Pep Guardiola issues fitness doubt ahead of Tottenham showdown during press conference

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a fitness warning over one member of his first-team squad ahead of the visit to Tottenham on Tuesday night.

The reigning Premier League champions find themselves just two consecutive wins away from a record-breaking fourth successive top-flight title this week, with Tottenham and West Ham the opponents in the last two matches.

Manchester City have the opportunity to win their third piece of silverware this season in the next seven days, following on from the UEFA Super Cup last August and the FIFA Club World Cup claimed in December.

In the first of three finals for Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side this week, with an FA Cup finale against Manchester United looming at the end of the campaign, the Catalan coach has issued an overall fitness update on his squad.

Speaking to the media on Monday afternoon ahead of the trip to north London, Pep Guardiola confirmed the return of Jack Grealish to first-team training following illness that ruled him out of the clash against Fulham last weekend.

“Jack (Grealish) has already recovered from his illness,” Guardiola confirmed, before going on to discuss the latest on Nathan Ake’s fitness following his withdrawal through injury inside the opening 25 minutes of the meeting at Craven Cottage.

“Nathan was much better yesterday. And now we’re going to train, and we’ll see if he can train or not,” Guardiola continued. When asked whether the problem can be deemed as ‘not serious’, he continued, “No, I don’t think it’s serious, but I don’t know.

“We’ve had just two days and a half, three days since the last game and tomorrow.”

Aside from the two aforementioned first-team players, Pep Guardiola went on to confirm that the rest of his Manchester City squad are available and ready for the meeting with Tottenham on Tuesday night.

Manchester City will close out their Premier League season at home against West Ham United next Sunday afternoon, before taking a week’s break from competitive action before returning to the field at Wembley Stadium for the FA Cup final against Manchester United.