Guardiola Welcomes Return of Key Players to Boost Manchester City's Title Aspirations

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday that his team is still competing for several major titles, noting that the return of key injured players will provide a significant boost as they move forward.

Guardiola explained in statements on the club's website that City aims to secure the top spot in the Premier League, expressing satisfaction with their current position, just two points behind leaders Arsenal, ahead of their match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

In the Champions League, City is currently in fourth place, five points behind Arsenal, but remains in direct qualification spots for the knockout stages, which the coach views as a positive indicator for their European campaign.

Guardiola also mentioned that the team has reached the semi-finals of the League Cup and is preparing to begin its FA Cup journey, asserting that the return of injured players will significantly influence the course of the season.

He revealed that midfielder Rodri could be ready for the match against Forest following a lengthy absence due to a hamstring injury, while Jeremy Doku and John Stones are still sidelined but expected to return soon.

This optimism reflects Guardiola's desire to maintain competitive momentum both domestically and in Europe, despite the challenges the team has faced recently.