Pep Guardiola has a number of injury worries as Manchester City travel to Marseille for their second Champions League Group C game.
Having eventually battled past Porto last time out, Guardiola will be under no illusions as to the importance of what should be a routine Group C fixture.
His side sit 13th in the Premier League table have already dropped seven points – almost half as many as they did in their entire 2018-19 title-winning season.
Worst of all, the 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Saturday brought with it another setback for Sergio Aguero.
The Argentine, who only recently returned from a four-month layoff following knee surgery, lasted just 45 minutes at the London Stadium before being taken off clutching his hamstring.
Guardiola has confirmed City’s all-time leading goalscorer has suffered a muscular problem, joining fellow striker Gabriel Jesus in the treatment room.
The 23-year-old suffered a thigh problem in the opening weekend of the league season against Wolves and has not yet returned to training.
Guardiola has been forced to overthink
That means Raheem Sterling could be used as a false nine for the trip over the Channel. The England international has enjoyed some success in that role in the past, famously in the 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2017.
Guardiola loves nothing more than to tweak his formations in Europe, particularly when it allows him to emulate the system that befitted Lionel Messi so well under his stewardship at Barcelona.
Yet at a time when the manager’s once unchallengeable prowess is under fire, he has concerns not only in attack, but all over the pitch.
Left-back Benjamin Mendy will not return until after the international break, while Fernandinho’s recovery is ahead of schedule but he is not expected back in training for another few weeks after limping out of the win over Porto just minutes after coming on as a late substitute.
The club’s European opener also saw Nathan Aké ruled out of the West Ham game with a groin strain. That injury is not thought to be serious and the centre-back will travel to Marseille, where he will pair up with Aymeric Laporte.
Marseille, meanwhile, have no new injury problems of their own. Former West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet will return from suspension having sat out the 1-0 Ligue 1 victory over Lorient.
How City could line-up
On paper, City ought to have the depth to cope with a depleted attack, especially against an outfit who were so disappointing in their 1-0 defeat to Olympiakos.
Guardiola will have no excuses either way with the club’s quest to win the Champions League at the 10th time of asking more crucial than ever.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2TtIOVT
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