Manchester Metropolis are getting ready for one of many trickiest exams they’ll face this season, with Pep Guardiola’s troops set to welcome Sunderland to Etihad Stadium.
The Black Cats have been the shock package deal of the 2025/26 marketing campaign, and their performances towards Chelsea and Arsenal give Metropolis an thought of what to anticipate on Saturday.
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Metropolis have but to hit their stride this season, but when they don’t convey their A-game towards Sunderland, they could possibly be made to pay for it.
To make issues worse, Guardiola has confirmed that Metropolis must make do with out Rodri for the sport towards Sunderland.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner remains to be recovering from a hamstring damage he suffered in October, a difficulty that got here after an extended spell on the sidelines because of a knee downside.
Guardiola confirmed Rodri’s absence throughout his . “No,” he mentioned. “He’s getting higher. I don’t understand how lengthy [until he’s back], however he will likely be prepared.”
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Saturday’s assembly would be the first time Sunderland go to the Etihad within the Premier League since Guardiola’s debut season in 2016/17.
The Black Cats have taken the Premier League by storm this season, racking up 23 factors from their opening 14 video games.
They sit sixth within the Premier League desk however are only one level behind fourth-placed Chelsea and 5 adrift of Saturday’s hosts.
Sunderland have crushed Chelsea and held Arsenal to a draw thus far.
They’ll go to the Etihad on the again of one other spectacular 1-1 draw towards Liverpool, and Guardiola is aware of his facet can’t afford to underestimate the load of the duty forward.
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“All I can say from my opinion is that they need to be the place they’re,” he mentioned. “If you end up promoted, and also you play properly for 5 video games, okay momentum. It could possibly occur.
“However for 14 fixtures within the Premier League with the opponents like everybody suffers to take leads to that place they deserve.
“They do it properly, in any other case they received’t be the place they’re. Good problem for us.”
Guardiola additionally addressed Metropolis’s leaky defence, having conceded six objectives of their final two video games (4 vs Fulham and ).
“In fact I’m involved,” Guardiola mentioned. “We did good issues and attempt to perceive why we conceded objectives and [why we were not as good] as we have been within the first half.
“Big respect for Fulham, and we scored 5 objectives there, however generally after all we see what occurred [but it is] a part of our progress errors [and part of] the method. We have to settle for it.”