Josko Gvardiol suffers fitness scare as Manchester City enter hectic fixture schedule | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has confirmed a fresh concern over fitness within his defensive ranks as Manchester City face Sunderland in their first contest of the New Year.

The Croatian defender’s status has come into focus at a crucial moment in Manchester City’s season, with the Premier League giants embarking on one of the most demanding runs of fixtures across all competitions.

Pep Guardiola has repeatedly highlighted the physical toll of the calendar, and his team selection on New Year’s Day offered the latest indication of careful workload management.

City travel to the Stadium of Light looking to maintain momentum following a strong end to December, but the broader context stretches well beyond the Sunderland clash. A relentless sequence of domestic and European commitments now awaits, forcing rotation and risk management across multiple positions.

Defensive depth, in particular, has already been tested this season, with Guardiola often required to reshuffle his back line. The absence or limited availability of a key figure such as Gvardiol would only add to the complexity of navigating the coming weeks.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the midweek New Year’s Day clash at the Stadium of Light, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on his decision to bring both Nathan Ake and Savinho into his starting line-up.

“Well, Josko [Gvardiol] has a few niggles and we have an incredible run of games every three days,” Guardiola said of the rotation at the heart of his defensive unit.

The Catalan coach continued, “And Savio, his speed and his freshness. We have to move a little bit.”

While Pep Guardiola did not indicate the severity of Gvardiol’s issue, the reference to “niggles” suggests a precautionary approach rather than a serious injury. Nevertheless, with fixtures arriving every few days, even minor concerns can have a knock-on effect on selection and continuity.

Following Sunderland, City face Chelsea on Sunday before a midweek Premier League clash at home to Brighton & Hove Albion. That is followed by an FA Cup third round tie against Exeter City, a Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg away at Newcastle, the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, and a challenging UEFA Champions League trip to Bodo/Glimt in the Arctic Circle.

Further league meetings with Wolves, Galatasaray in Europe, and Tottenham away add to a daunting stretch that will test squad depth and resilience. Guardiola’s comments underline the importance of rotation, particularly in physically demanding roles at the back.

Whether Gvardiol is available for the upcoming run or managed carefully from the sidelines, City’s ability to juggle fitness, form, and results will be central to their ambitions across four competitions as the New Year gathers pace.