Pep Guardiola delivers squad fitness update
Guardiola delivers Man City squad fitness update ahead of EFL Cup clash after World Cup games
Guardiola delivers Man City squad fitness update ahead of EFL Cup clash after World Cup games.
On Thursday night, Manchester City and Liverpool square off in the EFL Cup, and Pep Guardiola said he had a patched-up squad due to players arriving late from the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
He told reporters: “Players are coming back now and in the next few days and step by step, they will re-join their team-mates here. (Nathan) is coming back soon.”
Since the Netherlands’ World Cup exit on December 10, Ake has had more than a week to rest and will have had a 12-day break between club and national team matches.
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It remains to be seen who will make the matchday squad against Liverpool, but Guardiola is surely more likely to pick players that have had a longer rest after the tournament.
Although Ake represented the Netherlands in every game at the World Cup, he hasn’t always been able to secure a starting position for City this year.
The 27-year-old made 13 appearances in all competitions before joining up with the national team, featuring in just one of City’s last four Premier League games, but he might get the nod against Liverpool because Guardiola won’t be blessed with depth.
When everyone is fit, Pep will have five central defenders at his disposal, but not every center-back has had as much rest as Ake.
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