Manchester City faces a significant setback as forward Antoine Semenyo has been sidelined for approximately eight weeks due to a knee injury sustained during Saturday’s match against Ipswich. The injury further complicates the team’s attacking options ahead of their UEFA Champions League fixture at home against AEK Athens, with star striker Erling Haaland also questionable after leaving the Ipswich game with a foot injury.

City's interim manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the challenge of replacing Haaland, who has been pivotal to the side’s offensive strategy this season. Semenyo had been considered the most viable alternative to Haaland, but with his absence, Maresca is expected to rely on players like Phil Foden and Iliman Ndiaye. “To replace Erling it’s always difficult but we have some different options; we’ll see tomorrow,” Maresca said. He added that while the loss of Semenyo was regrettable, the team will explore various tactical solutions to compensate.

Maresca also revealed concerns about the broader squad fitness after several players, including Haaland, Semenyo, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, and Nico O’Reilly — all of whom participated in the recent World Cup — appeared to leave the field limping. The coach had made six changes to his lineup for the game against Ipswich, citing a demanding schedule that features seven matches in 21 days throughout October. “We try to manage all the players in the best way, try to keep them fit,” Maresca said, noting that injuries like Semenyo’s are sometimes unavoidable despite efforts to preserve player health.

The compressed fixture list has also limited training time, posing challenges for Maresca as he works to implement his tactical philosophy. Defender Marc Guéhi commented on these constraints, emphasizing the focus on in-game preparation. Guéhi, who also attracted attention off the pitch for his decision not to take the knee during the Premier League’s “No Room For Racism” campaign, stated that while he no longer participates in the gesture, he continues to support the fight against racism through applause and hopes for more substantive actions to address the issue in sport.

As Manchester City prepares to face AEK Athens in the Champions League, the team must adapt quickly amid injury concerns and a demanding schedule, striving to regain momentum following their recent defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.