Defending Premier League champions Manchester City have suffered a major injury blow ahead of their trip to face Arsenal. Defender Ruben Dias picked up an injury in City’s dramatic 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League and had to be replaced by Rico Lewis. Speaking in his post-match interview, Guardiola explained Dias did not feel good enough to continue. He said: “Dias asked to be replaced because he didn’t feel good.”
However, just a few days later in his pre-match conference before facing Chelsea in the Premier League, Guardiola sounded more worried about his players. He said: “Ruben (Dias) and Jeremy (Doku) are out. The other players out are still out. Dias’ issue is with his abductor, I don’t know his recovery time yet. He’s been stable and always able to play a lot of games, but this season it is what it is.”
Dias’ injury comes at a critical time for Manchester City, who have already seen key defender Kyle Walker depart for AC Milan. The Portuguese was expected to play an important role, with a fresh selection headache created for Guardiola.
Ruben Dias’ stats for Man City this season
Ruben Dias has been a crucial player for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City since joining from Benfica a few seasons back. However, injuries have often hindered his contributions and ability to remain consistent. This season, Dias has played 1581 minutes across 21 matches, and has picked up five yellow cards.
In the Premier League, the Portuguese defender has made 14 appearances this season and has helped keep four clean sheets. He has made nine tackles with a success rate of 56%, making 33 clearances, 14 interceptions and three blocks. A solid player with a strong frame, Dias has won 31 duels and made 40 ball recoveries. He also averages around 86 passes per match, highlighting his importance in the build-up for Manchester City.
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Guardiola will surely hope he has one of his most important players back in the fray sooner rather than later.
