MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has reassured fans regarding the recent ankle injury to Brazilian winger Savinho, suggesting that it is not as severe as initially feared amid a wave of injuries plaguing the Premier League champions.

Guardiola addressed the media, stating, “It was a knock. A strong one but (it’s) not fractured,” thus alleviating fears of a potentially serious setback for the player.

Savinho was visibly distressed after being carried off the pitch on a stretcher during City’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the English League Cup on Wednesday. The incident raised immediate concerns, but Guardiola’s comments suggest the injury may not keep him sidelined for long.

Adding to City’s injury woes, defender Manuel Akanji sustained an injury during the warm-up, having been coping with a knee issue. The loss against Tottenham marked a challenging moment for the squad, which is also missing key players such as Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, and Oscar Bobb, all of whom will not be available for the upcoming match against Bournemouth. Additionally, Jeremy Doku is also out, while Ruben Dias continues to play despite dealing with his own injury concerns.

After the match against Tottenham, Guardiola expressed that this is the worst injury crisis he has faced since taking charge of City in 2016. He acknowledged the challenging circumstances but stressed that they are not alone in experiencing these issues, stating, “We are not the only club in the world that has injuries.” He urged his players to maintain a positive mindset, saying, “The challenge is there. Try not to feel sorry for ourselves.”

Nevertheless, Guardiola does not anticipate making any immediate moves in the transfer market come January. He expressed optimism that the squad will be back to full fitness, with the exception of Rodri and possibly Oscar. “Maybe in January we have all the squad fit… the squad is enough, it’s complete, it’s nice, it’s top and everyone is completely focused and fit,” he remarked, indicating confidence in his current roster despite the injuries.