Guardiola has personnel issues at City: 'Maybe I'll join in myself for a bit'

Soccereco, Staff Writer

Published: 03:06, 26 Sep 2023

Pep Guardiola will not field his strongest eleven in the League Cup clash with Newcastle United on Wednesday evening. The Manchester City squad is dealing with several injuries, minor pains, and fatigued players.

There's a high likelihood that Guardiola won't have players like Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Kevin De Bruyne, and Mateo Kovacic available on Wednesday. Combined with the extremely busy schedule, Guardiola has decided not to field his strongest team against Newcastle on Wednesday.

'Some players who have already played many matches won't play against Newcastle', the Spaniard mentioned during the press conference. 'The League Cup is the perfect way to give those who have played less some minutes. But I'm not going to take any risks. Some young players will therefore get a chance, and if my back feels good, maybe I'll join in for a bit', Guardiola joked.

The Manchester City manager, however, emphasized that he indeed takes the League Cup seriously. 'Players want to fight for trophies. The problem is that they lack rest, especially mentally. And then we also have a draw that nobody wants, because Newcastle is one of the best teams in the world. But for us, it's also a great test.'