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Guardiola not planning to patch up City defence in January window
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Oct 25, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Pep Guardiola insists
Manchester City will not buy a player in the January transfer window despite
admitting he is concerned about his team’s growing list of injuries in
defence.
The Premier League champions look destined to be without Oleksandr
Zinchenko and Rodri until December after the pair reported fitness problems
this week.
With Aymeric Laporte on the sidelines until well into the new year,
Guardiola will be heavily reliant on John Stones and Benjamin Mendy, two
defenders whose City careers have been severely hampered by injuries.
But while the City manager has expressed his concern, Guardiola insists
cash-rich City do not intend spending when the transfer window re-opens at
the end of 2019.
“I’m a little bit concerned because in a few positions we don’t have enough
players,” said Guardiola.
“January window I think we are not going to buy. The club didn’t introduce
me to the players they thought could help us so without that it’s not going
to happen.
“Our need is not just for six months it’s for a long time and the important
players will not be sold. We are going to stay all the season, I think, with
all the players we have right now.”
With Rodri having played at centre-half in the past two games until
injuring his hamstring against Atalanta in midweek, the emphasis would appear
to be on Stones to remain fit and re-establish himself as a starter with
City.
However, injuries meant the England international has not started
consecutive games since February and Stones was in Guardiola’s bad books this
week after he was not ready to come on as a substitute against Atalanta.
TV images showed Guardiola’s anger at his player and the City manager was
still irritated by the incident when asked on Friday.
“The guys on the bench know you have to be ready to go out from the first
minute,” he said. “Did you see the image? So it speaks for itself.”
Zinchenko, injured during the last international window with Ukraine,
underwent minor knee surgery in Spain this week and is expected to be out for
up to six weeks.
His absence will leave the left-back position open for French international
Mendy, whose own City career has been plagued by serious knee problems.
“He played 90 minutes at Crystal Palace and on Tuesday too, playing 70-75
minutes incredibly against Atalanta and he’s not injured,” Guardiola said of
Mendy.
“I think it’s coming that he can play regularly. Games, games, games and he
will get to his best level.
“Still he is not on the level that we believe he can do it but that’s
normal. After two seasons out, he needs time”
The long list of problems has tested Guardiola’s creativity and managerial
skills to the full with the City manager having started the last two games
with two central midfielders — Fernandinho and Rodri — at the heart of his
defence.
“I would prefer it if all the players had no injuries but I have to do it,”
Guardiola added.
“I said when Laporte happened that it is what it is. We can’t stop and
complain, ‘oh what bad luck.’
“We have good players in the squad. In a few positions there are not many
but we have incredibly good players. We’re going with them.”
BSS/AFP/ARS/1024 hrs