Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will not rush defender Nathan Ake back into action for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Brighton. The versatile Dutch centre-back has been out of action since aggravating a hamstring injury during a match against Leeds United on May 6.
Despite securing the Premier League title after Arsenal’s defeat to Nottingham Forest last week, City is not willing to take any risks with Ake’s fitness. Guardiola stated that the club is eager to keep the defender fresh for their upcoming matches, including the FA Cup and Champions League finals.
Guardiola confirmed that while Ake is on the road to recovery, he will not be rushed back into action until he is fully fit. The manager revealed that he had no idea if Ake will be available for Wednesday’s match or the final fixture against Brentford on Sunday, but he is optimistic about the defender’s progress.
In addition to Ake, Guardiola also revealed that the club has a few other injury concerns. The Spanish manager is keen on keeping his squad fresh and focused for the upcoming games and is thus hoping to keep his starting lineup as fresh as possible. He made sweeping changes to the starting eleven for the match against Chelsea and will likely do the same for the upcoming games.
City has already secured the Premier League title for the fifth time in six seasons, and Guardiola is keen on securing the Treble. However, he understands the importance of being cautious with his players’ fitness, especially with the crucial matches that lie ahead.
With City’s FA Cup final match against Manchester United and the Champions League final against Inter Milan, Guardiola has a daunting task ahead of him to keep his team in top condition for the crucial games. His plan to keep his squad fresh and focused on the upcoming fixtures could be key to securing success in both competitions.
In conclusion, Guardiola and Manchester City are taking a cautious approach towards Nathan Ake’s fitness, ensuring he is fully fit for the important matches ahead. The manager’s focus on keeping the squad fresh and free of injury could be the key to success in the upcoming matches. With Ake’s injury concerns a thing of the past, City could be in good stead to secure the Treble this season.
