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After a 1-1 draw against West Ham, the Blues have won just eight points in their first five Premier League games.
Pep Guardiola has had his worst start as a manager, but says he is not complaining about the illnesses and injuries that have disrupted Manchester City’s start to the season.
City have just added eight points in their first five games following their 1-1 draw with West Ham in what is also City’s slowest start since Manuel Pellegrini’s second season in 2014-15.
Only five outfield players from his team have been available for each game since the start of the season and Sergio Agüero, who has missed four months with a knee injury, is set for another period on the sidelines after sustaining an injury in the hamstring.
“I would rather have results but I also have to analyze the start and where we are,” Guardiola said.
“We have struggled with the many injuries, the lack of preparation and no recovery time between games, the incredibly difficult games we played so far.
“The players gave absolutely everything on the pitch, today they fought and were incredibly tired at the end, so now we are only thinking about recovering and the next Champions League game.”
City traveled to London Stadium without Aymeric Laporte, Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho, while Kevin De Bruyne and Oleksandr Zinchenko were only fit enough for the bench.
Guardiola has been frustrated by the lack of preparation after a short preseason as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but says he does not seek sympathy.
“The games that we play with the bench, with one or two from the Academy, of course there is a lot of quality, I don’t complain about that,” he added.
“I could complain about West Ham’s first goal but I didn’t say anything.
“The reality is that we had problems with only one or two weeks of preparation with four or five guys with Covid and we need time. We don’t have enough regeneration for the players.
“Our forward [Jesus] he was injured in the first game against the Wolves. Sergio came back after four months, Kevin was injured, Gundogan was the first time he could play 90 minutes, we’ve had a lot.
“To play four competitions and every three days, you need the entire squad. If you don’t have the entire squad, it’s more difficult.
“This year due to Covid we finished later than usual, we started later than usual because they need a break and they have a problem, so I put this on the table. I’m not saying this is the reason, I’m just putting it on the table “.
