Many Players Are Not Available Against Juventus, Guardiola: It Was The Way To Play

Manchester City will face Juventus in the middle of an injury storm (Instagram/@mancity).

JAKARTA - Manchester City will visit Juventus headquarters in the sixth match of the Champions League, Thursday, December 12, 2024, early morning WIB.

The Citizens came to Turin with a makeshift squad because many players were injured even though Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic were taken and seen in training.

However, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola did not promise to give the two names a minute to play against Juventus.

"I don't think so. Maybe a few minutes for Kovacic, but I don't think so. However, it's good that they are back in the team, to the training session, and of course traveling with us," Guardiola said on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

Foden returned to training after missing two games due to bronchitis, while Kovacic has been sidelined since the last international break due to injury.

Apart from them, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji are not expected to recover from injury in the near future.

"Nathan will take longer than Manuel, but I don't know (how long). This (injured challenge) is the same as what we experienced last month, nothing has changed," said the Spaniard.

Although there are most likely not to be strengthened by a number of pillars, Guardiola is reluctant to give up. He believes that the way the team plays is a rescue in the midst of an injury storm.

The Spaniard gave evidence of the last two matches in which The Citizens emerged from seven matches without a win (six defeats and one draw).

They managed to win against Nottingham Forest (3-0) and drew 2-2 against Crystal Palace.

"What will save us is the way we play. We have to play very simply."

"Right now, we are at a moment where we attack very quickly. We are doing a lot of things not at the right tempo so we lose the ball."

"We have to be very simple and fundamental in the things we do as a team."

"The confidence goes back to simple things, just master the ball and pass the ball, with the right feet, at the right tempo, simple things will do better."

"After that, you will gain confidence. You can't imagine how you get back confidence when you make thousands, millions of additional passes, and you get involved in the game, you get involved together. It helps us become ourselves," said Guardiola.

Juventus deserves to be wary of the arrival of The Citizens considering that the England team actually appeared more collectively despite being hit by a storm of injuries.

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias said his team was enjoying a more solid togetherness than before.

"Our way is to stay united, whatever other people touch us with and whatever difficulties may come."

"Football is about that, just like life does. Of course this is not an easy time. We are used to being in very different situations."

"This is the time when you show character, where you show who you are."

"I've always believed that in the most difficult times of life, you show your real color, and this is one of them," said Dias.

Manchester City slumped in a series of poor performances, with just one win in their last nine games in all competitions.

This achievement was the worst result in Guardiola's managerial career which was mostly brilliant.

The Citizens also traveled to Juventus headquarters with eight points from five matches that have been played (two wins, two draws, and one defeat).

They are now in 17th position in the standings. Guardiola is determined to fight in the remaining three matches of the group phase to get a ticket to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League this season.