Manchester City go into their midweek Premier League clash with Fulham facing a familiar, if increasingly frustrating, challenge: maintaining top-level performances while coping with injuries, fatigue and the unrelenting pressure of a title race that shows no sign of easing.
Pep Guardiola has been forced to improvise for much of the campaign. At times, those adjustments have been masterful, underlining his status as one of football’s greatest tacticians.
On other occasions, they have revealed cracks in a team that still dominates possession and creates chances, but has looked vulnerable at moments — particularly when caught in defensive transition.
Wednesday night’s match at the Etihad comes at a crucial stage of the season. City arrive on the back of an emotionally intense and physically demanding win over Liverpool, a result that could yet shape the title picture.
However, that victory has also raised fresh worries, especially at the back, where Guardiola’s defensive options are becoming increasingly stretched.
Facing a Fulham side happy to disrupt and frustrate, City will need more than individual quality. Organisation, control and smart game management will be essential — traits Guardiola values highly, but ones that become harder to sustain as injuries pile up and rotation becomes limited.
The showdown with Liverpool always felt like a potential turning point. The pace, aggression and emotional edge of the game underlined its importance, and City ultimately claimed all three points through goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
As has so often been the case in recent seasons, though, that success did not come without a price.
