Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola publicly revealed the belief his side could be in trouble after John Stones’ latest injury setback, during their 3-0 home Champions League group stage win over BSC Young Boys on Tuesday. The 29-year-old England international recently returned to action last month after hip and hamstring issues, but could be sidelined again with a muscular complaint.
Stones’ muscle injury bad news for Citizens
- City, the current Champions League holders, qualified for the competition’s last-16 with two group stage matches still to play this week
- England defender Stones has missed 12 games for club and country this term, and it will worsen after his latest muscular injury blow on Tuesday
- Featuring in a hybrid defensive-midfield role to complement Rodri, Guardiola attributes their three-game losing streak to both despite attention on Rodri’s suspension after seeing red vs. Nottingham Forest
- Guardiola on the situation, per Metro: “The problem is we play John and Rodri at the same time – now we are in trouble, because we have to play a bit differently, like happened [during defeat at] Arsenal. We still do not feel comfortable, we’re not prepared to change many variations.”
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Manchester City’s 6-1 thrashing of strugglers Bournemouth last weekend marked a third consecutive Premier League start for John Stones, their ever-present defender enduring injury issues since their Community Shield defeat by Arsenal on August 6.
Three months on from that loss on penalties to Mikel Arteta’s side, the England international will again be sidelined for a while after coming off at half-time with a recurring thigh complaint during their 3-0 win over BSC Young Boys on Tuesday.
It’s an unwelcome blow for a City side who travel to west London against Chelsea this weekend, no doubt buoyed by ending then-leaders Tottenham’s unbeaten start to the top-flight campaign in a frantic televised clash on Monday night.
“Unfortunately John, he felt [his thigh] again. I feel so sorry for him because he is so professional and committed – again it is a big loss for us.
John is so important with what he does, recover and the season is long, we’ll be back stronger. Yeah, [I think he will be out for a long time].”
- Guardiola to TNT Sports post-match
City’s injury list
Kevin de Bruyne, thigh – could return in January
Sergio Gomez, undisclosed – no return timeline
Manuel Akanji – back – probable for Chelsea
John Stones, thigh – indefinitely, no return date
Skeptics will reply to this saying Chelsea have more first-team players injured but three of their seven currently sidelined are relatively new signings, one was on the verge of leaving over the summer and two are known for being injury-prone.
Every club is different, and the blow is indirectly softened by their underachievement last term – City juggling multiple competitions and the pressures that come with their tag as defending champions to boot. Every defeat edges closer to a mini crisis, while Mauricio Pochettino’s side are one in transition under new management again.
Sound familar? We’ll have to wait and see what this weekend has in store, as Chelsea have been struggling to harness their creative firepower but have players aplenty – including England snub Raheem Sterling – with a point to prove.
Picture source: Getty Images
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