Pep Guardiola faces setback as two Man City stars ruled out of must-win Boxing Day clash
Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish not even named on the bench for Premier League meeting against Everton at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola searches for much-needed win
Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish have been left out of struggling Manchester City’s squad for their Boxing Day clash at home to Everton with Pep Guardiola making three changes from the side that were beaten 2-1 at Aston Villa at the weekend.
Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku and Savinho have come into the team with John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan and Grealish dropping out. The England star is not even named among the substitutes with no immediate explanation for the reason why, while Walker has an illness. Kevin de Bruyne is only on a substitutes’ bench packed with academy players and two goalkeepers.
Guardiola is also without goalkeeper Ederson and outfield stars Ruben Dias, Stones, Rodri, Matheus Nunes and Oscar Bobb because of injuries.
City begin this round of fixtures in seventh position, four points behind fourth-placed Nottingham Forest, and the City head coach has said his team are now targeting a Champions League finish.
They are also expected to be active in next month’s transfer window with the priority strengthening the defence.
Speaking before the game to Amazon Prime, Guardiola said: "We struggle especially at the back, in the middle. I don’t know if it’s going to happen. I think we have to but I don’t know if it’s going to happen. The transfer window in winter is not easy."
Guardiola also spoke about his future following a number of confusing remarks made in separate interviews. City’s shocking downturn in form has followed the head coach signing a contract extension.
He said: "I like to be here. I love the club, the hierarchy, the people, the life in Manchester and many other things. Now more than ever. We have a lot of problems but let’s turn it around. That’s the target.
"When we won in the past, we had most of the squad. But now we have eight important players out. We cannot get out of this roll now. Football isn’t predictable, so maybe when you think it’s going to be difficult, you can win. Let’s see.
"When you are winning, you think more and more on how to keep the run going. When it’s not, we need to think more about what you have to do. We need to find a way. Results do help. We have played games where we were on the edge of winning, but lost. It makes it a little more difficult."
Sean Dyche has made only one change for Everton from the team that battled to a scoreless draw at home to Chelsea last weekend with captain Seamus Coleman, 36, returning to right back.
Man City: Ortega, Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Silva, Doku, Foden, Savinho, Haaland.
Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Mangala, Gueye, Doucoure, Harrison, Ndiaye, Calvert-Lewin.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
