HManager Josep Guardiola believes Manchester City have reached a point in the season where mistakes are no longer an option.
As March approaches, City have four competitions left to survive. They reached the fifth round of the FA Cup, reached the final of the EFL Cup, reached the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League and are four points behind Arsenal in the race for the Premier League title.
For Guardiola, the stakes are clear. “We’re going to have a break, but I want to see them ready and focused on Wednesday,” he said. “When you get to this stage of the season, every game is a final. It’s almost March and the skies are going to be even bluer and you’re going to feel better. It’s important to be there and I know we’ll do well at it.
Phil Foden kisses Erling Haaland in a gesture of love during Manchester City match
Tough schedule for Cityzens
“You have a game every three days and if you lose in the Premier League, you’re out. The lack of recovery has been very difficult. But the players are coming back, Rodri is playing minutes and we’re not going backwards.” City’s packed schedule is testing the squad’s depth and recovery, but Guardiola stressed that reinforcements arrive at the right time.
Midfielder Rodri is back in regular action, and the manager also provided encouraging updates on his two key wingers. Jeremy Doku has been sidelined since being substituted in the Champions League match against Galatasaray a month ago. Sabinho, on the other hand, has not featured since New Year’s Day and has been sidelined for nearly seven weeks. Both players are close to returning.
Guardiola said: “Jeremy is getting closer.” “He hasn’t trained with us yet, but we’ll see. He’s been a little bit better, but we needed a winger (against Salford) and we know how important he is. “It helps a lot with how we play. I’m very happy with how we behaved.
Sabinho’s return to the pitch is nearing
Guardiola was similarly optimistic about Sabinho’s progress. “He’s been out for six weeks,” he said. “He could have played a few minutes, but we didn’t want to take any risks. Training two days ago was great, very good. He’s very close.”
“We have a long week ahead of us and the players will be back. Already Sabinho will be an incredible winger on both flanks once he learns to be a complete product.”
As City enter a crucial period of the season, the manager’s message is straightforward. With four trophies still in hand and close league games, any slip-up could prove decisive. Guardiola’s view of each game as a final reflects both the opportunities and the pressures facing the club in the coming weeks.
