Pep Guardiola claims Manchester City are struggling after injuries suffered in a 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Tottenham left them with just 13 first-team players available.

Already without Kyle Walker, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish for the Carabao Cup tie, Manuel Akanji was withdrawn before kick-off before Savinho departed on a stretcher in the second half.

Guardiola was measured by Timo Werner’s first-half goals – his first in 18 games – and Pape Sarr inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on Citybut he admitted problems are mounting ahead of Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth, which is followed by a Champions League game at Sporting Lisbon.

“We have 13 players (available), so we are in trouble,” Guardiola said.

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“The guys that are playing, they finish most of them with problems and we will see how they recover.

“I think when we are in trouble, as we are because in nine years this situation never happens with many, many injuries for many, many reasons, in these situations, the players step up and are more together than ever. and they will try to do this week in this short time to recover.

“It’s hard. Akanji yesterday, I didn’t know, in the last action he felt something in the muscular part of his body and today in the warm-up he didn’t feel good. He said he can take a risk and I said no, no risk .

“Ruben (Dias) struggles at times and at times. It’s gotten more and more difficult game by game, but maybe one day we’ll get there.

“That’s why the guys that are here and make the effort to be with us, fight to be with us and play with pain and focus for us, those guys I won’t forget.”

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Savinho fell just before the hour mark and after treatment a stretcher was needed to remove him.

Guardiola hoped it was just a ‘knock’ and revealed Erling Haaland was always prepared to stay on the bench despite Matheus Nunes’ effort in first-half stoppage time, giving City the opportunity to come back from two goals down .

The visitors created chances late on and Tottenham substitute Yves Bissouma cleared Nico O’Reilly’s effort off the line in the 89th minute.

“He (Savinho) has a kick in the 18-yard box, a potential penalty and we’ll see what happens tomorrow,” added Guardiola.

“Hopefully he’s not in danger, but we’ll see. The plan was ahead, (Haaland) didn’t play and the game against Southampton was so demanding.

“I didn’t want to take any chances with him today in this competition. I don’t like to lose, but this competition is a little different. I like to see the team how we behave, the courage and solidarity how we play.”

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou reflected on an enjoyable night despite a potential worrying hamstring injury to Micky van de Ven.

“We will continue to work on what we have done and believe in the process of what we are trying to build,” Postecoglou said.

“The key thing for us was obviously the win. In a cup competition, in the end, that’s the main thing.

“You have to win to continue. And the fact that it was against a formidable opponent is great for the whole group.

“I continue to see growth in this group of players and this team. I want them to have these moments because I know how important it is to accelerate growth.”