Pep Guardiola has provided updates on the injuries to Manchester City defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones, confirming both players will be absent for several crucial upcoming matches.
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Dias and Stones played in City’s midweek Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham but missed the Premier League match against Bournemouth on Saturday, where City fell 2-1, marking their first league loss of the season.
Guardiola mentioned before the Bournemouth game that Dias and Stones would be “ruled out for a little bit of a long time.”
Following the match, he clarified that Dias is sidelined with a muscular injury and will be unavailable until after the international break, while Stones is dealing with a painful fasciitis splinter in his foot.
Guardiola noted that Stones’ return remains uncertain, potentially affecting his availability for Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon and next Saturday’s Premier League game against Brighton.
City’s loss to Bournemouth, combined with Liverpool’s victory over Brighton, has knocked Guardiola’s side off the top of the Premier League standings, with the Reds now two points clear.
Guardiola admitted that injuries and a lack of match rhythm have affected the team’s performance, particularly in maintaining their usual intensity against aggressive opponents like Bournemouth.
With several players recovering, City will aim to regain form when they return from the international break to host Tottenham on November 23.
