Stones, Dias & Gvardiol - Manchester City injury news ahead of Chelsea Premier League encounter
(Courtesy : Getty)
The Cityzens are dealing with injuries to key defenders.
Ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on a few of his injured defenders.
Last Saturday, City defeated Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup at the Etihad without the participation of Ruben Dias or John Stones.
Josko Gvardiol, meanwhile, has been sidelined since January due to a tibial fracture in his right leg.
Guardiola stated that although Dias’s condition is improving, he will not be included in the group for the trip to Stamford Bridge due to a muscular problem.
Guardiola could choose from the same group of players who played in the FA Cup match when he returns to the touchline this weekend following a two-game suspension.
Guardiola update on City’s defenders for Chelsea game
This is because, although John Stones is still uncertain, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are not yet prepared to return from hamstring and leg injuries, respectively.”He is improving, but he is not prepared for Sunday,” Guardiola stated about Dias during Friday’s pre-Chelsea press conference.
The Spaniard said about Stones, “He might do some training today.”
Gvardiol, on the other hand, hasn’t played since the 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium at the start of the season due to a right tibial fracture.
Also Read: Alisson, Isak, Gomez & Frimpong – Liverpool injury news ahead of Fulham Premier League fixture
Gvardiol injury update
Although the Chelsea match is too soon, the Croatian international has accelerated his recuperation in recent weeks, intending to return to duty before the season ends.
“He is getting better too but still he is not close,” Guardiola said.
Mateo Kovacic, a former Blues midfielder who has been an unused substitute in Manchester City’s previous four games, is “fine” as he looks for his first minutes in October.
Where do Manchester City stand in the league table?
They are second in the table.
When will all three centre-backs return?
Guardiola has not provided a specific date for their return.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.