Manchester City will begin their pursuit of a fifth consecutive Premier League title this Sunday against Chelsea, but they will be without Oscar Bobb and Rodri. Bobb is sidelined for up to four months after breaking his leg in training, and Rodri is still recovering from an injury sustained during Euro 2024. The absence of these key players will impact City's lineup as they face Chelsea to start the season.
Manager Pep Guardiola admitted that the team may not be at full strength, with many players returning from Euro 2024 only this week. He acknowledged the challenge of starting the season with players who are not fully fit but emphasized the importance of mental and physical readiness. Despite the setbacks, Guardiola remains optimistic and believes that many teams are also not in their best condition at this stage.
Guardiola expressed his sadness over Bobb's injury, noting that the Norwegian forward will undergo surgery and face a recovery period of three to four months. Regarding Rodri, who was injured in Spain’s Euro 2024 final against England, Guardiola confirmed that the midfielder would not be available for Sunday's match and is still in the early stages of his recovery.
Additionally, Guardiola commented on Kalvin Phillips's impending move to Ipswich Town on a season-long loan. Phillips, who struggled for game time with City and had a brief loan spell at West Ham, is expected to gain valuable playing experience at Ipswich. Guardiola expressed hope that Phillips might return to City in the future once he has accumulated more minutes on the pitch.
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