Pep Guardiola makes drastic Newcastle decision after Man City injuries
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is not willing to take any risks in the Carabao Cup amid his side’s busy
Pep Guardiola is resigned to playing youth team players in the Carabao Cup as Manchester City try and cope with serious injury problems.
The Blues are flying high at the top of the Premier League with five wins from five, yet could not name a full bench in their 3-1 win over West Ham because injuries to four players exacerbated a squad that had already been trimmed in the transfer window. Cole Palmer left for Chelsea in the
final week for £42.5m while James McAtee joined Sheffield United on loan to add to three other first-team departures that have left Guardiola dependant on good luck as well as a top medical team to be able to manage a squad through four competitions (five counting the Club World Cup in December).
City were handed a tough draw in the third round of the Carabao Cup away to fellow Champions League side Newcastle, where they came from two goals behind to draw 3-3 in the league last season. The League Cup was Guardiola’s first trophy in England and City have won four in his seven years as part of their dominance of the domestic game.
However, injuries to John Stones, Jack Grealish and Mateo Kovacic in addition to Kevin De Bruyne being sidelined for months have left Guardiola feeling that playing a full-strength team at St. James’ Park would risk further depleting the squad. As they prioritise the Premier League and Champions League, the Carabao Cup may have to give in their hunt for trophies.
“The problem when you have a lot of injuries is maybe not today but over three, four, five games,” he said. “We have to go away to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup and I’m sorry but we are going to have to play with some players from the second team because we cannot take the risks.
“Kevin is still out, John is still out, Kova I don’t know, Jack I don’t know. When you have all the squad you go to Newcastle with a good team but now we just have to rest, recover well, train and try to arrive on the day of the game in the best condition possible.
“We cannot waste energy. I was on holiday but these guys were playing 90 minutes for their national teams and then travelling back from Bolivia and Brazil.
“It’s so exhausting for them and not just for us, for all teams. Look at [Edson] Alvarez for West Ham, coming with jet lag from South America and playing against us. We treat players in not a good way.”
