Manchester City’s Portuguese defender Ruben Dias is struggling with a muscle injury.
In an injury-hit season, Manchester City faces yet another setback. This time, the Premier League titleholders lose defender Ruben Dias. According to coach Pep Guardiola, the Portuguese player will be sidelined for “three to four weeks.”
Dias first felt discomfort midway through the second half of last Saturday’s Manchester Derby, where City lost 2-1 to United. Despite the unease, he soldiered on and played the full match.
Unfortunately, the injury has now ruled him out for a considerable period. He will miss Saturday’s league match against Aston Villa, along with several other upcoming fixtures.
Dias had already missed seven games this season due to injuries. So far, he has appeared in 19 matches across all competitions.
Throughout the season, City has had to cope with injuries to key players like John Stones, Nathan Aké, Manuel Akanji, and Kyle Walker. Their midfield linchpin and Ballon d’Or winner, Rodri, has been ruled out for the entire season with a ligament injury.
The campaign to retain the league title isn’t going smoothly for City. They’ve managed just eight wins in 16 matches and currently sit fifth on the table with 27 points, trailing leaders Liverpool by nine points. The reigning champions from the last four seasons face an uphill battle.