Manchester City “lucky” to avoid horror injury during Sunderland victory | OneFootball

A crucial member of Manchester City’s defensive line was “lucky” to avoid a horrific leg injury during Saturday’s 3-0 win over Sunderland, Pep Guardiola has admitted.

City’s comfortable victory over the Black Cats, as the hosts controlled proceedings and pushed to maintain their clean sheet, ended with a reckless challenge to close out a dominant and largely routine performance from the hosts.

Before that point, City had produced a controlled and authoritative display, taking full advantage of Arsenal’s earlier slip-up to close the gap at the top of the table. Goals from Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, and Phil Foden ensured Guardiola’s side navigated Sunderland’s deep defensive setup with patience and precision.

As the visitors attempted to chase a late consolation, frustration appeared to boil over, resulting in a dangerous challenge that could have significantly altered the afternoon’s narrative.

Luke O’Nien’s lunge on Matheus Nunes brought anger from some City players, and while referee Andy Madley initially reached for a yellow card, VAR encouraged a pitchside monitor assessment as the official upgraded the booking to a red.

Speaking to reporters post-match during his press conference, Pep Guardiola was quizzed for his thoughts on the challenge made by Luke O’Nien. “He’s fine,” Guardiola first clarified on the fitness of Matheus Nunes.

He continued, “It was lucky his leg was not on the grass… To be honest I thought it was like the first-half action with Josko [Gvardiol], but I’ve seen on the TV, WOW! We were lucky that he’s good.”

With Pep Guardiola confirming no lasting damage, attention will now turn toward how Manchester City manage Nunes’ involvement over the next week. While he avoided injury, the club’s medical staff may choose to monitor him closely ahead of their upcoming fixtures.

Sunderland, meanwhile, will now have to handle O’Nien’s absence as they look to rebuild some confidence after a damning result on the road.

For Manchester City, the broader takeaway may be relief mixed with renewed focus. With the title race narrowing and the squad already contending with key absences, avoiding a serious injury to Nunes may ultimately prove as important as the three points.