Pep Guardiola believes the fitness of his squad will determine their chances of success this season.
City's manager is currently without four of his first-team stars, with two long-term injuries and two others in Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker that he hopes to be back soon. Nathan Ake returned to the squad at Wolves for the first time since August and Guardiola is counting on his players staying fit if they to achieve what they want to.
Josko Gvardiol has started six of the last seven games at left-back but his manager says it is unsustainable to think he will be able to play two games a week for the rest of the season. As much as City will need to maintain their level over the course of the campaign, Guardiola is more concerned about their avoiding injury.
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"Josko cannot play every three days, we need Nathan. Otherwise, we cannot compete until the end," he said. "The most important thing is not training sessions, it is being fit.
"If you are injured you lose eight games. Muscular, not the injuries to Oscar [Bobb] or Rodri. No injuries is the only reason why you can stay until the end of the season.
"That's why the doctors, the medical department, the physios, the intensity you have to do, you have to be so careful because of all the travel and national teams and games every three days.
"I just pray for them to be fit, the rest will come. Talk a little bit, they get it and try to do it. The problem is how can they do it if they are out for one month and a half."
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