City Xtra
·22 November 2024
City Xtra
·22 November 2024
Pep Guardiola has launched a new assault on the England national team’s lack of dialogue that has led to an injury sustained in the centre of Manchester City’s defence.
The latest comments from the 53-year-old come after he was left frustrated by Lee Carsley and England’s senior set-up selecting Jack Grealish for international action two weeks ago, despite a number of issues in the weeks preceding the squad selection.
Grealish had missed a number of matches in succession having picked up an injury during Manchester City’s training session that following a dramatic 1-2 away win at Wolves, ultimately withdrawing from the England camp alongside Phil Foden on day one of the break.
But it appears as though England’s lack of attention to player fitness has extended beyond the senior squad, with Manchester City’s head coach now revealing a worrying situation that developed within England’s youth ranks.
Speaking during a pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Pep Guardiola revealed that Manchester City central defensive option Max Alleyne has sustained an injury with the England national team that could leave him ruled out for up to one month.
Guardiola revealed that Alleyne was “pushed to the limit” by the England youth set-up over the last two weeks and as such has returned to the City Football Academy with an injury, as the Manchester City boss insisted that more dialogue between all parties must take place.
“They should be more in contact with the doctors, with the national teams. Not specific ones, with the doctors at Man City,” Guardiola said.
“Because when one players goes to the national team not in the perfect conditions, and training with U21 in the morning, and after in the afternoon with U20, and after playing two games when he was not fit.”
On how long Alleyne may not be ruled out for as a direct result, Pep Guardiola revealed, “We are going to lose him for three weeks, one month.”
Manchester City return to action against Tottenham in the Premier League this weekend, as the club continues to face issues around Ruben Dias in the centre of defence, whilst Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, and John Stones have made positive strides towards a recovery.
Mateo Kovacic has become the latest name to succumb to an injury blow however, having exited the Croatia set-up during the international break with a problem that could now rule him out of action for the Premier League champions for up to one month.