Pep Guardiola expressed concern over injuries to two key players following Manchester City’s 0-0 draw against Sunderland on October 28, 2023. The manager indicated that Savinho’s injury “does not look good,” while the club awaits further news on Nico Gonzalez, who left the pitch at half-time after failing to recover from his own issue.
The game at the Stadium of Light proved challenging for City. Both Rodri and Jeremy Doku returned from injuries, playing pivotal roles as the team sought to secure the opening goal. However, their efforts were thwarted by a resilient Sunderland side that maintained its unbeaten record at home in its first season back in the Premier League.
In addition to Gonzalez and Savinho, City faced other injury troubles. Nathan Ake had to shake off a problem just three minutes into the match, illustrating the team’s struggles with fitness. With upcoming fixtures against Chelsea and Brighton in the next six days, the potential for missing multiple matches looms large if players are sidelined.
Despite these setbacks, Guardiola praised his team’s overall performance, noting that they extended their unbeaten streak to nine games across all competitions. “A really good game, especially the second half,” he remarked. “The first half was tight; we just missed scoring in the six-yard box. We had many good actions against a fantastic team.”
Guardiola felt his squad performed better against Sunderland than during their previous victory at the City Ground. “We created a lot,” he said. “I don’t know if any team could come here and create what we did. We had chances, but in the end, we could not win.”
The manager highlighted the positive contributions of Rodri during the second half, emphasizing the team’s need to capitalize on scoring opportunities. “When you are five, six, or seven times in the six-yard box and cannot score, that is the only thing missing,” he added.
Moving forward, Guardiola acknowledged the need for recovery before the Chelsea match on October 31, 2023. The coach remained optimistic about his team’s capabilities despite the ongoing injury challenges, indicating a readiness to compete fiercely in their upcoming fixtures.
