Pep Guardiola has explained the latest on Manchester City’s injury news as he prepares his squad to face Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United return to league duty this weekend as Rúben Amorim takes his team to face Manchester City in the Premier League.
Neither Amorim’s side nor Pep Guardiola’s men have impressed in the early weeks of the campaign. United have one win, one draw and one defeat, while City sit 13th with just three points from their opening three matches.
The Manchester derby now offers both clubs a valuable chance to regain momentum and heap further pressure on their neighbours during an already unpredictable start to the season.
When the two sides last met at the Etihad, United produced a stunning late comeback, with Bruno Fernandes and Amad striking to secure a 2-1 win just before the turn of the year.
Pep confirms Man City injury latest
Ahead of the derby, City boss Guardiola addressed reporters in a pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
Amid City’s injury problems, the Spaniard confirmed that Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Rayan Cherki were all unavailable to play, and that defender John Stones is also a doubt.
“Omar [Marmoush] came from Egypt injured. Rayan Ait Nouri and Rayan Cherki are out. John Stones is a doubt but not a ‘big issue’. The rest are okay,” Pep said.
“We have to wait for tests (on Marmoush) but a few weeks I think. Before the international break he will be ready.”
Pep coy over who starts in goal vs United
City signed James Trafford from Burnley earlier this summer, with the English goalkeeper starting all three Premier League ties this season.
However, toward deadline day, Guardiola’s club also swooped in to sign Paris Saint-Germain shotstopper Gianluigi Donnarumma, leaving Trafford’s starting place in doubt against United.
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On Friday afternoon, Guardiola was asked for his first impressions about the Italian and if he is going to start against United.
The City manager replied by explaining that he had not seen too much of Donnarumma in training, as he met the 26-year-old on his day off and did not oversee training on Thursday. When pressed again on whether Donnarumma will start, Guardiola simply said “we’ll see”.
However, if the manager has not yet seen Donnarumma in training, this may suggest that Trafford may remain in goal for the Manchester derby on Sunday as Guardiola waits to assess his new No. 1.
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