Manchester City is set to receive a significant injury boost ahead of their crucial Champions League match against Club Brugge, with Pep Guardiola hinting at the potential return of Oscar Bobb. However, the team remains without three key players as they face a must-win game to keep their European hopes alive. A defeat or draw would eliminate City from the competition, an unexpected predicament given their high standards but one caused in part by a mounting injury crisis. The team has failed to secure a win in their last four European outings.
Guardiola provided an update on the squad during his pre-match press conference, confirming that Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake will remain sidelined in defense. Neither player is expected to recover in time for Wednesday’s game, leaving a significant gap in City’s backline. In addition, winger Jeremy Doku has been ruled out “for a while,” further compounding the club’s injury woes. These absences come at a critical time, with City struggling to find form and cohesion in European competitions.
To make matters more challenging, the club’s three January signings—Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis—are ineligible for Champions League action. This leaves Guardiola with limited options to rotate his squad and add fresh legs to the lineup. He acknowledged that the squad for the Brugge clash will closely resemble the one fielded during the weekend’s Premier League match against Chelsea. “The guys who were involved in the last game, they are available,” Guardiola stated, suggesting there would be minimal changes.
Despite these setbacks, Guardiola expressed optimism about Oscar Bobb’s potential return. The young forward has been out of action since sustaining an injury on the eve of the Premier League season, but the manager hinted that he could finally make his first appearance of the campaign. “I think Oscar comes back as well,” Guardiola said, offering some hope for additional attacking options.
There was also a positive update regarding John Stones, who has been working to regain full fitness. Guardiola mentioned that Stones “feels really good” and challenged the experienced defender to step up in the absence of other senior center-backs. Stones’ availability could be crucial, as Guardiola has limited choices for defensive partnerships, with Manu Akanji being the only other fit central defender.
The injury crisis has put Manchester City in an unfamiliar position, fighting for survival in the Champions League group stage. Guardiola’s tactical adjustments and reliance on the available players will be key as they attempt to secure the much-needed victory against Club Brugge. Despite the challenges, the return of Oscar Bobb and the improving fitness of John Stones offer a glimmer of hope for the squad. City’s performance on Wednesday will determine whether they can overcome these obstacles and advance to the next stage of the competition.
