As Manchester City went down to a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth yesterday the champions had to play players who were carrying injury issues. Nathan Ake, Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji and Josko Gvardiol all came into yesterday’s game in some form of duress. But they appear to be Manchester City’s defensive options for the foreseeable future. Rico Lewis is also included in that list at right-back. It was revealed by Pep Guardiola after his team’s defeat that Ruben Dias and John Stones are facing a spell on the sidelines.
Eyebrows were raised when neither Stones nor Dias were in the Manchester City squad for yesterday’s match. Following his team’s first loss of the Premier League season Pep Guardiola revealed why Stones and Dias weren’t available yesterday. He explained: “Ruben’s injury is muscular, and he will be out until the international break. And John has a fasciitis splinter in the feet and today he was not ready.”
All of a sudden Manchester City have a lack of defensive options. Ruben Dias and John Stones being out is a massive blow for Pep Guardiola’s side. It leaves the champions with only five fit defenders for their next two games. However, there is still hope that John Stones may be available for the City’s next two matches.
But three of the defender’s Manchester City do have available are still working towards full fitness. Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker all played under duress yesterday. Pep Guardiola did praise the trio for trying to get through yesterday’s game. He added: “Manu and Nathan made an incredible effort to be there in a demanding game. Kyle [Walker] has gone 18 or 19 days and only one training session with us and today he was there.”
With Ruben Dias and John Stones out the champions now have a lengthy injury list. Rodri, Oscar Bobb, and Jack Grealish are all out of action. Kevin De Bruyne, Savinho, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker are all not fully fit. That is the size of challenge facing Pep Guardiola and his team as they prepare for their next two games against Sporting and Brighton.
