As Manchester City prepare for their Premier League encounter with Everton at Goodison Park, manager Pep Guardiola faces significant selection challenges with potentially six senior players sidelined through injury. However, amid the injury concerns, there are encouraging signs with key players beginning to return to fitness as the club continues their pursuit of Champions League qualification and FA Cup success in the final stretch of the 2024-25 season.
The defending Premier League champions have endured a season hampered by injuries to key personnel across all areas of the pitch. The situation has forced Guardiola to repeatedly adapt his tactical approach and rely heavily on squad rotation during a campaign that has seen City competing across multiple fronts including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and with the FIFA Club World Cup still to come this summer.
While City have maintained their competitive edge despite these challenges, the accumulation of fitness issues has undoubtedly affected their usual dominance in domestic competition. Their current position in the Premier League, fighting for Champions League qualification rather than defending another title, reflects how these injury concerns have impacted their overall performance throughout the season.
In a significant boost for the Citizens, creative midfielder Phil Foden is expected to return to the matchday squad for the trip to Everton. The England international was notably absent from City’s victory over Crystal Palace in their previous fixture after sustaining a knock during the Manchester derby that caused him to limp down the tunnel.
Guardiola has confirmed that Foden has successfully returned to training this week and will be available for selection at Goodison Park. The playmaker’s return represents a substantial boost to City’s attacking options, with his creativity, technical ability, and goal-scoring threat having been crucial elements of their offensive play throughout the season.
Foden’s availability provides Guardiola with additional tactical flexibility in the final third, potentially allowing the Spaniard to rotate other attacking players who may have accumulated fatigue during recent fixtures. The midfielder’s eye for goal and ability to operate in multiple positions across the frontline make him an invaluable asset as City enter this crucial phase of the campaign.
Manchester City will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Ederson for the Everton clash after the Brazilian was forced off during the second half of their victory over Crystal Palace. The extent of the injury remains unclear, with Guardiola offering limited details about the goalkeeper’s condition beyond confirming his unavailability for the immediate fixture.
“He is not available for tomorrow. I don’t know [longer term]. But for that game is not ready,” Guardiola stated in his pre-match press conference, suggesting uncertainty regarding the timeframe for Ederson’s return to action.
This absence will likely see American international Stefan Ortega continue between the posts after replacing Ederson during the Palace match. Ortega has proven himself a capable deputy throughout the season, but the loss of Ederson’s distribution skills—a key component of City’s build-up play—remains a tactical concern for Guardiola’s side.
The current projection indicates Ederson might not return until May, leaving City without their preferred goalkeeper for several crucial fixtures as they battle to secure Champions League qualification.
Star striker Erling Haaland continues his rehabilitation from an ankle injury sustained during City’s FA Cup quarter-final victory over Bournemouth. The Norwegian forward’s absence has been keenly felt in recent weeks, with the team having to adapt their attacking approach without his clinical finishing and physical presence.
According to a statement released by Manchester City: “Manchester City FC can confirm that Erling Haaland has suffered an injury to his left ankle. The Norwegian striker sustained the injury during Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final victory away at AFC Bournemouth. Erling underwent initial tests in Manchester on Monday morning and will now seek specialist consultation to confirm the full extent of the injury.”
The club expressed optimism regarding Haaland’s prospects of returning before the end of the domestic season, noting: “The expectation is that Erling will be fit in time to play a further part in the remainder of this season, including this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.”
In an encouraging development, Haaland has been actively sharing his rehabilitation progress on social media, posting footage of his training sessions at the City Football Academy. These clips show the forward in good spirits as he works to regain fitness, suggesting his recovery is progressing well. Current projections indicate a potential return in May, which would be timely for the final Premier League fixtures and any potential FA Cup final appearance
Manchester City’s defensive unit has been particularly affected by injuries throughout the season, with multiple key players experiencing extended periods on the sidelines. This trend continues as they prepare for the Everton fixture with several defensive stalwarts unavailable.
Nathan Ake remains sidelined following surgery on a foot injury suffered during the match against Plymouth. Guardiola confirmed the severity of the injury, stating: “Ten to eleven weeks, they said. When it is surgery, it is pretty serious and something wrong happened. He struggled a lot this season with the problems in his feet and it happened.”
The Dutch international is not expected to return before the final Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on May 18th, which would represent an optimistic timeline for his recovery given the extensive rehabilitation required following the surgical procedure.
John Stones, who was forced off after just eight minutes during City’s Champions League encounter with Real Madrid earlier this year, initially created fears that he might require surgery and miss the remainder of the campaign. However, Guardiola has recently provided a more positive assessment, suggesting the England international could return to action before the end of April or early May.
Manuel Akanji represents another defensive casualty after tearing his adductor muscle in the 3-2 defeat to Madrid at the Etihad Stadium. The Swiss defender was substituted at half-time during that match and has been undergoing rehabilitation since. While he has now returned to training, Guardiola has confirmed he is not yet ready for competitive action, though expectations are that he could be available by late April.
This sequence of defensive injuries has forced Guardiola to repeatedly adjust his backline throughout the season, often utilizing players in unfamiliar positions to compensate for the absences. The lack of defensive continuity has arguably contributed to City’s less dominant domestic form compared to previous campaigns.
Perhaps the most significant absence for Manchester City this season has been midfield anchor Rodri, who continues his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The Spanish international’s influence on City’s playing style cannot be overstated, with his tactical intelligence, positional discipline, and technical ability forming the cornerstone of Guardiola’s system.
Rodri has been working diligently on his rehabilitation program, with Guardiola occasionally teasing the possibility of a return before the season concludes. The midfielder was spotted performing individual training drills at the Etihad Stadium prior to the FA Cup match against Plymouth, generating speculation about a potential comeback.
While the player himself has expressed ambition to feature again this season, medical caution suggests this remains unlikely. A more realistic target appears to be the FIFA Club World Cup in June, which would provide Rodri additional recovery time before returning to competitive action.
The absence of Rodri has forced Guardiola to adapt his midfield structure, often deploying Matheus Nunes or Ilkay Gündogan in deeper positions than their natural roles. While these players have performed admirably, they lack Rodri’s unique combination of defensive awareness and progressive passing that has been so fundamental to City’s tactical approach in recent seasons.
The accumulation of injuries throughout the campaign has unquestionably affected Manchester City’s ability to maintain their customary dominance of English football. Their current position in the Premier League, fighting for Champions League qualification rather than defending another title, demonstrates how these fitness issues have disrupted Guardiola’s preferred system.
However, the potential return of several key players during the final weeks of the season offers renewed optimism for their immediate prospects. A fully-fit Phil Foden provides crucial creativity, while the possible return of Erling Haaland would significantly enhance their goal-scoring capacity during the crucial run-in.
Defensively, the gradual reintegration of John Stones and Manuel Akanji would allow Guardiola to establish greater continuity in his backline, potentially addressing some of the vulnerability that has occasionally surfaced during their enforced absences.
The FA Cup represents a particularly important target for City this season, offering the opportunity to salvage silverware from a campaign that has fallen below their usual exceptional standards in league competition. With several potential returnees timed for the latter stages of this competition, Guardiola will be quietly confident about their prospects of success.
Looking further ahead, the FIFA Club World Cup in June provides another prestigious opportunity, with the additional recovery time potentially allowing longer-term absentees such as Rodri to participate. The competition would represent a fitting conclusion to a challenging season, particularly if City can enter it with a more complete complement of players.
Guardiola’s response to these injury challenges has showcased his tactical flexibility and willingness to innovate in difficult circumstances. Rather than rigidly adhering to his preferred system, the Catalan coach has implemented various adjustments to accommodate the available personnel.
In midfield, the absence of Rodri has necessitated a reconsideration of City’s build-up play and defensive structure. Matheus Nunes has often been deployed in a deeper role than anticipated following his arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers, while veteran Ilkay Gündogan has frequently dropped deeper to facilitate progression from defense to attack.
Offensively, Haaland’s absence has required City to adopt a more fluid approach without a recognized center-forward. Julian Alvarez has occasionally occupied central positions but lacks the Norwegian’s physical presence, prompting Guardiola to utilize false nine systems more frequently, with Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, or Bernardo Silva operating in advanced central areas.
Defensively, the rotation of personnel has been even more pronounced, with Guardiola regularly adjusting his backline configuration. Kyle Walker has occasionally shifted to central positions, while Rico Lewis has demonstrated remarkable versatility in fulfilling multiple roles across the defensive and midfield units.
These tactical adaptations reflect Guardiola’s pragmatic response to challenging circumstances, prioritizing collective functionality over individual brilliance. While the results have occasionally fallen below City’s exceptional standards, their continued competitiveness across multiple competitions underscores the effectiveness of these adjustments.
As City prepare for their trip to Goodison Park, Guardiola will be encouraged by the return of Phil Foden but must carefully manage the remaining fitness concerns within his squad. Everton, despite their own challenges this season, have often proven difficult opponents at home, suggesting City cannot afford complacency despite their superior resources.
The absence of Ederson presents a particular challenge given the Brazilian’s importance to City’s build-up play. Stefan Ortega will need to demonstrate composure in possession while maintaining defensive vigilance against an Everton side likely to target him with aggressive pressing.
Defensively, the continued absence of several established center-backs will require further tactical adjustment, possibly necessitating continued deployment of makeshift defensive units. This scenario heightens the importance of collective defensive organization and midfield protection to minimize exposure of less experienced or out-of-position defenders.
In midfield and attack, the return of Foden provides welcome creative reinforcement, potentially allowing rotation of other attacking players who may have accumulated fatigue during recent fixtures. His versatility offers Guardiola multiple deployment options, whether in central creative zones or wider attacking positions.
As Manchester City navigate this challenging period of injuries across multiple positions, their ability to maintain competitive performance levels while gradually reintegrating returning players will determine their success across the remaining competitions this season.
The potential returns of Phil Foden immediately, followed by Erling Haaland, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji in the coming weeks, provide optimism for an improved conclusion to a season that has presented unusual challenges for Guardiola’s typically dominant squad.
While the Premier League title may be beyond reach, the remaining objectives of Champions League qualification, FA Cup success, and potential FIFA Club World Cup participation continue to offer meaningful targets. The progressive return of key personnel over the coming weeks could yet transform a challenging campaign into one that concludes with significant achievement.
For Guardiola, these circumstances present both challenge and opportunity – testing his tactical adaptability while providing valuable development opportunities for less established squad members who have been required to assume greater responsibility during this injury-affected period.
As City prepare for Everton with a depleted but gradually improving squad, they do so with renewed optimism that the worst of their injury crisis may soon be behind them, potentially allowing for a stronger finish to a season that has required exceptional resilience and adaptability from players and coaching staff alike.
