No one standout player in City’s collective effort
CITY have showed the strength of a team game in the Premier League this season, with no individual greater than the collective.
It is almost impossible to agree on one standout player from the campaign so far because so many have done their jobs so well. Fernandinho has glued defence and attack with relentless energy, David Silva continues to sparkle, Bernardo Silva has helped make up for the loss of Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling have led the forward line while Aymeric Laporte has been a rock at the back.
As critical to the success of the squad, though, has been the ability to get those players on the pitch.
Last season, Brighton were the only club to suffer fewer injuries than City with Benjamin Mendy the only serious long-term absence for the Blues.
More problems were expected this term given the World Cup in summer shortened the amount of rest for the majority, but City have largely kept free of injuries.
De Bruyne (twice) and Claudio Bravo have been the exceptions to the rule as most matchdays Guardiola has had to leave fit players out of his squads; De Bruyne is hopeful of another early recovery as he aims to be back playing for City at the beginning of December.
For a manager that had a highprofile fallout with Bayern Munich’s team doctor, there has been little to complain about during his tenure in Manchester thanks to City’s staff plus the ability to call on Dr Ramon Cugat in Barcelona.
“We have an incredible medical department.
“We were the best in that respect last season,” Guardiola said last month. “If you can keep players fit then the medical department is a great investment.
“We try to do our best. Always when we do in that way and it works, it’s because we are a genius or how good the medical staff are.
“But doing the same thing maybe we could have ten players injured. Sometimes the consequence of your actions, you never know.
“I have to admit, we have an incredible medical department and incredible physios.
“Last season we were the best with the fewest injuries and I think that is the most important department because to keep the players fit is the most valuable investment, or the cheaper investment for the club. To pay the players’ salaries when they cannot play is more expensive. That’s why the department is so important.”