Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that Manchester City will face significant challenges in overcoming a growing injury crisis, but the Spanish manager remains optimistic that his squad can bounce back when they travel to Sporting Lisbon for their upcoming Champions League clash on Tuesday. After suffering consecutive defeats to Tottenham in the League Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League, City’s momentum has been halted, ending an impressive 11-month unbeaten run in the league. Guardiola knows that his side faces a difficult period, but he has encouraged the team to rise above the adversity and focus on getting back to winning ways on the European stage.
### A Mounting Injury Crisis
City’s injury list is one of the biggest concerns heading into this match, with key players missing from the starting lineup. Rodri, who was recently nominated for the Ballon d’Or, is arguably the most significant absentee. The Spanish midfielder has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury, which is a massive blow to City’s midfield strength. Rodri has been a key figure in Guardiola’s setup, known for his vision, passing, and defensive abilities, and his absence leaves a gaping hole in the team.
Guardiola will also be without a host of other first-team regulars for the trip to Portugal. Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, and John Stones are all unavailable, further depleting the squad. While Kevin De Bruyne has made progress in his recovery from a long-term injury, it is uncertain whether he will feature in Lisbon. De Bruyne has been sidelined for the last seven weeks, and Guardiola indicated that the Belgian playmaker may not be fit enough to start, although a place on the bench remains a possibility.
Other players who are not fully fit include Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Jeremy Doku, and Savinho, making the situation even more challenging. Despite the depth of City’s squad, the manager is clearly aware of the difficulties posed by this long list of absentees, especially with the team having already faced tough competition in the early weeks of the season.
### Guardiola’s Realistic Assessment of the Situation
Guardiola addressed the growing injury crisis at his pre-match press conference on Monday, emphasizing the need to accept the current circumstances and move forward. The manager admitted that City will inevitably struggle without some of their key players, but he insisted that this is part of the game.
“You know the situation with Rodri, nominated the best player in the world,” Guardiola said. “We know we will struggle, and we have to accept that, and it is fine. The games will be difficult; in previous seasons it was smooth. Personal reasons, injuries, we won six Premier Leagues in seven years. Things change, we have to accept that.”
Guardiola is no stranger to managing injuries, but this season’s challenges are particularly tough. The team’s remarkable run in recent years — including a dominant period in the Premier League — was built on consistency, depth, and the players’ fitness. Now, with key figures sidelined for extended periods, Guardiola is faced with the reality that his squad will have to adapt, showing resilience and grit to navigate through these difficult times.
### A Familiar Challenge: Sporting Lisbon
City’s next test comes against Sporting Lisbon, a team that Guardiola is all too familiar with. The two sides met in the last 16 of the 2021/22 Champions League, with City comfortably winning 5-0 in the first leg in Lisbon and advancing to the quarterfinals with a dominant 5-0 aggregate score. However, Guardiola is not underestimating the Portuguese champions, despite their personnel changes.
“They have changed players but have the same manager and same mentality,” Guardiola explained when asked about Sporting’s evolution since their last meeting. “Winning the league for the first time in 20 years and then doing it again last season shows what a good job he [Sporting manager Ruben Amorim] has done.”
Amorim’s tenure at Sporting has been impressive, with the club securing back-to-back league titles in Portugal, and Guardiola is full of respect for the job he has done. However, the City manager knows that Sporting will still pose a formidable challenge, particularly with the quality of players they have and their familiarity with big European nights.
### Bernardo Silva’s Call for Focus and Resilience
City’s star midfielder, Bernardo Silva, also spoke to the media ahead of the clash with Sporting. Silva, who spent part of his early career at Benfica — Sporting’s fierce rivals — is no stranger to the importance of this fixture, and he echoed Guardiola’s call for resilience in the face of adversity. Despite the long list of absentees, Silva made it clear that City would not make excuses.
“With a full squad, we are stronger, there’s no denying that,” said Silva. “We have a lot of unbelievable players missing. We have not been able to count on Kevin for six weeks, Rodri is out for the season, and other players are out for shorter times. But we never find excuses. This club was never about that.”
Silva’s statement is a reminder of the culture that Guardiola has built at Manchester City — a mentality where excuses are never made, and the focus is always on the next challenge, regardless of the obstacles. Despite missing key players, the expectation remains that City will rise to the occasion and maintain their competitive edge in one of the toughest tournaments in world football.
### The Road Ahead: Champions League Focus
Both Manchester City and Sporting Lisbon have enjoyed strong starts to the 2024/25 Champions League season, with each side winning two of their first three matches in the group stage. With seven points from their opening three matches, both teams are firmly in contention to qualify for the knockout rounds, and a win in this encounter would put them in an even stronger position.
For Guardiola, the immediate focus is on securing a crucial win in Lisbon, despite the injury crisis. “We know we will struggle,” Guardiola reiterated, “but we have to accept that and do our best to bounce back. We have a great team, and with the mentality we have, we can overcome these challenges.”
As the injury list continues to grow, City’s depth and resilience will be put to the test in the coming weeks, but Guardiola’s faith in his players and their ability to adapt will be key in navigating this difficult period. With the Champions League still very much in play, City’s response to adversity in Lisbon will go a long way in determining how they move forward in Europe this season.
### Conclusion
Despite the mounting injury crisis, Manchester City’s resolve remains strong. Pep Guardiola knows that the road ahead will be challenging, but he has instilled a culture of resilience and determination within the team. As they travel to Sporting Lisbon for their next Champions League fixture, City will be looking to put their recent setbacks behind them and focus on the task at hand — securing three crucial points in their pursuit of European glory. The absence of key players such as Rodri and De Bruyne will make it tough, but Guardiola’s focus on unity and fight will ensure City continue to compete at the highest level.