Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City will battle to beat a mounting harm disaster however inspired the English champions to bounce again in Tuesday’s Champions League journey to Sporting Lisbon. City journey to Portugal after consecutive defeats to Tottenham within the League Cup and Bournemouth on Saturday, which ended an 11-month unbeaten run within the Premier League. Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who’s out for the rest of the season with a knee harm, leads a stellar solid of absentees in Guardiola’s squad that additionally consists of Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish and John Stones.
Kevin De Bruyne might make his first look seven weeks however is unlikely to begin, whereas Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Jeremy Doku and Savinho are additionally not absolutely match.
“You know the situation with Rodri, nominated the best player in the world,” stated Guardiola at his pre-match press convention on Monday.
“We know we will struggle, and we have to accept that, and it is fine.
“The video games will likely be tough; in earlier seasons it was clean. Personal causes, accidents, we received six Premier Leagues in seven years. Things change, we have now to just accept that.”
Guardiola will come against one of his future rivals as Sporting boss Ruben Amorim takes charge of the Portuguese champions for the penultimate time before beginning his role as Manchester United manager.
The sides last met in the last 16 of the 2021/22 Champions League when City romped to a 5-0 victory in Lisbon and on aggregate.
“They have modified gamers however have similar supervisor and similar mentality,” added Guardiola on the challenge Sporting provide.
“Winning the league for first time in 20 years after which doing it once more final season exhibits what a very good job he has carried out.”
Bernardo Silva scored twice in City’s 5-0 win over Sporting two years ago on his return to Lisbon, where he began his career at Benfica.
He urged City not to make excuses despite their injury woes.
“With a full squad we’re stronger, there is no denying that. We have numerous unbelievable gamers lacking,” said Silva.
“We haven’t been capable of depend on Kevin for six weeks. Rodri is out for the season and different gamers out shorter occasions. But we by no means discover excuses. This membership was by no means about that.”
Both sides are unbeaten within the new Champions League format with seven factors from their opening three matches.
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