Pep Guardiola attributed Manchester City's faltering title defense to the team's injury problems and, in particular, Rodri's absence, asking “How many NBA titles would the Chicago Bulls win without Michael Jordan?”
Spanish midfielder Rodri is unlikely to play again this season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against Arsenal in September – a setback that robbed City of their most influential player and the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner.
Since then, a large number of other players have missed time due to various ailments, contributing to City's poor form which has seen them win just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions.
“This is the problem. With Rodri, we knew that from the beginning. This season we are playing without the Ballon d'Or winner and the best player in England last season,” Guardiola said.
“Of course it's difficult. The Chicago Bulls won six NBA titles with Michael Jordan, right? Since Jordan retired, how many have they won?”
“The moment we (the players) come back, we will be strong again.”
Derby day is approaching 👊
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– Manchester City (@ManCity) December 12, 2024
Too many games – Guardiola
Guardiola has been a long-time critic of the hectic schedule handed to Europe's leading clubs, and reiterated his belief that there are too many games being played.
“We have more games than ever before on this calendar,” he said. “The number of injuries we had today made me think that you need a squad of 25-30 players.
“It will be more difficult financially for the club.
“In the summer, we will play the Club World Cup over three weeks and then the Premier League will start again.
“Maybe then we have to have more depth in our team. When people say, ‘What’s the problem?’ The problem is the schedule.
“It's not about the players, it's not about the physiotherapists, it's not about training, it's not about how you eat or rest. It's the schedule.
“Sooner or later it will happen to all clubs. That's the truth.”
City are struggling for defenders to face United
Injuries show no sign of abating ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday, especially in defensive areas.
Manuel Akanji is suffering from injury, as are John Stones and Nathan Ake, while Rico Lewis is suspended.
This leaves Guardiola with just three top-class defenders – Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol – and a problem to solve.
He said: “I need players. We have three so let's see what happens today and tomorrow. We will have to think about it.”
“Maybe the winger has to play as a full-back or we play with a back five where the full-back is a winger. I don't know. I'm thinking about what to do with our situation.”
Record revenue does not mean huge conversions
Today, City announced record revenues of £715 million for the year ending June 30, but Guardiola insisted that this does not necessarily mean he will get the green light to enter the transfer market in January.
He said: “What I want is the return of my players, the players we have.” “I want the team we had at the beginning of the season that was competing hard.
“I've said many times, that's the only thing I regret, (that) I don't have these players – and they're not new players.
“At the right moment, we will see. The fact that we have record revenues, which I have to congratulate the club on, does not mean that we have very large resources to buy what we want.
City enter the weekend in fourth place in the Premier League, eight points behind leaders Liverpool, and the Merseyside side also have a game in hand.
