Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that Jeremy Doku is likely to be missing for “a time” in front of the next Games in the Premier League and the Champions League.
Doku had reached three goals and three assists in successive appearances against Salford City and Ipswich Town earlier this month. But he was missing through damage against Paris Saint-Germain last week and again was removed Saturday's return victory over Chelsea.
There is no end period in the recovery of Doku, but he will not play against the Brugge club this week and will probably not appear on the next Sunday trip to Arsenal.
“A time. I don't know how much, but a time, yes. He won't be ready for Wednesday, surely. I don't think so about Arsenal (AS). We'll see,” Guardian explained.
Although City has the depth to cover the lack of dock, the team continues to deal with defense damage. This led to the new 20-year-old signature Abdukodir Khusanov, entering the initial formation against Chelsea with minimal preparation and enduring a nightmare.
“The problem is for us to continue with the problems. Khusanov should not have played; he had to take time to do it,” the chief commented.
“It's not easy against Chelsea in the Premier League, coming from another country and not communicating too much with his teammates and reaching out without training sessions to see what you want to do, what process you have, and others .
“To begin in that way he started; imagine all of us living what Khusanov lived and what happened, it would be, 'Oh God!' … But the situation is ruben (dias) is not there, nathan (aka) nor so we are lucky that Manu (Akanji) stayed and John (stones) cannot help us for our final on Wednesday. “
Guardiola is labeling the game Brugge a “final” because the entire City League League status for the season is going to a 90-minute match.
Winning only two of their first seven matches – and none of the last five – has not left city Out of top 24 prior to eighth day day. They have to beat Brugge, who are three points ahead and struggle to stay on the Nokau paths themselves, and hope that other results also go in their favor to qualify.
At best, City can finish 19, which would mean two extra games to play on round play-off. If they fail to claim three points against Brugge, City would be out of the Champions League before the Nokau phase for the first time since the 2012/13 campaign.