Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol is back in training ahead of the match against Tottenham this weekend.

Manchester City are moving into one of the most important weekends of their season, and the noise around the club is louder than ever. With Tottenham Hotspur visiting the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Pep Guardiola is facing big questions about the fitness of some of his key stars. Injuries, illnesses, and constant speculation about transfers have left City fans restless, worried, and yet hopeful at the same time. Every little detail about who is training, who is back on the pitch, and who is not available has now become a huge talking point. The club is chasing perfection, but perfection requires every soldier to be ready for battle. Right now, Manchester City are fighting to get their warriors back on their feet.

One of the biggest names at the center of attention is Josko Gvardiol, the Croatian defender who was signed last summer to add strength and stability to City’s backline. He has been missing in recent games, and his absence was heavily felt. Against Wolves, Pep Guardiola confirmed that Gvardiol was “not ready” to play. The words sounded heavy because City fans know how important he is. A defender of his quality brings calm, power, and intelligence to the defense. When he is missing, City’s backline looks slightly vulnerable, and opponents know they can exploit that.

But the good news finally arrived this week. Gvardiol has returned to training. The pictures of him jogging with his teammates spread across social media like wildfire, and City supporters could finally breathe again. His presence on the training pitch felt like a blessing. Even if he is not fully ready to start against Tottenham, the fact that he could be on the bench gives Guardiola another option, another warrior ready to step in if needed.

However, Guardiola has been cautious. He has not rushed him back, and he made it clear that Gvardiol was not in the right shape for the Palermo pre-season friendly either. That raised eyebrows among fans who wondered if the injury was worse than reported. But the plan was simple: keep him safe, let him recover properly, and bring him back when he is strong enough to compete at the highest level. Tottenham is a big game, and Gvardiol’s expected return is timed perfectly. Even if he comes in for only 20 minutes, his presence will lift the team and the fans.

The official update put his expected return date as Saturday 23rd August against Spurs at the Etihad Stadium. City fans have marked that day on their calendar not just as a game against a tough rival, but as the possible return of one of their most important defenders.

And Gvardiol is not the only story here. Pep Guardiola has more players fighting their own battles with fitness and health.

Take Ederson, for example. The Brazilian goalkeeper, the wall at the back for Manchester City, has been absent. He missed the trip to Molineux against Wolves because of a stomach bug. City fans were left shocked when the line-up came out and Ederson’s name was missing. The goalkeeper is not only crucial for his shot-stopping ability, but his ball distribution and calmness under pressure are part of the foundation of Guardiola’s system. Without him, City look different. The rhythm changes.

Now, the expectation is that Ederson will be back in training before the Tottenham clash. His illness is not long-term, and everyone at the club believes he will recover in time. But there is also another shadow hanging over Ederson – the transfer rumors. Reports in Turkey have linked him with a shock move to Galatasaray. That news has added confusion to the goalkeeper’s future. Will he play against Spurs? Will Guardiola trust him, knowing he might be distracted by transfer talks? Or will he be benched, with Stefan Ortega ready to step in? Nobody knows for sure, but City fans are desperate to see him back between the sticks.

For now, the expected return date also falls on Saturday 23rd August against Tottenham. If he is back, the stadium will roar for him.

Then comes the story of Phil Foden, the local boy, the star who carries the heart of Manchester in his boots. Foden has been struggling with an ankle problem. He missed the opening Premier League fixture and also the Palermo friendly. Guardiola hinted that he was close to making the squad against Wolves but did not want to take any risks. Losing Foden early in the season would have been a disaster. His creativity, his movement, and his ability to unlock defenses are unique. City rely on him to break stubborn teams.

The ankle problem is not believed to be too serious, but it was enough to keep him out of action. Guardiola has played it safe, and now the target is Tottenham. If Foden is back in the matchday squad, even if it’s from the bench, he will give City another weapon to hurt Spurs. Fans are excited about this return because Foden has always loved playing in big games, and there’s nothing bigger than Tottenham at the Etihad. His expected return date is also Saturday 23rd August against Spurs.

But not every story has a happy ending. Some players are still facing longer spells on the sidelines. The most painful of them is Rodri, the midfield general, the man who controls every single match for Manchester City. When Rodri plays, City dominate. When he doesn’t, the team looks exposed. His groin injury came during the Club World Cup defeat to Al-Hilal, and since then, Guardiola has been cautious. The manager confirmed that Rodri will join team training “soon,” but he is not expected to play before the international break. That means City will have to face Tottenham without him.

This is a big blow. Tottenham are known for their intensity in midfield, and Rodri’s absence could hurt City badly. Fans know it, Guardiola knows it, and even the opponents know it. But the priority is his recovery. City do not want to risk him and lose him for an even longer period. His expected return is penciled in for September. Until then, Guardiola will have to find solutions, maybe trusting Mateo Kovacic or Kalvin Phillips to step in, though neither can fully replace Rodri’s influence.

The drama around these injuries and returns has turned into one of the biggest stories in English football this week. City are preparing for a massive test against Tottenham, and every detail about these players matters. Fans are restless, journalists are digging for updates, and Guardiola is carefully choosing his words to keep the focus on the game.

When the line-up is announced on Saturday, millions of eyes will be searching for four names – Gvardiol, Ederson, Foden, and Rodri. The first three could all be back, at least on the bench, while the last one will be missing. And that combination will decide how strong City look against their rivals.

Beyond the football, these updates show the bigger picture of Manchester City’s journey. They are chasing trophies on every front – the Premier League, the Champions League, the FA Cup, and every other competition they touch. To achieve that, they need their entire squad fit and ready. Injuries and illnesses are small battles in a bigger war, but each one of them can change the course of the season.

Josko Gvardiol’s training session this week gave fans hope. Ederson’s possible return gave them relief. Phil Foden’s ankle recovery gave them excitement. But Rodri’s delay gave them fear. That mix of emotions is exactly what it feels like to be a Manchester City fan in this moment – hope, relief, excitement, and fear, all together, all building up to Saturday when Tottenham arrive at the Etihad.

For Pep Guardiola, this is the challenge of being the manager of Manchester City. He has to balance the fitness of his stars, manage the expectations of fans, handle the transfer speculation, and prepare his team for battle. Every word he says in a press conference, every decision he makes in training, becomes a headline. He knows the importance of Tottenham, and he knows he cannot afford mistakes.

As the countdown continues, the Etihad is waiting. The fans will come in their thousands, wearing sky blue, singing their songs, hoping to see their heroes back in action. Will Josko Gvardiol step onto the pitch again? Will Ederson stand tall in goal? Will Phil Foden dance with the ball at his feet? And will City find a way to cope without Rodri? All these questions will be answered on Saturday, and the answers could shape the rest of the season.

One thing is certain: this weekend is not just another Premier League game. It is a statement of Manchester City’s strength, resilience, and determination. Injuries may slow them down, but they will not break them. The champions are preparing for war, and the return of their stars is the boost they needed at exactly the right time.