Manchester United last won at the Etihad in March 2021 (Picture: Getty)
Pep Guardiola has delivered a grim Manchester City injury update ahead of a big week which sees them take on Juventus and Manchester United in a boost for Ruben Amorim.
The Premier League champions travel to Turin on Wednesday in the Champions League before Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad.
City have just three senior defenders available for those two matches amid a long injury list – and Rico Lewis ruled out via suspension – after he was sent off in the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Guardiola looked a beaten man as he delivered a team news update and said: ‘We don’t have players to come back [against Juventus].
‘The solution is give me players back and to do it. But it’s not possible right now and I think it isn’t going to happen for a long time.
‘The reality is I will have few players to rotate in this type of period. When we arrive in the treble season and domestic treble it was because everyone was there.
‘We have [on the bench], except [James] McAtee, Jack [Grealish] and Jeremy [Doku] the other ones were from the academy. And it’s going to happen for the next games, the next three weeks, one month it’s going to happen the same.’
Man City have just three senior defenders available (Picture: Getty)
City have dominated English football in recent seasons but have suffered a drop-off this term – with Guardiola’s team fourth in the top-flight table after 15 games played – and currently eight points behind leaders Liverpool.
‘I said to players, don’t feel sorry, please,’ Guardiola added. ‘Accept the challenge.
‘It will be more difficult but maybe at the end we have more satisfaction in the way we are going to behave in these problems than maybe in the other seasons when we won the titles.
‘It’s not a question of luck, it happens. It’s life, it happens, accept it, and this is the challenge.
‘That’s why the challenge has been given. It’s football, we know this season will be like this.
‘Always all the teams want their players fit and ready. Sometimes unfortunately since the beginning it could not happen. It’s going to be [more difficult] for longer. One way or other we are going to try.’