GUARDIOLA TAPS INTO CITY'S SPIRIT

Amid more injury woes with Gvardiol and Dias, boss rallies troops to keep title chase alive

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ager Pep Guardiola says he may have to bring in more academy players to fill the bench, after Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias were forced off the field with injuries during the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Jan 4.

City conceded a stoppage-time equaliser that left them with a second consecutive draw and saw them lose ground in the title race to Arsenal, who are now six points clear after 20 games.

"We will see tomorrow (about Gvardiol) but it doesn’t look good for him or Ruben,” Guardiola told reporters.

“I didn’t speak with the doctor but if Ruben is out it is because he felt something.

“Have you seen the bench today? Four players from the academy and now we will have more. We don’t have players.”

City are already without central defender John Stones, who has missed the last six games due to a thigh injury, while Nathan Ake has also struggled with fitness issues.

Despite the injury problems, Guardiola was confident his side could compete if they believed in themselves.