Manchester City faces further uncertainty ahead of their Premier League match against Everton on Boxing Day as Ederson and Matheus Nunes remain doubtful.
Pep Guardiola provided an update on their availability, revealing that final decisions will depend on the outcome of the team’s training session on Christmas Day.
Ederson missed City’s recent 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, with Stefan Ortega stepping in as goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Nunes, who last featured in City’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, was absent from the squad entirely against Villa. Guardiola shared his cautious approach during Tuesday’s press conference:
“We train this afternoon; we will see how many players we have available. Right now, I don’t know.”
John Stones, who was substituted at halftime against Villa due to discomfort, is also expected to miss the Everton game, though Guardiola left the door open for further assessments:
“Apparently, if he could not continue in the second half at Villa Park, it’s because he will not be ready, but we will see.”
QUOTES:
Guardiola also outlined the team’s festive training schedule, confirming that City’s players will practice on Christmas Day evening before staying overnight at the training ground.
“We train today; we train tomorrow night [on Christmas Day]. We stay over here and are going to play on Boxing Day. Hopefully, they want to be here because it’s our job and our dut
Everton manager Sean Dyche offered updates on his squad, confirming that Ashley Young is suspended, and Dwight McNeil is unlikely to feature due to a lingering issue.
“Youngy is out. He hurt his neck against Chelsea, but he should be fine. Dwight is still touch-and-go. Probably not for this one, but sooner rather than later.”
RECALL:
Manchester City’s growing injury concerns have heavily impacted their recent performances. The absence of key players, including Ederson, Stones, and Nunes, has exposed the team’s vulnerabilities as they find themselves uncharacteristically outside the top four.
Despite these setbacks, Guardiola has emphasized the importance of unity and adaptability during this challenging period.
Everton, though struggling themselves, will aim to capitalize on City’s weakened squad as they look to pull off a Boxing Day upset.
CITATIONS:
Guardiola’s comments were made during the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
Sean Dyche’s updates were provided in a Monday media briefing.
KEEP IN MIND:
With their Boxing Day clash looming, Manchester City will need to dig deep to overcome their recent challenges. The fitness of Ederson and Nunes remains critical, while Guardiola’s focus will likely be on maintaining morale and cohesion within the squad during this challenging festive schedule.
