Part 3/6:
Despite the victory, manager Pep Guardiola had to face the reality of fresh injury concerns within his squad. Manuel Akanji left the pitch at halftime and is a doubt for the upcoming match against Crystal Palace, although he may return in time for the following week's clash with Juventus. The situation escalated further when Nathan Ake exited the game in the dying minutes, raising fears of another potential injury setback for a player who had just returned from a spell on the sidelines.
Additionally, City is grappling with other injury-related issues, with Rodri and Oscar Bob ruled out for an extended period. Phil Foden is also struggling with bronchitis, which has kept him off the pitch. The mounting injuries are pushing City’s backline to its limits.