Manchester, England — Manchester City go dey prepare to face AFC Bournemouth for Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night as dem look to bounce back from dem recent FA Cup defeat against Crystal Palace.
Dem match go kick off as City dey sit outside top five for Premier League, and dem need three points to secure their place for Championship League. City don dey struggle lately and dem need to show better character after Crystal Palace beat dem 1-0 for Wembley on Saturday.
“We need to stand strong as a team,” Guardiola talk after the cup loss. “No be time to dey down; we must rise back quickly.”
As City dey look to return to winning ways, manager Pep Guardiola fit change him line-up. Ederson, dem first choice goalkeeper, fit return to the squad, while Mateo Kovačić dey doubtful after e miss the last match because of injury.
Claudio Echeverri, the 19-year-old who make him debut for City during FA Cup, fit also see him first Premier League action if Kovačić no fit play. Guardiola confirmed say Kovačić dey close to recovery but he no go force am to rush back.
For Bournemouth side, dem dey deal with injuries too. Young midfielder Alex Scott don break him jaw and go miss dis last two matches of the season, while Ryan Christie, Luis Sinisterra, Dango Ouattara, and Enes Ünal go also sit out because of injury.
Andoni Iraola, di Bournemouth coach, talk say di team dey determined to secure point as dem still dey fight for European qualification. “We know say every match dey important. We wan make sure say we dey finish di season well,” Iraola add.
Di last time wey Manchester City and Bournemouth face each other for FA Cup, City beat dem 2-1 to avenge dem league defeat earlier dis season. Now, di situation don change, and dem gats show say they fit perform better.
Head-to-head records show say City don win 17 out of di last 19 matches against Bournemouth. But dis no mean say Bournemouth no get chance; dem fit disrupt City’s plans if dem play well.
City de gear up for dis match with just four points separate dem from di Champions League spots, while Bournemouth dey in 11th position, hoping to build on top dey recent performances.
As wey City dey eye di final day clash against Fulham next weekend, dis match go fit determine if dem go still secure Champions League next season. “Every match dey crucial right now,” Guardiola emphasize, as hin dey prepare dem players for di challenge ahead.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng