of the medical staff, but stressed that injuries are a fact of life in football. He also urged the team to see adversity as an opportunity: ‘Don’t be sorry. Accept the challenge, because the satisfaction can be even greater when you overcome these difficulties.’
Manchester City are rising to the challenge after disappointing results in the Champions League: a 4-1 defeat by Sporting and a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord.
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