Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has set a realistic tone ahead of their Champions League showdown with Sporting on Tuesday, admitting that his injury-hit squad faces a tougher season with more challenging odds of replicating their past success.
The reigning Premier League champions saw their 32-game unbeaten league streak shattered with a recent loss to Bournemouth, following a League Cup exit against Tottenham. A string of injuries has left City depleted, making their path to another title-laden season steeper.
In a press conference on Monday, Guardiola acknowledged the high expectations surrounding his team but cautioned that fans should brace for potential setbacks. “I know our standards, but we’ve lost just one game. Maybe we’re going to lose again in the Premier League against Brighton, Tottenham, and Liverpool,” Guardiola remarked, addressing their tough upcoming fixtures.
He added, “We’re just two points behind Liverpool, a top-class team. We’ve started well in the Champions League, but I understand that people expect us to win 38 league games and clinch the treble every season. Injuries make it hard for everything to align perfectly.”
City will be without Ballon d’Or winner Rodrigo and Oscar Bobb for the majority of the season, while other key players—including John Stones, Jack Grealish, and Ruben Dias—remain out and will miss the trip to Portugal. Meanwhile, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and Kyle Walker are dealing with lingering issues, though they are in the squad. The bright spots: Kevin De Bruyne and Savinho are making progress in recovery, and star striker Erling Haaland is fit to play.
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Despite the obstacles, City is third in the Champions League standings, boasting two wins and a draw. Sporting CP, currently unbeaten across all competitions, matches City’s seven points and poses a strong challenge. City fans will recall the 5-0 thrashing of Sporting in the 2022 Champions League last-16—a result Guardiola is hesitant to rely on as a predictor for Tuesday’s clash.
“They play quite similarly to how we faced them two seasons ago. The pattern is clear,” Guardiola noted, highlighting Sporting’s consistency under manager Ruben Amorim, who will soon take over as Manchester United’s head coach.
As City fans hope for another victorious European campaign, Guardiola’s remarks set a grounded expectation in what is shaping up to be a season of resilience and adaptation for the Premier League champions.
