"With the fixtures we have in April, we need everybody - it's crazy," says Guardiola; Quadruple-hunting City's next match at Fulham on March 30, live on Sky Sports
Monday 18 March 2019 14:06, UK
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he is praying his players return from the international break free from injury.
City remain in the hunt for the quadruple this season but slipped back down to second in the Premier League table following Liverpool's 2-1 win at Fulham on Super Sunday.
Only a handful of senior players will remain in Manchester during the last international break of the season and Guardiola hopes he will not have to contend with any fresh injury concerns when the others return.
"I pray, pray, that they come back fit," Guardiola told City's website.
"They have to go to their national teams, they have to go, enjoy and play for their country, but I hope they can come back fit like they are now.
"Maybe they will go away, score three goals and return with the same rhythm, who knows? I just want them fit and here.
"Sergio, David Silva, Aymeric Laporte and a few others will have a week's rest. They will have a training programme to do a little bit each day and then a week of normal training ahead of the Fulham game."
City could face as many as eight games in April but Guardiola is confident his side have the physical and mental strength to maintain their challenge on all fronts.
"With the fixtures we have in April, we need everybody - it's crazy," he said.
"Everybody is going to play and Kevin (De Bruyne), Ferna (Fernandinho), John (Stones), Benjamin (Mendy)... they are all going to be back soon, and we need them.
"Everybody has contributed, and it has been massive. We are demanding more and more, and we have to train hard and then play well as possible again and again and again.
"Believe me, to get to the international break and go into April with only a month and a half to go and still be there is incredible, and it is an honour for me.
"To have this spirit, desire, this intensity and overcome difficult situations - I told the players that this is going to happen quite often between now and the end of the season where the mentality will be the difference."
