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Published on 2024-02-12 12:44:02
Pep Guardiola was missing two key first-team players during open training on Monday as Manchester City prepares for their return to Champions League action. The reigning Champions of Europe are set to face a tough challenge in Copenhagen, as they take on a team that advanced from a group stage featuring tough opponents like Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Galatasaray.
Manchester City has been in excellent form, with 10 consecutive wins across all competitions, including victories in the FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup, and their ongoing pursuit of a fourth consecutive Premier League crown.
The return of key players such as Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland has bolstered Pep Guardiola’s options in recent weeks, contributing greatly to Manchester City’s goalscoring outputs. However, new injury concerns have emerged in defense and midfield, as reported on Monday.
According to Tyrone Marshall of the Manchester Evening News, Croatian internationals Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic were both missing from Manchester City’s Champions League training session at the City Football Academy.
Kovacic was also absent from the matchday squad that defeated Everton 2-0, and there is little information about the reason for their absences. Guardiola is scheduled to face the media ahead of Manchester City’s match with FC Copenhagen on Tuesday, with the squad set to travel to northern Europe later in the day.
Following standard Champions League procedure, Guardiola will be accompanied by a member of his first-team squad for the club’s media duties. The absence of these key players raises concerns for Manchester City as they prepare for their crucial Champions League match.
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