Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says club in 'big, big trouble' due to injuries

Manchester City, who are in a close race for the Premier League title, have found themselves in "big, big trouble" because of injuries, the club's manager Pep Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday.

As the reigning treble champions of the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup, City are currently hopeful of defending all three titles but face a few major challenges. For example, they are in the third place on the domestic league's table and one point behind the top two, Arsenal and Liverpool, after 31 games. City advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals, but were held 3-3 by Real Madrid in the first-leg game on the road on Tuesday.

"Take a look at our games, and you realize," Guardiola said. "It is simple. He (Rodri) is so important for the quality he gives us. But if you have a player that doesn't want to play, he won't play."

"I need to rest the center halves also, but in [England's] friendly games, [John Stones and Kyle Walker] got injured, so they get cannot rest. We are in big, big trouble," Guardiola added. "I had the feeling we were tired in the last games. We will decide tomorrow what we have to do."

City will host Luton Town at the Etihad Stadium in their next Premier League game on Saturday. Nathan Ake has been ruled out of the contest due to calf, shin and heel injuries, according to premierinuries.com. Both Walker and Phil Foden have been dealing with thigh injuries.

"We're training this afternoon, and then we'll know better how they feel," Guardiola told reporters. City had played Luton Town twice previously this season, beating them 2-1 in the Premier League in December 2023 and 6-2 in the FA Cup in February.

City will play Real again in the second-leg game of the Champions League quarterfinals on April 17 before meeting Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinals on April 20.