[Kyle Walker of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City interacts with match referee Robert Jones following the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Manchester City FC at Selhurst Park on December 07, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Kyle Walker of Manchester City interacts with match referee Robert Jones following the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Manchester City FC at Selhurst Park on December 07, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)](https://football-italia.net/guardiola-only-12-outfield-players-vs-juventus/) A troubled Manchester City side are due to take on Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday night, as Pep Guardiola is only able to guarantee the availability of 12 outfield players for their midweek trip to Turin.
Man City are on a delicate run of form in both England and Europe. It has been Guardiola’s worst ever run as a coach in fact, as the Citizens have only picked up one win from their last nine matches in all competitions.
Guardiola in crisis of injuries and results
The reigning Premier League champions were held to a 2-2 draw away against Crystal Palace in their last league outing, a game which had several notable absentees.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is still out with a long-term knee injury. Reigning PFA Player of the Year Phil Foden was also unavailable against Palace. So too were defenders Jjohn Stones, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, as well as midfielder Matteo Kovacic and Norway talent Oscar Bobb.
According to Guardiola, reported via La Gazzetta dello Sport, none of those seven players will be available in time to face Juventus on Wednesday night.
Manchester City are due to have a rest day on Monday before having their final preparatory training session on home soil on Tuesday, ahead of their flight over to Italy for the Juventus match on Wednesday. There is still a possibility that the situation still changes before kick-off.
Juventus, meanwhile, have received a double boost in midfield, as Douglas Luiz and Weston McKennie are both back in contention. Andrea Cambiaso could also make the squad, but isn’t expected to start after hobbling off 14 minutes into Juventus’s 2-2 draw with Bologna on Saturday.
Juventus' American midfielder #16 Weston McKennie celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between Juventus FC and PSV Eindhoven, at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on September 17, 2024. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP) (Photo by ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP via Getty Images)
Juventus’ American midfielder #16 Weston McKennie celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between Juventus FC and PSV Eindhoven, at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on September 17, 2024. (Photo by Isabella BONOTTO / AFP) (Photo by ISABELLA BONOTTO/AFP via Getty Images)
Post navigation