Pep Guardiola has acknowledged the challenges posed by a demanding schedule for his Manchester City squad, which he likened to the intense calendar of the NBA. With injuries affecting his team, Guardiola stated that he has no choice but to "just handle it" as they navigate through a packed fixture list. City recently suffered their first defeat of the Premier League season against Bournemouth, following an exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Tottenham. Guardiola attributed the team's recent struggles to the "reality we are living now," as the season is set to continue until the controversial Club World Cup, scheduled for June and July 2025 in the United States. This means that matches will keep coming at a relentless pace. Looking ahead, City is set to face Sporting in the Champions League, with Rúben Amorim, the incoming Manchester United manager, taking charge of the opposition. Guardiola praised his players for their resilience despite the challenges they are facing.

Pep Guardiola has expressed growing concern over Kevin De Bruyne's thigh injury, indicating that the situation is more complicated than initially believed. The Manchester City manager warned that the team could face significant challenges if players do not recover from their injuries soon. De Bruyne will be absent for the upcoming Carabao Cup fourth-round match against Tottenham, joining five other teammates on the sidelines. The Belgian midfielder has not played since he was forced off due to injury during a Champions League match against Intern on September 18. Although Guardiola had hoped De Bruyne would be fit to return by now, the player remains unavailable despite having resumed training.