Man City battles Wolves and Southampton for Premier League survival
- Manchester City faced challenging matches against lower-ranked teams, securing narrow victories.
- Pep Guardiola highlighted the effectiveness of defensive strategies used by opponents to hinder his team's performance.
- Guardiola plans to rotate the squad for the Carabao Cup to manage player fitness amid a busy schedule.
In England, Pep Guardiola is determined that Manchester City are in a challenging fight to defend their Premier League title. Despite recent victories over struggling teams, including a 1-0 win against Southampton, Guardiola highlighted the increasing difficulty of matches as opponents employ defensive strategies to thwart his team's attacking play. City struggled particularly against Wolves and Southampton, as they required late goals and early strikes to secure wins. Meanwhile, defender Manuel Akanji commented on their effectiveness in scoring against tightly grouped teams, reinforcing the idea that these matches are highly competitive. Looking ahead to the Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham, Guardiola indicated that he may rotate his squad significantly, factoring in player fitness to avoid risking injuries. This situation suggests a deeper concern as City navigates a busy schedule with crucial players potentially sidelined due to fitness issues. Guardiola's strategy will depend on assessing player readiness while addressing the resistance they face from opponents in league clashes.