Manchester City have wrapped up their final training session at the City Football Academy ahead of their upcoming UEFA Champions League encounter with Villarreal. The session marks the end of preparations for matchday three of the competition, as Pep Guardiola’s side aim to extend their unbeaten run in Europe.
The Premier League champions enter this fixture in fine form, maintaining an unbeaten streak since late August that includes eight consecutive matches without defeat across all competitions. Their recent victories over Manchester United and Brentford have further boosted confidence within the squad.
City began their European campaign in convincing fashion, dispatching 10-man Napoli 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium on matchday one, courtesy of goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku. However, a trip to Monaco on matchday two ended in a 2-2 draw after Eric Dier’s late penalty cancelled out Haaland’s brace.
As Guardiola’s men now turn their focus to Villarreal, a strong 24-man squad was spotted during open training, showcasing the depth and balance of City’s roster.
24-Man Manchester City Squad in Training
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma, James Trafford, Stefan Ortega Moreno, Marcus Bettinelli.
Defenders: Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Aké, Josko Gvardiol, Nico O’Reilly, Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Midfielders: Kalvin Phillips, Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden.
Forwards: Oscar Bobb, Savinho, Omar Marmoush, Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku.
Guardiola is likely encouraged by the limited number of absentees currently affecting the squad. However, key names such as Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov remain sidelined through injury. The Uzbekistan defender continues his recovery and is expected to miss this week’s fixture, with City taking a cautious approach to avoid setbacks ahead of the weekend’s clash with Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Rodri — the reigning Ballon d’Or winner — is still nursing a hamstring problem. Guardiola has reportedly opted for a patient recovery plan, allowing the Spanish midfielder sufficient time to regain full fitness before returning to action. Despite his absence, City’s midfield remains well-stocked with options, including Nico Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic.
The strong showing at training reflects the team’s readiness and competitive spirit as Manchester City look to maintain their unbeaten record and continue their pursuit of European glory.
FAQ
- Who are Manchester City’s key absentees? Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov remain unavailable due to injury concerns.
- How has City performed in the Champions League so far? They defeated Napoli 2-0 and drew 2-2 with AS Monaco in their opening two fixtures.
- When will Rodri return? There is no set date, as Pep Guardiola prefers to let him recover fully before reintroducing him to the squad.
- Who might replace Rodri in midfield? Nico Gonzalez or Kalvin Phillips are potential options to fill in the defensive midfield role.
Conclusion
Manchester City’s 24-man training session ahead of their Champions League showdown with Villarreal underlines the club’s preparedness and resilience amid ongoing injury concerns. With Guardiola’s men unbeaten since August and the squad nearing full fitness, the defending champions appear well-positioned to sustain their momentum on Europe’s biggest stage.
