Manchester City will need to soldier on without their defensive leader | OneFootball

Manchester City suffered a huge injury blow to their defence when it was revealed that Josko Gvardiol will be sidelined for a significant period of time due to a tibial fracture in his right leg. Gvardiol sustained the injury during the second-half of Manchester City’s 1-all draw with Chelsea. Gvardiol’s injury wasn’t the only injury concern to emerge from that match for City. Ruben Dias was also substituted during the latter stages of the match at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola has now revealed how long Dias will be sidelined for. Manchester City will have to soldier on without their defensive leader for a prolonged period due to a hamstring injury he sustained against Chelsea.

Pep Guardiola has revealed that Ruben Dias will be out for between four and six weeks.

Pep Guardiola was asked earlier today how long Ruben Dias would be sidelined for. The Manchester City manager revealed that Dias suffered a hamstring injury against Chelsea, and he is looking at being sidelined for between four and six weeks. Speaking on Dias’ injury, Guardiola told the media: “Ruben has injured his hamstring and will be out for between four and six weeks. [Josko] is out for a long time.”

Guardiola also added that John Stones isn’t expecting to return from injury in Manchester City’s upcoming matches. He added: “He (John Stones) is not ready for the next games.”

“Of course, he’s an important player for us for a long time, and he was injured for a long time last season; this season looks the same. He’s trying a lot and trying everything, but he’s not fit.”

Manchester City has lost a strong presence on the pitch, and it is up to others to fill the void.

Losing Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias for an extended period of time has cost Manchester City their first-choice centre-back pairing. That is a huge blow for Pep Guardiola’s side. In the case of losing Dias, City have lost their defensive leader and a strong presence on the pitch. It will be up to other City players to fill the void left by Ruben Dias’ prolonged absence.

Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Erling Haaland are leaders in this City side. They will have to step up in the absence of Dias. Players such as Phil Foden, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nathan Ake can also help provide the leadership that will be missing on the pitch with Dias sidelined. City needs leaders on the pitch and it will take a team effort to fill the void that Dias’ absence has created. Ruben Dias has also been a strong performer in Manchester City’s defence this season so Abdukodir Khusanov, Nathan Ake and even Max Alleyne have a big role to play to cover the loss of Dias and Josko Gvardiol.

The injury issues keep mounting for Manchester City in defence. Ruben Dias will now join Josko Gvardiol on the sidelines for an extended period of time. It is a blow for Pep Guardiola’s side but the burden now falls on the rest of the City squad to cover the loss of their defensive leader. It will be no easy task but the challenge is there for the rest of the City squad to do so.