Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has been ruled out for up to four weeks with a muscular injury, adding to Pep Guardiola’s mounting challenges as the club battles to revive its faltering season.
Dias, who recently returned from a calf problem that sidelined him throughout November, had been a consistent presence in December. However, the Portuguese centre-back picked up a new injury during City’s midweek clash with Manchester United.
“Ruben is out for a long time—three or four weeks,” Guardiola confirmed on Friday. “After 75 minutes against United, he felt something. He’s strong and wanted to stay on the pitch, but now he’s injured.”
City are also sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper Ederson ahead of Saturday’s crucial Premier League match against Aston Villa. “Ederson? I don’t know if he’ll be ready tomorrow,” Guardiola added.
The injury to Ruben Dias comes during a broader defensive crisis for Manchester City. Nathan Aké remains sidelined, though Manuel Akanji and John Stones have returned to full training. Guardiola welcomed the potential reinforcements but was cautious about their match readiness.
“Manuel and John are back in training, which is good for us,” he said. “But they’ve been out for a while. Yesterday was their first proper training session, so we’ll see.”
Manchester City’s form has hit unprecedented lows under Guardiola, with eight losses in their last 11 matches across all competitions. The slump has left the reigning champions fifth in the Premier League table, trailing behind leaders Arsenal.
Despite the setbacks, Guardiola struck a defiant tone ahead of the Villa clash. “If you fall down six times, you have to stand up seven,” he said. “There’s no alternative. Sooner or later, it will turn around.”
Villa, managed by Unai Emery, sit seventh in the league and pose a formidable challenge, especially given City’s current struggles. Guardiola, however, remains focused on rebuilding confidence and performance within the squad.
With a packed festive schedule ahead, Manchester City must navigate the coming weeks without their defensive linchpin. Guardiola’s ability to rally his injury-hit squad could define their season as they aim to close the gap at the top of the table.
