Manchester City suffer double injury blow in Chelsea clash

Josko Gvardiol was taken off in the second-half of Manchester City’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Croatian has been the bedrock of Pep Guardiola’s backline in the last 12 months, exceeding expectations in the recent campaign wherein he played out of position for large periods to cover for Manchester City’s frailties at left-back.

Since the closing stages of the 2024-25 season, Gvardiol has forged a reliable partnership with Ruben Dias at the heart of Manchester City’s defence, with Nathan Ake and John Stones facing uncertain futures at the Etihad Stadium.

City are embroiled in a tight title race with Arsenal and are competing on four fronts, with director of football Hugo Viana monitoring the January transfer market for potential reinforcements for the second half of the season.

The Blues are not expected to be nearly as active in January as they were last summer – when Viana revamped the senior squad with seven new signings and several exits – as they close in on the arrival of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

However, those preliminary transfer plans could be upended after Gvardiol was hauled off early in the second-half of Manchester City’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.

Abdukodir Khusanov replaced the Croatia international after 51 minutes, with Gvardiol appearing to have twisted his ankle as a result of a challenge on Reece James, who was thwarted in his attempt to launch a counter attack after dispossessing Rodri in midfield.

Gvardiol received treatment from Manchester City’s medical staff on the pitch and was helped to the touchline by James, who showed great camaraderie in escorting an injured Gvardiol visibly in pain to the touchline. Later in the second-half, Dias was also replaced by Nathan Ake due to injury.

Guardiola is expected to provide an initial verdict on the pair’s respective issues after the game, which saw Tijjani Reijnders give Manchester City a 42nd minute lead as the hosts entered the interval with a narrow cushion.

City will desperately be hoping that neither Gvardiol nor Dias are not ruled out for a lengthy period of time as they need every bit of help they can get from their dressing room, with Guardiola and co vying for silverware on multiple fronts.

The Blues retain the option of recalling on-loan defenders Manuel Akanji and Vitor Reis from ongoing season-long loans at Inter Milan and Girona respectively, though any decisions on a transfer front will be made after a thorough assessment of injuries sustained by Gvardiol and Dias – and how long the duo could be out for.

Nathan Ake has been linked with a potential departure from the Etihad Stadium this month and City, who want to retain the Netherlands international, will definitely be pleading with the 30-year-old to stay put should they lose Gvardiol for a major chunk of the remaining season.