Manchester City have been dealt a significant injury setback ahead of their crucial Premier League encounter with Tottenham this weekend, with winger Jeremy Doku ruled out due to a calf problem.
Doku's Absence Confirmed by Guardiola
Pep Guardiola confirmed the unfortunate news following City's Champions League victory over Galatasaray on Wednesday night, which secured their place in the competition's Round of 16 without requiring a play-off. The manager revealed that Doku, who had been instrumental in the match, suffered the muscular issue and will miss the Tottenham fixture.
"It's a big miss [once he goes off]. Jeremy is an important player for so many reasons. We'll see," Guardiola stated. "Jeremy has had these muscular problems with the demands and his efforts. Hopefully in March he can be ready to help us. He was exceptional in Madrid and in Norway he could not play for the injury that everyone knows what happened in Old Trafford. Unfortunately he's not ready for a few more days."
Injury Concerns Pile Up for City
This development adds to Manchester City's growing list of fitness worries as they prepare to face Tottenham. The club has been navigating a challenging period with multiple players sidelined, though they will receive a boost with new signing Antoine Semenyo available for selection. The former AFC Bournemouth forward was ineligible for the final Champions League group stage match but is set to feature against Tottenham with fresh legs.
City's injury woes come at a critical juncture in their season. They recently narrowed the gap to league leaders Arsenal to just four points after securing a victory against Wolves and benefiting from Manchester United's win over Arsenal. The January transfer window saw significant reinforcements arrive at the Etihad Stadium, including Semenyo and Marc Guehi, both considered statement signings aimed at bolstering their title challenge.
Guardiola Reflects on Champions League Progress
Despite the injury concerns, Guardiola expressed satisfaction with his team's performance in Europe. "The first half was better than the second, but in the second half there were more chances than the first. A lot of things to improve. We're really pleased to finish top eight considering how the Champions League has become," he commented.
"When I started 16 or 17 years ago, qualification was not as difficult. Today, every team is really, really tough, and I'm really pleased and hopefully we can arrive in March in our best. We started really well and had chances. We had no proper holding midfielders there. Jeremy and Omar were excellent, but we had incredible chances and maybe we [could have] needed more goals to qualify."
Looking ahead, Guardiola remains optimistic about his squad's prospects. "But I'm really pleased because we have long weeks [until the Round of 16] and we need it. Not just that, that we've already qualified. Hopefully in that moment we can arrive better. Look how many incredible teams are out of the top 24 and how many are not in the top eight and still it's the youngest team we have played in my years here in the Champions League. It's a process to learn and hopefully Rodri, Marc and Semenyo will be back when we are there. That's good news."
As Manchester City gear up for the Tottenham clash, the absence of Doku and other key players will test their squad depth and resilience in the ongoing Premier League title race.
