New Delhi: Manchester City’s defensive worries have grown after Pep Guardiola confirmed Ruben Dias will miss three to four weeks with a muscle injury. The defender suffered the problem during the recent derby against Manchester United, a match City lost 2-1. Despite feeling discomfort in the final 15 minutes, Dias played through the pain, but the extent of the injury has now sidelined him.
Guardiola admitted the situation isn’t ideal, especially with several players already missing. Goalkeeper Ederson is a doubt for the weekend, while Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb, Rodri, and Manuel Akanji remain unavailable. The injuries leave City stretched as they prepare to face a high-flying Aston Villa team on Saturday.
PEP 💬 [Ruben Dias will be out for] three or four weeks. It’s muscular. [He played] 75 minutes against United and he felt something but he is so strong and wanted to stay on the pitch. pic.twitter.com/6SEEuOwftL
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 20, 2024
Dias’s absence could be a significant blow, given his importance to City’s defence. The team will need to rely on other options to cover for his absence, but with Ake also unavailable, Guardiola’s choices are limited. The Manchester City boss acknowledged Dias’s strength, stating that he “played through the pain” but now faces time on the sidelines.
The growing injury list comes at a challenging time, with City navigating a packed schedule in domestic and European competitions. Aston Villa, their next opponents, have been strong at home and will likely test City’s defensive depth. Guardiola may need to adjust his tactics to cope with the setbacks.
City fans will hope their key players recover soon as the team faces critical fixtures in the coming weeks. With Ruben Dias, Rodri, and others out, Guardiola will need to keep his squad motivated and manage the workload carefully.
Manchester City face mounting injury concerns as Ruben Dias joins Rodri, Nathan Ake, and others on the sidelines. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
