Spanish Pep Guardiola, the head coach of English club Manchester City, confirmed the absence of duo Omar Mermoush and Ryan Ait Nouri from the team during the upcoming period due to their participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Manchester City is preparing to face Brentford on Wednesday evening, in the quarter-final round of the Carabao Cup, amid several significant absences due to injuries and international call-ups.

Guardiola said during the pre-match press conference: "We have now lost Ryan Ait Nouri and Omar Mermoush because of their participation in the Africa Cup of Nations."

He added: "We have some injuries, such as John Stones, and Rodri is still absent, so we will see the situation, but of course, we want to take the step to qualify for the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup."

The City coach continued: "Reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup is the most important thing right now, and we often reach this stage when the team is at full strength, without injuries, with the possibility of rotation and squad depth."

He went on: "But when you are one match away from the semi-finals in any competition, and if you get the chance, you have to seize it, because you never know when it will happen again."

In a related context, Guardiola revealed updates about Belgian Jeremy Doku's injury, confirming his absence from the Brentford match due to injury.

The Manchester City coach said: "We will miss three players in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals due to injury: Jeremy Doku, John Stones, and Rodri."

He emphasized that Doku is still suffering from a leg injury, adding: "I don't know exactly when Doku will return, maybe at the beginning of the new year 2026 against Sunderland, but I am not sure."

Manchester City is scheduled to meet Sunderland in the nineteenth round of the English Premier League on January 1st.