Guardiola targets top spot despite injuries

Pep Guardiola is taking nothing for granted as Manchester City prepare to round off their campaign in Champions League Group F against already-eliminated Hoffenheim.

Guardiola revealed his squad is down to 15 fit senior players for the game, from which City need a point against their winless opponents in order to qualify in top spot.

David Silva and Fernandinho are the latest additions to an injury list that includes Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, Danilo, Benjamin Mendy and Claudio Bravo. Oleksandar Zinchenko has also been out in recent weeks.

The news has continued a testing week for Guardiola on the back of the weekend’s defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Guardiola said: “We have 15 players available so I cannot do too much.

“We are going into a really tough game. We are in the next stage and that’s important but we want to go through finishing first. Every game we try to win.

“If you finish first or second the last 16 is tough but to play at home (in the second leg) is a small advantage.”

Silva was substituted at Stamford Bridge with a hamstring injury and faces “a few weeks” out but Aguero, who has missed three games with a groin problem, could return to face Everton on Saturday.

Guardiola, speaking at a prematch press conference dominated by questions about the alleged racial abuse experienced by Raheem Sterling, did not confirm the nature of midfielder Fernandinho’s injury.