Pep’s limited options as injuries still plague City

PEP Guardiola is not planning many City changes tonight – because he has too many injuries to rotate everyone.

The Carabao Cup game with Leicester will be the Blues’ fourth 90 minutes in 11 days across three competitions, and there have been signs of fatigue with as many as nine first-team players missing at least one match in the last month through injury.

City’s manager has used previous rounds of the Carabao Cup to rotate his squad. Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz have started both games, and Claudio Gomes, Adria Bernabe and Aro Muric have made their debuts for the club.

More changes will be expected for tonight’s quarter-final, but Guardiola suggested some of his key players will also have to feature simply because there are not enough options to be able to cover for everybody.

“We don’t have many players, we have a lot of injured players, some players who have played the last few games will have to play,” he said.

“It’s a chance to reach the semi-final. Every competition must be respected, like we did last season, and we’re going to try to win the game.”

Liverpool will have their feet up while City are slogging away on Tuesday, and with Jurgen Klopp’s men unbeaten in the Premier League and a point clear at the top of the table any advantage in a busy December could prove significant in the title race.

“I’d prefer to be in the Carabao Cup than not,” said Guardiola.

“Last season we had one or two weeks when we were out of the FA Cup. I cannot imagine going into a game thinking ‘oh, it will be better to lose because then we’ll have more time to rest’. I have never thought in that way.

“We’re going to prepare as always to win the game, to try to reach the semi-final and then have two legs to try to reach another final. That is the only way for a club like Manchester City, who 10 years ago were not in this position, to grow up, to get better and better and that’s what we have to do. So you never know.

“In terms of a little bit of rest, yes, that’s true, but we’re going to play the games until the end. If it happens, it happens – if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.” KEVIN de Bruyne downplayed any concern over his knees as he prepares to finally get his season up and running.

The City star has been sidelined with two serious issues this season, injuring a ligament in his left knee just weeks after returning from ligament damage in his right knee.

It has been a major hindrance for the defending champions to not be able to start their star playmaker in any Premier League game this season. But having made his return against Everton at the weekend as a substitute, the Belgian is confident there will not be any lingering issues from his problems.

“I’ve had two big injuries and I worked hard to be back. To play a little bit feels good, it feels comfortable so that’s the main thing,” he said.

“There’s nothing I can do - it was two accidents. I’m happy with my body because I know I have no problems with muscles. They were both just accidents, the second time also. I felt my knee and it pops, so you just work hard and try to be back as soon as possible.”

Pep Guardiola said last week that CONSIDERING the disbelief City caused in the summer of 2017 when they paid £35m for an uncapped Brazilian goalkeeper, it is amazing how quickly some have forgotten Ederson.

Following a crucial save against Napoli in midweek, and ahead of the Premier League match with United, Jamie Carragher spoke about Alisson having the potential to oust David de he had felt De Bruyne was tired when he returned from the World Cup, suggesting that even had he avoided injury the 27-year-old would not have been in peak form.

That was contested by the player, who has grown accustomed to turning in world-class performances even when not fully fresh.

“I wasn’t exhausted. I think in general people need a good summer break, sometimes we play for 11-and-a-half months at a time and there is not enough time to rest. I had a rest of about three weeks after 12 months of playing. Is that short? Probably, yes. But I felt ok to come back. Gea as the best goalkeeper in the world and Chris Kirkland went further in declaring him to already be the best of the best.

This weekend’s games at both Anfield and the Etihad showed how far Alisson has to go before he should be considered in that debate.

For years United’s stopper was rightly held up as the best in the league, and as the team got worse the Spaniard got better.

“I played the most of anyone last year - in the whole world. And I played the World Cup without a problem. I think the most important thing is having a summer break - if you have that you can feel ok but there is always a time in someone’s career where you feel a bit less.

“But I felt all right, it was just a shame that when I came back after one week I was out for two-and-a-half months. I was happy to come back and worked really hard but after three games it happened again. So I think it’s part of your career and in the end it’s just the way it is.”

Nevertheless, a depleted City squad can welcome back a rejuvenated De Bruyne in time for tonight’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal with Leicester and the rest of a busy month.

The midfield star has enjoyed time with his family and new addition Rome as he recovered

Ederson’s first season in the league under Pep Guardiola changed the argument to one of aesthetics. You could still argue that De Gea was the best shot-stopper, but there was nobody better to be the last man in this City team, combining traditional goalkeeping duties with phenomenal distribution and bravura to reverse any pressure from the Blues in a matter of moments.

Alisson, a fellow Brazilian, is firmly in from his latest injury. Having been impressed with what he has seen from the squad in his absence, De Bruyne is looking forward to playing his part in City’s quest for trophies. “They did brilliantly without me but I’m sure they’ll be happy that I’m back. It’s just how it is. They have had to manage with the players who are there and sometimes players are out. Now I’ll try to be at my top level to help them out. “That’s why you invest in the team and put all that money in to have a full squad. The investment is the beginning. They did really smartly by buying young players who can get better. “We’ve a squad of 21 or 22 players and it doesn’t matter who plays they have regular games in the team. We are fully there for the four trophies. You know you are going to get injuries but you hope to keep them as few as possible. “If you want to try to win the lot, you need players to do that.” the Ederson school and has had a transformative effect on a Liverpool team that was regularly let down by Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius last season. The 26-year-old will win more points than he loses for Jurgen Klopp’s side and has already shown his worth with vital saves against Burnley and Everton in the Premier League.

But with the gaffe at Anfield added to a howler at Leicester, Alisson has made more glaring errors in half a