Before Manchester City went down 2-1 to Tottenham in their Carabao Cup fourth-round tie the champions suffered another injury blow. Manuel Akanji withdrew from the starting lineup with a minor injury issue. The Swiss defender was replaced in the starting lineup by Ruben Dias. It appeared that Manchester City had suffered yet another injury blow with Akanji’s withdrawal from the starting lineup. But it has now emerged that Akanji is pushing to be available for Saturday’s clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Speaking after his team’s Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham Pep Guardiola revealed that he wasn’t prepared to take a risk with Akanji’s fitness. Guardiola said Akanji was prepared to play through the discomfort he suffered before City’s clash with Spurs. But a no-risk policy was taken with the Swiss international, so he missed the match. Guardiola revealed: “In the last action, he felt something in the muscular part of his body, and today, in the warm-up, he didn’t feel good. He said, ‘No I can take a risk’, and I said, ‘No, no risk!’”
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Considering the injury situation facing Manchester City, the decision to withdraw Akanji from Wednesday evening’s match was a wise one. The world champions cannot afford to lose any more players for any period of time. Ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, the champions will be without at least six key players.
Manuel Akanji is hoping to play at the Vitality Stadium. In an interview with Anton Toloui of Sky Sports News Akanji is keen to play against Bournemouth. Akanji said he was hoping to train today and play against the Cherries on Saturday. Akanji also revealed he was suffering from a tight groin which forced him to withdraw from City’s defeat to Tottenham.
If Akanji is available for Saturday’s game against Bournemouth it will be a boost for Pep Guardiola’s side. The Swiss international has had a strong start to the season and will be needed as City navigate their way through a tough set for fixtures with a depleted squad.
