The defending champions were already forced to negotiate the rest of the campaign without the inspirational presence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri due to a season-ending ACL injury.
Now City will also be without the services of fellow key holding midfielder Mateo Kovacic, in the short term at least, with Guardiola revealing he expects the Croatian to be ruled out of action for three or four weeks.
The injury setbacks have coincided with a tough set of results that has seen the champions lose five consecutive matches, the latest being Saturday’s 4-0 home Premier League loss to Spurs.
However, addressing the media afterwards, the City boss insisted he and his staff will find the best solution to help the side map out a way to overcome the duo’s KO along with the squad’s other injury absentees.
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“We don’t expect to lose important players for many times, but it’s happened. You have to find a way to deal with that,” Guardiola stressed.
“The presence from the central defenders with their feet, with Rodri, of course, with Kova, with his pace, of course it’s completely different than the other one.
“When we start to lose, I said to the people: ‘I have to find a way – I have to. We have to find another way to win it.’
“It’s my duty, my responsibility. Find a way to be more consistent and our game will be better, and we will win games.
“This is what we have to do.”
Play the video to watch Pep’s press conference in full…
