Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola issues worrying injury update on Ruben Dias following international break
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola issues worrying injury update on Ruben Dias following international break
Manchester City have been dealt a blow as Pep Guardiola revealed that Ruben Dias is set to remain sidelined for between 4 and 6 weeks after picking up an injury playing for the Citizens.
Dias was forced off at half time against Peterborough United in Guardiola’s side’s 2-0 win, and has not featured since thanks to picking up a knock. And now, Guardiola has noted that he is no rush to force Dias back into the side, meaning that he is certain to miss the Premier League showdown between the Citizens and Liverpool in a potential title decider.
Ruben Dias of Manchester City reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Burnley at Etihad Stadium on November 28, 2020 in Manchester, England.(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
‘The doctor said the position when he got injured is so risky, we have to be careful’, the Spaniard told the media ahead of Manchester City welcoming Leicester City to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.
‘They tell me [it could be] 4-6 six weeks, but it’s much better to go to six than four. We won’t take a risk on him. If he went down he’d be out for the season.’
Pep on Ruben Dias: “The doctor said the position when he got injured is so risky, we have to be careful. They tell me [it could be] 4-6 six weeks, but it’s much better to go to six than four. We won’t take a risk on him. If he went down he’d be out for the season.” #MCFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) April 2, 2022
Support in the wings
While Dias, named the Premier League player of the season last campaign, is sure to be a miss, Manchester City have plenty of options. John Stones and Aymeric Laporte are both well established internationals and are able to hold their own at the top level, while Nathan Ake has struggled for gametime since his £40 million move from Bournemouth but remains a top defender.
However, with Manchester City still in the Champions League, in the latter stages of the FA Cup and fighting for the Premier League trophy, that trio will have to play a lot of games.
