City have been struggling without the likes of Rodri throughout this season
The numbers, however, say that a number of other teams have had it worse
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By LEWIS BROWNING
Published: 19:00 EST, 13 December 2024 | Updated: 19:00 EST, 13 December 2024
Manchester City take on locals rivals United this weekend in the local Manchester derby, going into it out of form, plagued with injuries and in a bit of a crisis.
Pep Guardiola's side have won just one of their last 10 games, losing seven, and are fourth in the Premier League table. Respectable - but they are currently looking over their shoulders rather than ahead of them.
The loss of Ballon d'Or winner Rodri has been huge. They have struggled to replace him, with his deputy, Mateo Kovacic, also currently out.
Guardiola bemoaned the absence of Rodri, while also highlighting the fitness struggles of Phil Foden - last year's Player of the Year - this term. Foden has started just six of the 15 Premier League games so far.
Then there's Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Oscar Bobb. Not an ideal situation. But what's all the complaining about?
A Premier League injury table provided by Sky Sports in fact shows that five teams have had it worse than City this season - including a team above them.
Ballon d'Or winner and anchor of the team, Rodri, is out for the season having suffered an ACL issue this term
Manuel Akanji (left) and John Stones (right), meanwhile, are also currently out injured
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The table shows that City have had 14 injuries this term that have resulted in a player missing a game or more. That's one fewer than Aston Villa and two fewer than Tottenham and Arsenal, while Ipswich and Brighton top the list with 17 each. West Ham had the fewest - 5.
The numbers include players that have suffered multiple injuries this term, with Arsenal at times being without the likes of captain Martin Odegaard and defender Gabriel.
For Brighton, meanwhile, Solly March is yet to play this season, while Jack Hinshelwood, James Milner and Ferdi Kadiolgu have been longer-term injuries.
Villa have been without Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey in recent weeks, with Amadou Onana and Ezri Konsa also among those to miss games.
It's a similar story when it comes to days lost due to injuries, too. City are down in seventh for that - behind the likes of Crystal Palace, Arsenal, and, most notably, runaway leaders Liverpool.
Also ahead are Brighton, Ipswich, Tottenham and Villa.
In total, Brighton have lost a whopping 638 days to injuries, with Ipswich second with 530 and Palace third with 444. City's number is 372. West Ham have lost the fewest with 141.
Liverpool's is 382, while Arsenal's is 406.
The numbers, however, show that Brighton have had it worse, losing 638 days to injuries
Arsenal are ahead of City in terms of both games missed and days lost to injuries - the Gunners missed captain Martin Odegaard for much of the season
Tottenham have lost more days to injuries than anyone above them apart from Brighton
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Guardiola would likely point to the significance of the players who has lost this season.
'We are playing without the best player of the Ballon d'Or, Rodri... and without the best player in England last season, Foden,' he said in his pre-derby press conference.
'Not one team can play without central defenders, without the Ballon d'Or, and best PL player for all the season'.
The absentees are relative to each team but, ultimately, it suggests the squad hasn't been managed as well as it could have been done. The Spaniard continues to search for a fix.