Pep Guardiola insists that Manchester City will field 11 players at Bournemouth and will approach the fixture to win – but his options could be limited to a squad of just 14 senior players.
That figure excludes three goalkeepers, and academy graduate James McAtee who is yet to start a Premier League game for the club. Manu Akanji and Savinho joined the injury list at Tottenham on Wednesday, with Josko Gvardiol receiving treatment on the pitch at full-time and Guardiola hinting at a problem for Ruben Dias – who was replaced at half-time.
With two players out with long-term injuries – and no sign of imminent returns for Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker or Jeremy Doku – City have as many as ten players definitely out or doubtful this weekend.
Guardiola further hinted at other underlying problems among the squad, and he may well have to call upon the academy again for the trip to the Vitality Stadium this weekend.
Nico O’Reilly started at Tottenham, with Jacob Wright and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey coming off the bench in North London – Wright in particular looked good and it was the best of his four senior appearances to date.
Guardiola praised the young players, along with James McAtee and Rico Lewis – only Gvardiol has featured more this season than the full-back.
“Nico played like the Nico we met in pre-season, Jacob was really good, Jahmai played exceptional as a central defender with the minutes he played,” Guardiola said.
“This competition is really good to use these players. McAtee – what a game he played and everyone. Gundo, Kova, Benardo. Rico – the only player we cannot rest. We would like to rest but we cannot do it.”
Erling Haaland will return at Bournemouth having remained on the bench at Tottenham without any intention of playing him.
“We are 13 players. We are in real difficulty but we have to make the effort,” Guardiola said. “The guys who played, most finished with problems and we will see how they recover. I think when we are in trouble like we are – because in nine years I have never had this many injuries for this many reasons
