Disappointing Erling Haaland & Kevin De Bruyne Injury Update Strike Manchester City Fans, Pep Guardiola Confirms

Pep Guardiola has a lot on his plate ahead of Manchester City‘s next game. The Cityzens travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace in their upcoming encounter. Despite the game’s importance, Pep might be forced to keep some of his top players from the playing eleven. While fans would have loved to see Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne return after missing the game against Aston Villa, the duo will likely sit out of the match again.

Pep Guardiola addressed the media ahead of the team’s game against the Eagles. With everyone interested to know about his playing eleven, the Spaniard did not waste time making his thoughts known. The Manchester City boss noted, “I don’t know yet. [We are] playing at 12:30 and played just two days ago, I have to think.”

It’s understandable to see Pep Guardiola take a cautious approach with Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne picking up injuries this season. The duo has been crucial for the team, and it might not be wise to risk their fitness just two days before the first-leg UCL match against Real Madrid. The team is already in a concerning state, with multiple top names absent from the team because of injuries. Adding Haaland and De Bruyne to the list would derail any momentum for the team as they chase a consecutive treble.

Pep Guardiola provides an update on injured Manchester City stars

The game against Crystal Palace is a must-win game for the defending champions. Manchester City is currently third in the league standings, and a defeat to the Eagles will put them at a massive disadvantage. Pep Guardiola fielded a rather toned-down team against Aston Villa at the Etihad earlier this week. Fans can expect the Spaniard to once again deploy the same players, with most of his absentees still unavailable for the game. According to Guardiola, Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake are still under observation and will not travel with the team to Selhurst Park.

READ MORE: “Schedule Is Terrible”- Pep Guardiola Lashes Out as International Break Fatigue Costs Manchester City Key Players

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Ederson has done well in training after his injury and is in contention for selection. The game against Palace could serve as a good tune-up opportunity for the Brazilian with the Real Madrid clash on the horizon. It will be interesting to see who makes it into Pep Guardiola’s playing eleven this Sunday as the manager looks to preserve his players. What are your thoughts on Guardiola’s decision to rest Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne? Let us know in the comments below.

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