Manchester City Face Fresh Injury Setback with Dias Out

Cataleya

December 21, 2024 · 1 min read

Manchester City Face Fresh Injury Setback with Dias Out
Football | December 21, 2024
Ruben Dias has secured 10 major trophies since joining Manchester City. (Image: Getty)

Manchester City face another injury setback as manager Pep Guardiola announced that defender Ruben Dias will miss three to four weeks due to a muscle injury he sustained during the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United. The 27-year-old will sit out the festive fixtures, the FA Cup third-round tie against Salford on 11 January and potentially City’s Champions League clash with Paris St-Germain on 22 January. This injury adds to Dias’s challenging season as he previously missed seven games with a calf issue.

City’s defensive struggles continue with John Stones, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji and Kyle Walker all battling injuries at different points. Additionally, midfielder Rodri cannot play domestically for the rest of the season due to a cruciate knee ligament injury. Guardiola confirmed that Stones, Akanji, and Mateo Kovacic have resumed training and might feature in Saturday’s game against Aston Villa. However, he noted that goalkeeper Ederson remains doubtful due to a leg issue, stressing Ederson’s significance despite his discomfort.

Manchester City’s poor form has drawn criticism, with the team managing just one win in their last 11 matches. Observers have also questioned Guardiola’s decision to use young talents James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly sparingly, despite the club retaining them instead of arranging loan moves. Guardiola stated that he does not plan to let players leave in the January transfer window but hinted that the team might sign someone to address the season’s unique challenges.

After the United defeat, Guardiola expressed frustration but encouraged his team to bounce back. While acknowledging struggles in attack, he shared optimism about his players including Jack Grealish, who has not scored in over a year.