Pep Guardiola expecting challenging season for injury-hit Manchester City

Manchester City will have a more difficult season as they deal with injuries that make it difficult to replicate their current success, manager Pep Guardiola warned ahead of their Champions League match against Sporting on Tuesday.

In Short

• Guardiola admits City's season is tougher due to injuries.
• City's unbeaten streak ended with a loss to Bournemouth
• Several key players are injured, affecting their performance

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted his team faces a more challenging season than recent campaigns, with injuries disrupting their hopes of maintaining dominance in the Premier League and Europe. Speaking ahead of Tuesday's Champions League group-stage match against Sporting CP, Guardiola acknowledged the difficulty of navigating a season with a squad that injuries to key players have significantly weakened.

City's formidable 32-game unbeaten Premier League streak ended on Saturday in a shock defeat to Bournemouth, just days after an exit from the League Cup at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur. With key players missing, Guardiola knows that maintaining the high standards fans expect may be out of reach.

"I know our standards, but we've only lost one game," Guardiola said on Monday. "We could lose again in the Premier League against Brighton, Tottenham, or Liverpool," he said, acknowledging the calibre of their upcoming opponents.

City currently trail Liverpool by two points in the league. Despite a strong start in the Champions League, Guardiola warned that this season would be tougher, given the injuries plaguing the squad. "Sometimes, to win the treble, everything has to align perfectly. This season, it hasn't," he said, underscoring the importance of an injury-free roster for success at the highest levels.

City will be missing Ballon d'Or winner Rodrigo and emerging talent Oscar Bobb for an extended period, while John Stones, Jack Grealish, and Ruben Dias are also sidelined and will not make the trip to Portugal. Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and Kyle Walker, though in the squad, are nursing various fitness issues. While star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and young talent Savinho are on the mend, forward Erling Haaland is fortunately fit for selection.

Currently third in their Champions League group with two wins and a draw, City will be aiming for their third consecutive European victory against a strong Sporting side. Sporting, currently unbeaten this season, is level on points with City and sits just behind them on goal difference. Guardiola anticipates a tough encounter with Ruben Amorim's side, which they decisively beat 5-0 in the 2022 Champions League round of 16.

"They play very similar to the side we faced two seasons ago," Guardiola said of Sporting, praising Amorim's clear tactical style and mentality, as he prepares to depart for a new role at Manchester United. Guardiola remains optimistic but realistic about the challenges City face this season.

As City aim to rise above their injury setbacks, Guardiola's words serve as a reminder that even the most dominant teams can face setbacks-and that triumph, this season, may require an even greater collective effort.