Gelandang serang muda Norwegia yang menarik itu cedera awal minggu ini dan telah terbang ke Barcelona di mana ia akan menjalani operasi hari ini.
Sungguh malang nasib pemain berusia 21 tahun itu yang telah menikmati pramusim yang luar biasa dan ingin melanjutkan musim yang luar biasa bersama tim utama City musim lalu.
Berbicara kepada media pada konferensi pers prapertandingannya menjelang pertandingan pembuka Liga Primer hari Minggu di Chelsea, Guardiola mengatakan ia berharap pemain muda itu cepat pulih dan sukses.
“Itu terjadi dalam sesi latihan dan sayangnya ia mengalami benturan keras dan cedera,” kata sang pelatih.
“Ia akan menjalani operasi dan mudah-mudahan ia akan pulih dan kami menyambutnya kembali sesegera mungkin dalam tiga, empat bulan.
“Kami sangat sedih untuknya, tetapi bukan karena ia menjalani pramusim yang luar biasa, karena itu tidak masalah, ketika cederanya berlangsung lama, itu menjadi masalah dan kami berharap dapat melihatnya lagi sesegera mungkin.
“Pemulihan yang baik secepat mungkin dan itu saja.”
Mengenai ketersediaan skuad City untuk perjalanan ke Stamford Bridge, Guardiola mengatakan bahwa trio Inggris Phil Foden, John Stones, Kyle Walker, yang semuanya kembali berlatih minggu ini, dapat bersaing untuk dipilih pada hari Minggu.
Namun ia menambahkan bahwa Rodrigo, yang juga kembali minggu ini setelah cedera di final Euro 2024 untuk Spanyol, diperkirakan tidak akan tampil akhir pekan ini.
“I don’t know. Just two, three training sessions. They arrived fit. In professional world the players take care even in the holidays.
“So we’ll see. Today, tomorrow and Sunday we will see the lineup. But I’m pretty sure they are ready maybe not for 90 minutes, maybe yes maybe for a few minutes.
“Important that everyone is back except Oscar the rest are are okay.
“[On Rodrgio] I don’t know, I didn’t see him yet. We have to start training, we will see when he moves, his body and how he feels.
[On being in the squad]? “No chance.”
The visit to Chelsea will see Guardiola lock managerial horns with his former City Enzo Maresca, who took charge at the London club earlier this summer.
Maresca spent a hugely successful season in charge of City’s Elite Development Squad in the 2020/21 campaign, guiding our Under-21s to a first-ever Premier League 2 title success.
After a brief spell in charge of Parma, the Italian then returned to City as part of Guardiola’s coaching team ahead of the 2022/23 Treble winning season.
He then left to take the reins at Leicester, guiding the Foxes to promotion out of the Championship last season before then moving to Chelsea and the City boss is in no doubt he will be a success if given time.
“Yeah, we are happy to see him again. I saw him a few weeks ago in the States and we are looking forward to seeing him again,” the City boss continued.
“The job Enzo did at Leicester belongs to him, his players and backroom staff.
“My advice is to give him time and it will work. All managers need time – that is my feeling.”
Chelsea v City
The start of a new Premier League season is always a special moment, and our official app will have dedicated and detailed coverage from the capital.
You can keep across the Chelsea clash via our Matchday Centre which provides blow-by-blow updates, analysis and reaction before, during and after the clash.
Starting around 75 minutes before kick-off, Cel Spellman will host Matchday Live alongside guests Richard Dunne and Clive Allen, meanwhile FG will be with Michael Brown provide insight from Stamford Bridge.
Those with push notifications turned on in the app will be alerted to key moments throughout the game as they happen.
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Alistair Mann and Brown will be on hand throughout the afternoon to guide fans through proceedings with live audio commentary while our text commentary continues.
A detailed match report, as well as reaction from Pep Guardiola and players alike, can also be accessed soon after the final whistle.
Short highlights will then be published at 20:15 (UK) before extended and a CITY+ full-match replay can be accessed at midnight.
