Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken about his concerns over player fitness, stating that the upcoming Premier League fixture against Arsenal holds greater significance than their imminent Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle United.

Guardiola also discussed the dilemma of navigating multiple competitions while also managing a squad plagued by injuries.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City bumps fists with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 21: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City bumps fists with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has prioritised upcoming Premier League matches over the Carabao Cup, highlighting the fixture against Arsenal as “much more important”.

Guardiola expressed his views while discussing concerns over player fitness ahead of City’s Carabao Cup clash against Newcastle United on Wednesday.

Guardiola revealed the club’s injury concerns are affecting preparations for the cup match.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news

Bernardo Silva, John Stones, and Kevin De Bruyne are currently out due to injuries.

Rodri is suspended, and both Mateo Kovacic and Jack Grealish are making their way back to the first team.

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder #16 Rodri reacts as he leaves the pitch having been sent off during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 23, 2023. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder #16 Rodri reacts as he leaves the pitch having been sent off during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 23, 2023. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

“At the beginning of the season there are always six players who don’t play regularly and the Carabao Cup is perfect,” Guardiola said.

“That’s when everyone is fit. But now it’s an exceptional situation, we have a lot of players injured or with a lot of minutes. They have to rest.

“Wolves, Leipzig and Arsenal are much more important.”

Guardiola also touched upon the broader issue of player fatigue due to a congested fixture list, noting that his players are not getting sufficient rest.

“The problem is the lack of rest – mentally especially,” Guardiola added. “We are used to it. Previous seasons were the same. We have two more games because of the Club World Cup (in December) but the rest is the same.”

Arsenal face Brentford in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before travelling to Bournemouth for a league fixture on Saturday.

The team has had its own set of injury concerns, with high-profile summer signing Declan Rice recently experiencing back issues during a match against Tottenham Hotspur.

However, the condition is not thought to be serious and Rice is undergoing further assessments with the hope he will be fit for the game against The Cherries.

The club are also without Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news