In a busy season the opportunity for Manchester City’s players to rest may prove crucial | OneFootball

Yesterday saw five of Manchester City’s players withdraw from international duty. While the hope is that none of City’s players have picked any fresh injury concerns it wasn’t a major surprise to see a host of Manchester City’s players be deemed unfit for international duty. That had been an obvious conclusion to draw based on the injury status of the Manchester City squad. But the opportunity for City’s players to rest and recover could prove crucial in the coming weeks.

Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Manuel Akanji and Matheus Nunes were all withdrawn from international duty yesterday. They join Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias and John Stones who aren’t playing over the international break. Rodri and Oscar Bobb are also out. But the pair are out with long-term injuries so the chance to rest and recuperate doesn’t apply to them. But for the rest, it is a welcome opportunity to finally get some rest.

READ MORE: Common sense prevails as Jeremy Doku is withdrawn from international duty.

The 24/25 season is like no other. With the Champions League expanded and the FIFA Club World Cup set to take place at the end of the year Manchester City’s players face the prospect of potentially playing around 70 games this season. In the case of the Champions League expansion it has seen Manchester City and other clubs play every 3/4 days. With Manchester City’s injury situation, Pep Guardiola has barely had any opportunity to rotate his squad. That has been evident in City’s performances. Especially in their last four games.

Pep Guardiola told the media after his team’s defeat to Brighton that the international break would be good for his team. With so many players having the opportunity to rest, the international break has come at the right time for Manchester City. The hope is that City’s players can recover in time for Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Tottenham following the international break.