“I don’t know what the doctor will say” – Pep Guardiola confirms injury update ahead of Manchester City vs Wolves | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a fresh update on the injury and fitness status of his side ahead of the clash with Wolves on Saturday afternoon.

With pressure mounting following back-to-back defeats against Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt, Guardiola is facing one of his most delicate team selections of the season so far.

The upcoming Premier League fixture now carries added importance as Manchester City look to restore confidence, regain momentum, and steady a campaign that has recently been rocked by defensive instability and physical fatigue.

The midweek loss in Norway only intensified concerns, playing in extreme conditions on an artificial surface as City struggled to impose themselves and were punished for defensive errors, and Rodri’s dismissal only further highlighted the margin for error.

That contest has now made every fitness update crucial, particularly with the UEFA Champions League meeting against Galatasaray looming large next week as City seek a win to secure automatic qualification for the last-16.

Supporters have also already heard Erling Haaland speak openly about exhaustion and the “ridiculous” fixture schedule, while Guardiola himself admitted after the Bodo/Glimt defeat that “everything is going wrong” in fine details.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Guardiola has now revealed that Matheus Nunes continues to recover from flu while Nico Gonzalez is unlikely to be available against Wolves at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

“Matheus [Nunes] still has the virus, I don’t know what the doctor will say this afternoon,” Guardiola revealed during his pre-match press conference. “And Nico [Gonzalez], I don’t think so.”

Elsewhere, the Manchester City boss also confirmed that Marc Guehi will make his debut in central defence for the club having completed a £20 million switch from Crystal Palace earlier in the week.

That latest update means Manchester City will be without an eight-man contingent due to injury and lack of fitness, with the aforementioned pairing joining Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Oscar Bobb, and Savinho on the sidelines.

The absences of both Nunes and Nico would be another setback in a period where Guardiola has already been forced into reshuffles. Nico’s situation is particularly frustrating given his importance to the side during Rodri’s hamstring injury recovery process.

However, the debut of Marc Guehi offers a significant positive with the latest new signing arriving at a moment when Manchester City’s defensive unit has been stretched by injuries, and his introduction straight into the starting line-up underlines Guardiola’s trust.

All eyes now turn to Saturday afternoon, where a response is expected not just in terms of result, but performance. With Wolves arriving at the Etihad Stadium and Galatasaray waiting midweek, this match could define whether Manchester City begin to pull themselves out of their current slump or remain locked in a damaging run of uncertainty.