City have another seven games this month across four competitions, including decisive Premier League clashes, a Carabao Cup semi-final and the final two league phase clashes in the Champions League.
That is compounded by an extended list of absentees, with Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, Oscar Bobb and Mateo Kovacic sidelined through injury while Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are at the African Cup of Nations.
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Speaking in his pre-match press conference before Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Brighton, Guardiola was confident that the remaining players will stand up tall.
“We have to. The spirit is there. I don’t have any doubt we have a good heart. I don’t have any doubts of that,” he said.
“They were exhausted in the first 10 or 15 minutes v Chelsea but still we made an incredible effort and incredible shape in pressing and they cross the halfway once in the first half.
“If Chelsea cannot arrive one or two times in our box when we are playing 48 hours after a tough, tough game, that is incredible. Every time we have good things.
“We had a good bench to rotate the players but now for a long time we cannot do that. The injuries have happened. We have to stay like we are.
“If you are tired, it’s in your mind. If you are there, you can do it. We have the academy as well. That’s why they are here.
“Sometimes I regret not giving them more minutes and the young players never disappoint you, they don’t ask permission and they are clean in their minds.
“Max [Alleyne], for example, grew up in Watford and he’s ready to help us.”
Just beyond the halfway point of the campaign, City are healthily placed in all competitions.
We go into this Brighton clash second in the Premier League, while automatic qualification for the Champions League Round of 16 remains in our hands.
Guardiola says that’s down to the determined nature of his squad.
“Top, top, top. I don’t have any complaints about my players,” he said.
“Compared to last season, it’s so different. When you play at Sunderland and come back at 02:30, it’s such a demanding game.
“We made an extraordinary second half and could not score. Then we come back and in less than three days it’s Chelsea, there were a few players that could not sustain the rhythm.
“We had to make substitutions and we could not control the ball. It sometimes happens.
“We didn’t have clear chances but we had two against one, three against two, with a better pass we would face the keeper.
“You need to be fresh in the legs and the mind to take the right decisions and we could not do it.
“We gave absolutely everything and I know how good we have been but we have to sustain it every few days.
“It will be tough. If the spirit is right, we will be there.”
City v Brighton tickets on general sale
We welcome an entertaining Brighton side to the Etihad at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 7 January.
And with tickets now on general sale, you could be there to see it!
Fans can now claim three tickets each, with adults from £30 and concessions as low as £15.
Or make it a night to remember with hospitality packages starting from just £180 per person and a wide range of experiences available to suit your budget.
