Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on his squad’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s Premier League tie with West Ham.City enter the game against the Hammers in the backdrop of ...
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on his squad’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s Premier League tie with West Ham.
City enter the game against the Hammers in the backdrop of six consecutive victories, entering the Carabao Cup semi-final this week as goals from Rayan Cherki and Savinho helped the Blues secure a 2-0 win over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.
The Blues are in a rich vein of form and can go top of the Premier League by beating West Ham on Saturday, with league leaders Arsenal set to visit Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday evening.
Jeremy Doku, Rodri and John Stones remained absent for City against Brentford on Wednesday, with Oscar Bobb also going off injured to pile on the personnel problems for Pep Guardiola, who also saw Omar Marmoush join the Egypt National Team for the Africa Cup of Nations this week.
Speaking in a press conference on Friday afternoon, Guardiola was asked about his side’s fitness ahead of this weekend’s visit from West Ham.
The Manchester City manager confirmed that all of his injured players will remain out of contention against the Hammers, which means the game will come too soon for Rodri, Doku, Bobb and Stones, with Mateo Kovacic ruled out till the spring of 2026.
“We have a game tomorrow and after we have five days before Nottingham (Forest), Sunderland. Between Nottingham and Sunderland, maybe a few of them will start to be back. But for tomorrow (against West Ham) – no,” Guardiola said on City’s injury situation.
Rodri’s continued absence – albeit with the 29-year-old back in first-team training for nearly a month – is set to see Nico Gonzalez retain his place in the middle of the park.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
Category: General Sports
