Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has provided an update on Savinho and Nico Gonzalez in anticipation of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Wolves.
The Blues have struggled in the league this year, without a victory in 2026 and suffering consecutive defeats against Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt. Guardiola’s squad has managed only two wins in their last seven matches across all competitions.
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With Arsenal sitting seven points clear at the top and preparing to face a resurgent Manchester United on Sunday, City is under pressure to regroup and put pressure on Mikel Arteta’s team.
Marc Guehi is set to make his Manchester City debut against Wolves as Ruben Dias is still weeks away from recovery after a hamstring injury, and Josko Gvardiol is not expected to return until April or May.
This past week, an inexperienced City defense was exploited by Bodo/Glimt, with 20-year-old Max Alleyne making a mistake that led to a goal during his fifth consecutive start after returning from a loan at Watford.
Guardiola is in urgent need of fresh legs to navigate a challenging schedule as City aims for trophies on four fronts, even as they cope with significant injuries to crucial first-team players.
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Savinho, John Stones, Matheus Nunes, Nico Gonzalez, Antoine Semenyo, Mateo Kovacic, and the previously mentioned Dias and Gvardiol were all unavailable for City’s matchday squad in Norway. Jeremy Doku also did not feature, despite the team’s need for a spark in their attack.
In a press conference prior to the match with Wolves, Guardiola confirmed that Doku was not fit to play against Bodo/Glimt, responding to questions on the matter by asking if anyone believed Doku would have sat out if he were healthy.
Guardiola confirmed that both Gonzalez and Nunes are unavailable for Saturday’s match, with new details provided on Savinho’s condition.
“Savinho is still sidelined,” the 54-year-old said. “He ran on the pitch yesterday, so it could be two or three weeks, or maybe less—I’m not sure.”
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“As for Nico Gonzalez, I’m hoping he’ll be available for our match against Galatasaray in light of Rodri’s absence, but he remains a doubt. Regarding Mateo Kovacic, I advised him not to participate in the (FIFA Club) World Cup and to undergo surgery quickly. He played a couple of games, but his bone didn’t respond well, necessitating surgery. We have three excellent midfielders, and Nico has been crucial in that role, but it is what it is.”
The City side is in dire need of three points against Wolves, with Guardiola refusing to make excuses for the key absences that have hindered the team’s performance so far in 2026.
“Last season we faced similar issues in November,” he noted. “Now it’s January. Why? The volume of games. We have exceptional medical staff, the best physios, and our doctors work tirelessly. It’s an excessive number of matches, but this is a challenge faced by every club, not just City.”
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Guardiola is anticipated to adjust his starting lineup against Wolves, with Semenyo likely to return to the starting XI after missing the previous match against Bodo/Glimt, and Guehi poised to debut following his transfer from Crystal Palace for £20 million earlier in the week.