'Overhaul started sooner than expected'

Manchester City will host Chelsea in a desperate battle to qualify for UCL

LONDON:

Pep Guardiola has admitted Manchester City's injury woes and dismal form this season forced the club to start an overhaul of his squad sooner than expected.

After winning the Premier League six times in the past seven seasons, City's bid for a fifth successive title has crumbled in shocking fashion.

Instead of chasing yet more glory in the title race, Guardiola's side will host Chelsea on Saturday locked in a desperate battle just to qualify for next season's Champions League.

City's astonishing decline has prompted Guardiola and the club's hierarchy to launch a comprehensive rebuild of his team in a bid to get back on track.

Normally cautious spenders in the January transfer window, City have signed Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens, teenaged Brazilian defender Vitor Reis from Palmeiras and Egypt forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt.

That trio cost around £123 million ($152 million) in combined transfer fees and opened the door for unsettled City right-back Kyle Walker's imminent loan move to AC Milan.

"Last season, we didn't do much (in the transfer market) with the exceptional qualities of this team," Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

"Normally we would wait three of four months, but we decided to do it here with the amount of injuries and problems we have.

"They will make us strong and I'm pretty sure that the club decided for these prospective players for the future and many years."

With City hampered by fresh injuries to Ruben Dias and Jeremy Doku, Guardiola said Marmoush, Khusanov and Reis would be available for Chelsea's visit to the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola said Marmoush, who will bolster City's attacking options, has an "exceptional future".

He added: "Vitor is young, a huge personality, but he needs time. He is here with us. Of course he can start with the situations we have at the back. He comes for many years, not just for now.

"Khusanov has already settled because he played in the French league, handling tough, fast players."

Wednesday's 4-2 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain, in which City blew a two-goal lead, left Guardiola's team in danger of Champions League elimination ahead of their do-or-die showdown with Club Brugge next week.

"We can make it. Why should I think differently? I think it is going to happen," Guardiola said defiantly of City's hopes of reaching the Champions League play-off round.

Fifth-placed City must also secure Champions League qualification for next season and beating fourth-placed Chelsea would be a step in the right direction.

City would go above Chelsea with a victory, but Guardiola is well aware of the threat posed by his former assistant Enzo Maresca in the Italian's first season in charge of the Blues.

"It's really important. We are close in the table, even with the big problems we have had. The next two games are finals. Chelsea and after that Brugge," Guardiola said.

Maresca happy with Chelsea wide men

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said Friday he is happy with his wide options despite reports linking the London club with a move for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.

The 20-year-old Argentina international has reportedly been the subject of interest from Chelsea and Italian side Napoli during the January transfer window.

Representatives of Garnacho were in attendance as Chelsea beat Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

Maresca, who is likely to be without Mykhailo Mudryk for an extended period as the Ukrainian awaits the outcome of a doping investigation, handed a Premier League debut to academy graduate Tyrique George during the 3-1 win, after being left with only three available senior wide forwards.

Arteta doubles down on need for striker

Mikel Arteta reiterated Friday that Arsenal are actively looking to sign a striker, admitting they "lack options" as the clock ticks down towards the end of the January transfer window.

Serious injuries to forwards Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka have added to concerns over Arsenal's lack of goalscoring threat as they try to chase down Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The Gunners are the only club in the Premier League's top six without a goalscorer in double figures -- Kai Havertz has eight in the English top flight this season.

Arsenal manager Arteta was asked about the need for reinforcements ahead of his side's trip to struggling Wolves on Saturday.