Ahead of their Champions League clash against Crvena Zvezda, Chelsea faces the absence of Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku.
The duo was notably missing from Tuesday morning’s practice at the City Football Academy as the team prepared to travel to Belgrade for their final Group G game. Ederson was also absent due to illness, with City already securing the top spot in the group, rendering the match inconsequential.
Pep Guardiola, City’s manager, provided insights on Sunday, indicating that Haaland’s ongoing foot issue, described as a “stress on the bone,” necessitates weekly assessments.
Guardiola ruled out Haaland’s participation against Crystal Palace and expressed skepticism about his readiness for the Club World Cup next week. Doku, nursing a muscle injury, was omitted from the lineup to avoid rushing his return and exacerbating the issue.
In Tuesday’s practice session, 23 players participated, including some academy talents, hinting at potential lineup changes for a match where the outcome holds little significance for both teams. City’s young players, having triumphed in the UEFA Youth League group, could see inclusion as Guardiola contemplates adjustments.
City faces the challenge of managing a diverse squad, with decisions on under-21 players for the Champions League “B List” pending confirmation until Tuesday midnight. Kane Taylor, Max Alleyne, Mahamadou Susoho, and Micah Hamilton were part of the training, presenting options for Guardiola.
Potential selections for the upcoming game include Matheus Nunes, Kalvin Phillips, Oscar Bobb, and Sergio Gomez. Rico Lewis, Manu Akanji, and John Stones, who were absent from the starting lineup against Luton on Sunday, could also feature.
Notable absentees include Kevin De Bruyne, still recovering from injury, and Doku and Haaland. While De Bruyne was named in the Club World Cup team, doubts persist about his match fitness. Guardiola revealed last week that De Bruyne had resumed running on the practice pitch but had not yet rejoined team training.
The training squad for Manchester City comprises familiar names like Walker, Dias, Rodri, Foden, Grealish, along with emerging talents from the academy. The goalkeeping duties are expected to be handled by Ortega and Carson.
As City navigates through this phase, the focus is not just on the immediate Champions League fixture but also on managing player fitness and strategizing for upcoming competitions, emphasizing Guardiola’s intricate balancing act in sustaining a competitive squad.
