In order to prepare for their matchup with Liverpool this weekend, Manchester City has given Pep Guardiola a significant fitness boost.
After the season’s final international break, City will resume domestic club play this weekend. The Premier League title battle is expected to change course with a busy April schedule in particular.
Pep Guardiola and his team will have to compete against Sheffield United in the FA Cup semifinal and Bayern Munich over the course of two legs in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals as well as on the Premier League pitch this month.
The Catalan coach will thus be hoping that he has a full complement of players available, albeit the now-completed international break has generated a lot of anxiety among fans, particularly on social media.
Erling Haaland withdrew from Norway obligations prior to their first of two matches due to a groin injury, and Phil Foden was forced to have surgery for acute appendicitis that could keep him out of play for up to six weeks.
Furthermore, during the international break, Ederson, the goalkeeper for Manchester City, was unable to play for Brazil because of gastrointestinal issues he had in the days before up to their respective games.
But, the Brazilian goalkeeper practiced as usual with the first-team group on Wednesday at the City Football Academy, giving Guardiola and his Manchester City players a big boost this week.
The 29-year-old is competing for a fourth straight Premier League Golden Glove this season, but he is now tied for fourth place with fellow countryman Alisson after ten clean sheets.
With 11 clean sheets, David De Gea is in third place for the accolade, while Nick Pope of Newcastle United and Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal are equal for first place with 12 clean sheets as the season nears its conclusion.