Pep Guardiola draws comparison to tennis star Rafael Nadal as he urges injury-riddled Man City to play through the pain barrier

Manchester City are currently without several first-team stars due to injury including Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Kyle Walker. Guardiola also has doubts about the fitness of Savinho, Manuel Akanji and Josko Gvardiol ahead of his team’s next Premier League match against Bournemouth on Saturday. Guardiola has already admitted his team “are in trouble” on the injury front but has now urged his side to use Nadal as an example and play through the pain barrier.

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  WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

  He told reporters: “There are moments when injuries are [harmful] injuries and be careful but sometimes if you have problems you have to play. Rafa Nadal played all of his career with pain. He played. And won I don’t know how many Grand Slams. You have to deal with it in modern football or you can’t sustain games every three days at a top club. Kevin is getting better. The last two, three days the doctor said to me that he made a step forward in terms of pain.

  “It depends on the players. There are players who say, “OK, I’m ready” and there are players who have more tendency to get niggles with their history. There are the others who just go, go go – that it doesn’t matter what happens. It’s not because they are more or less [focused]. It’s that they can adapt to sustain incredible amounts of efforts every day more than the other ones.”

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Manchester City remain top of the table , despite the team’s injury issues, and there will be little sympathy for Guardiola from Premier League rivals who have watched the Cityzens put together an expensive squad at the Etihad Stadium. Yet teams may also feel this is a good time to play City due to the absence of key players. Guardiola’s side crashed out of the Carabao Cup in midweek to Tottenham and face a busy week with games against Bournemouth, Sporting CP and Brighton to come.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY

  Manchester City may appear vulnerable ahead of their trip to Bournemouth but do possess an excellent record against the Cherries. City are unbeaten in all 21 of their matches against Bournemouth and have won the last 15.