Pep Guardiola Provides Injury Update on Jeremy Doku Ahead of Critical Champions League Clash

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that winger Jeremy Doku is set to remain sidelined for an extended period as City prepare for a crucial Champions League encounter against Club Brugge.

Jeremy Doku Likely to Miss Key Matches

Doku, who had been in fine form with three goals and three assists in matches against Salford City and Ipswich Town, has missed City’s last two games due to injury. Guardiola revealed there is no clear timeline for the Belgian winger’s return, ruling him out for the midweek Champions League clash and likely next weekend’s Premier League match against Arsenal.

“A while. I don’t know how much, but a while, yes. He will not be ready for Wednesday, for sure. I don’t think so for Arsenal [either]. We’ll see,” Guardiola explained.

City’s depth in attacking positions may help cover Doku’s absence, but injuries in defense have added further complications.

Defensive Woes and Khusanov’s Challenging Debut

City’s defensive injury crisis forced new signing Abdukodir Khusanov, just 20 years old, into the starting lineup against Chelsea with little preparation. Guardiola expressed sympathy for the young defender, who struggled on his debut.

“It’s not easy against Chelsea in the Premier League, coming from another country and not communicating much with his teammates, arriving with no training sessions. The situation is Ruben [Dias] is not there, Nathan [Ake] neither, so we’re lucky that Manu [Akanji] stayed and John [Stones] can help us for our final on Wednesday,” Guardiola said.

Champions League “Final” Against Club Brugge

Guardiola has labeled the upcoming match against Club Brugge as a “final,” given its critical importance for City’s Champions League hopes. With only two wins in their first seven group games and no victories in their last five, City find themselves outside the top 24 teams.

To secure a place in the knockout stages, City must beat Brugge and rely on other results to go their way. Even if they win, the highest position they can achieve is 19th, which would mean an additional knockout round play-off. A failure to win would see City eliminated from the Champions League before the knockout phase for the first time since the 2012/13 season.

Guardiola and his team are well aware of the stakes, and the manager emphasized the importance of character and resilience in what promises to be a decisive match.

What Do You Think?

Can Manchester City overcome their injury struggles and secure a vital win against Club Brugge? How will Jeremy Doku’s absence impact their performance? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion with fellow football fans!