Manchester City now have a huge concern in defence as injuries and fatigue have taken hold | OneFootball

Manchester City played out a frustrating 1-all draw with Chelsea tonight at the Etihad Stadium. Tonight’s result sees Pep Guardiola’s side slip six points behind Arsenal who sit at the top of the Premier League table. There was a host of concerns to come out of tonight’s match for City. Arguably the biggest concerns were the injuries suffered by Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias. Manchester City’s defensive stocks are already depleted and they have taken another blow tonight.

Pep Guardiola has explained the injury situation that his team is facing.

The loss of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol to injury is a cruel blow for Manchester City. The pair have formed a strong centre-back pairing and are the mainstays of the City defence. Speaking on the injuries suffered by Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, in quotes relayed by Hayters TV, Pep Guardiola said: “We’ll see tomorrow (On the seriousness of the injuries suffered by Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias). It doesn’t look good, him (Josko Gvardiol) and Ruben, so we’ll see what happens. I didn’t speak to the doctor but if Ruben is out it’s because he felt something.”

“Of course we have a lot (of defensive injuries). John Stones is missing for I don’t know how many months and Ruben now will be out, and Josko will be out.”

“Nathan (Ake) we know cannot play regularly but at the same time it happened last season so stay strong and we’ll find a solution. The spirit will be there. If the spirit is there, we will be there.”

Manchester City will have to dig deep to overcome a depleted squad.

There is no doubt that Manchester City’s defensive stocks are now extremely stretched. John Stones has been unavailable for some time due to injury. Rayan Ait-Nouri remains unavailable as Algeria’s African Cup of Nations campaign continues. Nico O’Reilly also looks fatigued after playing so much this season. With Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol having suffered injuries tonight it will now fall on Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake to slot into their roles. The pair are more than capable of doing the job required. As bad as it is to lose Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, City don’t have time to dwell on their misfortune. They must power on with a Premier League fixture against Brighton at the Etihad next up for Pep Guardiola’s side on Wednesday evening.

Manchester City’s defensive stocks are now stretched to breaking point. The loss of Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias is a cruel blow for Pep Guardiola’s side. But the challenge is now there for Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake, plus their teammates to step up in their absence. That’s all this City side can do at this stage.