Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has revealed that Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Josko Gvardiol could be set for spells in the treatment room.
WHAT HAPPENED?
City breezed to a 3-1 win in their Champions League last-16 first leg against Copenhagen on Tuesday but the result was marred by Grealish suffering a suspected groin injury midway through the first half. Guardiola confirmed that the midfielder had suffered a muscular problem and also revealed that Bernardo Silva, who also had to be taken off in the second half, had hurt his ankle. He also disclosed that Josko Gvardiol will be out for up to three weeks after injuring ligaments in his ankle.
WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID
“Bernardo has a big knock. Looks like a muscular [injury] for Jack Grealish,” Guardiola told BBC Sport Five Live. “It is a pity. He helped us to play at the right tempo. He felt it when he rolled on the grass. They know.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
City were just approaching full strength again after suffering numerous injury setbacks throughout the season. They were without Kevin De Bruyne for five months, Erling Haaland for two months while John Stones has missed large parts of the campaign with separate issues. They all started at Parken Stadium on Tuesday night but now City have fresh injury concerns in midfield due to the likely absences of Silva and Grealish, while Gvardiol, who was not in the matchday squad against Copenhagen, leaves them with just one option at left-back.
WHAT NEXT FOR CITY?
The injuries come at a key moment in the season for City and ahead of a daunting run of fixtures. Guardiola’s side face an improving Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday before hosting Brentford the following Tuesday. They then travel to Bournemouth and Luton before facing Manchester United in the derby and visiting Liverpool in a potential title showdown.
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