Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expects Ilkay Gundogan to return to the side for Sunday’s Premier League trip to the Emirates to take on Arsenal.
The German midfielder, who has been in sensational goalscoring form recently, limped out of last weekend’s win against Tottenham clutching his groin having netted twice and won a penalty in the 3-0 victory.
Although Guardiola was optimistic the injury was not serious, Gundogan sat out Wednesday’s victory over Everton due to the problem – though the City boss says it was just a precaution and he should be fine to face Arsenal.
‘He is much, much better,’ said Guardiola after the match at Goodison Park.
‘It is not a big issue, but to avoid risk today, we have given him a few more days to recover.
‘But for Arsenal and Borussia Monchengladbach he should be ready.
‘Of course Gundo is exceptional. We spoke about that. If you want to win titles and finals we need the whole squad.’
City are in the middle of a gruelling run of games, continuing at the Emirates on Sunday, with Guardiola saying of their schedule: ‘It’s better you don’t see the schedule or you get depressed.
‘It’s too many games so the guys need a little bit of rest, but it doesn’t matter. In the same time, I would say it is a beautiful challenge.
‘We are in the final of the Carabao Cup, we are going to come back here [to Everton] in two or three weeks to play to get to the semi-final of the FA Cup. Today Everton showed us how difficult it will be.
‘And what I’ve said lately is the best way is not to see the schedule, not to see the calendar, because it’s so, so demanding.
‘We’re just thinking about the next one. The next one is Arsenal, we’ll prepare as well as possible with the fresh people.
‘And then three days after that, travel to Europe for Champions League, then three days later we play against West Ham, three days later we’ll have Wolves, and three or four days later we have Manchester United.
‘It’s non-stop. And that’s why it’s about recovering well, trying to make the best selection as possible for the fresh people in the mind and the body, and try to win the next one.’
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