Heading into next week’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg clash with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, it appears that Manchester City will have to face the Spanish giants without Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker. The pair missed City’s 4-2 win over Crystal Palace due to injuries. But coming out of yesterday’s win, have the European champions picked up another injury concern?
Defender Josko Gvardiol was substituted at half time of his team’s vital win yesterday. Pep Guardiola revealed post game that the defender was taken off after feeling a ‘niggle’. He told Football on TNT “The reason for Josko coming off was because he felt a niggle and we didn’t want to risk any injuries. We will see which players we have available because Josko had a little problem. We will see. Next one. We were unlucky to play early on after Aston Villa but now lucky we have time to recover before Real Madrid. We will try to give them a good game.”
Rico Lewis also revealed to Football on TNT that Gvardiol was substituted due to a ‘niggle’. The England international said that City didn’t want to take any risks with the Croatian. Rico Lewis said: “The reason for Josko coming off was because he felt a niggle and we don’t want to risk any injuries.”
“I want to get more goals and assists”
Rico Lewis reflects on 4-2 win over Crystal Palace with @julesbreach 🙌 pic.twitter.com/R6hIQ7PJek
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 6, 2024
Manchester City will be sweating on the availability of Josko Gvardiol for the big game against Real Madrid. With Nathan Ake likely out the world champions will need Gvardiol to slot in at left-back. All eyes will now shift to Guardiola’s pre-game press conference ahead of the Champions League quarter-final first leg for an update of Gvardiol’s injury status.
