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Pep Guardiola attributed Manchester City’s failed title defense to the team’s injury problems and, in particular, Rodri’s absence, asking “how many NBA titles have the Chicago Bulls won without Michael Jordan?”
Spanish midfielder Rodri is unlikely to play again this season after rupturing his ACL against Arsenal in September – a setback which has deprived City of arguably their most influential player and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
Since then, a number of other players have missed time due to various ailments, contributing to City’s miserable run of form which has seen them win just one of their last 10 games in all competitions.
“This is a problem. Rodri and I knew that from the beginning. This season we are playing without the Ballon d’Or winner and the best player in England last season,” said Guardiola.
“Of course it’s difficult. The Chicago Bulls won six NBA championships with Michael Jordan, right? Since Jordan retired, how many have they won?
“The moment we (the players) come back, we will be strong again.”
Derby day is approaching 👊
🤝 #AsahiSuperDry pic.twitter.com/jIyQaFbX19
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 12, 2024
Too many games – Guardiola
Guardiola has long been a critic of the hectic schedule of Europe’s leading clubs and reiterated his belief that too many games are being played.
“We have more games than ever in this calendar,” he said. “The number of injuries we had today made me think you need a squad of 25-30 players.
“It will be more difficult for the club financially.
“In the summer, we will play the World Club Championship, which will last three weeks, and then the Premier League will start again.
“We may need to have more depth in our squad then. When people say, ‘what’s the problem?’ The problem is the schedule.
“It’s not about the players, it’s not about the physiotherapists, it’s not about training, it’s not about how they eat or how they rest. That’s the schedule.
“Sooner or later it will happen for all clubs. This is the truth.”
City are struggling for defenders to face United
Injuries show no signs of abating ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby, particularly in defensive areas.
Manuel Akanji is injured, as are John Stones and Nathan Ake, while Rico Lewis is suspended.
It leaves Guardiola with potentially only three fit, older defenders – Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Josko Guardiola – and a problem to solve.
He said: “I need players. We have three so let’s see what happens today and tomorrow. We’ll have to think about that.
“Maybe the winger has to play as a full-back or we play with five on the backs where the wing-backs are wing players. I don’t know I’m thinking about what to do with our situation.”
Record revenues do not mean a big transfer
City today posted record revenues of £715m for the year ending June 30, but Guardiola insisted that does not necessarily mean they will be given the green light to enter the January transfer market.
“What I want is my players back – the players we have,” he said. “I want the team we had at the start of the season, which competed desperately.
“I have said many times, this is the only thing I regret, (that) I don’t have these players – not the new ones.
“At the right moment, we will see. The fact that we have record revenues, for which I must congratulate the club, does not mean that we have big, big funds to buy whatever we want.”
City enter the weekend in fourth position in the Premier League, eight points behind leaders Liverpool, with the Merseysiders also having a game in hand.
