Pep Guardiola Confirms Nathan Ake and Phil Foden Out for Crystal Palace Clash
Pep Guardiola will be without two key players as Manchester City prepare to face Crystal Palace. Both Nathan Ake and Phil Foden have been ruled out, adding to the manager’s growing list of unavailable stars.
Foden’s Illness Struggles Continue
Foden, 24, missed Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest due to bronchitis, continuing a season plagued by illness and inconsistency. Despite Guardiola’s hopes that his absence would be brief, the England international will remain sidelined for Saturday’s trip to Selhurst Park.
Foden has struggled to rediscover the rhythm and fitness that defined his impressive performances last season, with Guardiola acknowledging the challenges of his recurring health issues.
Ake Sidelined with Hamstring Injury
Nathan Ake, who was forced off late in the win against Forest with a hamstring problem, will also miss the Palace game. The injury put a damper on City’s first victory in eight matches, with Guardiola describing the situation as potentially serious. While he refrained from confirming the extent of the injury on Friday, he did rule the Dutch defender out for this weekend.
Hope for Akanji’s Return
There is some optimism for Manu Akanji, who could feature against Palace. The Swiss defender, who has been battling fitness issues for nearly two months, was substituted at halftime during the Forest game. Guardiola admitted that Akanji had been playing through pain to support the team, and City’s medical staff will assess him ahead of Saturday’s match.
If Akanji is unavailable, Guardiola will be left with just Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol—primarily a left-sided player—as senior centre-back options for the Palace encounter.
Growing Injury Concerns
City’s injury list continues to grow, with John Stones, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, and Mateo Kovacic already out of contention. Guardiola’s squad will face a stern test as they look to maintain momentum in their pursuit of Premier League success.
“We’ll see tomorrow,” Guardiola hinted regarding Akanji’s fitness, leaving a glimmer of hope for reinforcements in defense.
