Manchester City is facing a setback as they prepare for their Champions League clash with Crvena Zvezda, missing key players Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku. Both were absent from Tuesday morning’s practice at the City Football Academy, with the team en route to Belgrade for their final Group G game. Despite securing the top spot in the group, City opted not to play, and goalkeeper Ederson was also absent due to illness.
Pep Guardiola revealed that Haaland, dealing with a foot injury, would undergo weekly assessments due to stress on the bone. The striker is unlikely to feature against Crystal Palace or in the upcoming Club World Cup. Doku, nursing a muscle injury, is being carefully managed to avoid exacerbation.
With Tuesday’s training session featuring 23 players, including academy members, Guardiola hinted at potential lineup changes for a game where the outcome holds no significance. The UEFA Youth League saw City’s young talents triumph in their group, with players like Kane Taylor, Max Alleyne, Mahamadou Susoho, and Micah Hamilton in contention for the Champions League “B List.”
Guardiola faces the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, who, despite being named in the Club World Cup squad, is unlikely to play due to fitness concerns. Although back on the practice pitch, De Bruyne has not yet rejoined team training.
The training squad for Manchester City includes familiar names such as Walker, Dias, Rodri, Bernardo, Foden, and Grealish. Guardiola may opt for alternatives like Matheus Nunes, Kalvin Phillips, Oscar Bobb, Sergio Gomez, Rico Lewis, Manu Akanji, and John Stones, who sat out the Luton match.
