Man City facing more injury problems as Guardiola confirms double blow following draw with Chelsea | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says the injuries suffered by Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol in the draw with Chelsea “do not look good”.

Both were forced off in the second half of the 1-1 draw, as Enzo Fernandez scored a late equaliser to cancel out Tijjani Reijnders’ opener.

“We’ll see tomorrow,” Guardiola said on the duo. “It doesn’t look good, him 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.”

With several other players also currently missing through injury, including Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, and Savinho, and with Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri at the Africa Cup of Nations, Guardiola admits he is concerned by his lack of options.

“Of course I have concerns (about the squad size),” he said. “Did you see the bench today? Three players from the academy and now we will have more. So we don’t have players.”

On whether there will be signings in January, he added: “I don’t think so but we’ll see what happens because I know Ruben is a big loss, Josko is a big loss. It’s the partnership we have done.”

Guardiola is also unsure whether Rodri will be able to play against Brighton on Wednesday, having only just returned from another injury, while Gonzalez and Kovacic are again expected to miss out.

“He’s an extraordinary player,” Guardiola said when asked about Rodri. “His composure, he makes us play better.

“The big question mark now is in three days we have another one against a tough opponent, if he can play or not.

“But Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez are not, I would say, ready. So we’ll see how we manage.”