Guardiola admits Man City should have signed more players in the summer. soccer

The Premier League title holders have suffered injury problems and poor form as they trail leaders Liverpool by 12 points.

Manager Pep Guardiola has said that Manchester City need to invest during the January transfer window due to injury problems and a faltering Premier League campaign, admitting that turning down a summer signing could be a mistake.

“In the summer the club thought about (signings) and I said: ‘No, I don’t want to make any signings,'” Guardiola told reporters on Monday.

“I trusted these guys a lot and thought I could do it again. But after the injuries maybe we should have done that.”

City’s title defense is all but over after six defeats in the league leave them sixth in the standings and 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

Guardiola’s side are missing Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder Rodri, who ruptured knee ligaments in September, and defenders John Stones and Ruben Dias through injuries.

City have not made any significant signings in January since the arrival of Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao for $69.67m in 2018.

Guardiola could not confirm whether a deal has been struck to bring Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

“The club did not announce anything. I don’t know,” he said.

“Rodri is impossible but the other (injured players) I want back. If that were the case I would not have gone to the transfer window this season. Absolutely not.

“We wouldn’t have been in the position we are in but we battled all season. It’s not just Rodri, there are a lot of problems in our back four. That’s why the club is thinking we can make this transfer.”

Following City’s 8–0 FA Cup win over Salford City on Saturday, Guardiola revealed that Walker had asked to leave the club, but the manager had no update on the situation and the right-back remained in the team at Brentford. Could.

“No news. I’m not going to add anything, no more news. I only have Brentford in my mind,” Guardiola said.