Manchester City’s defender Josko Gvardiol will have surgery this week for a shinbone fracture sustained during the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. The 23-year-old Croatian was substituted after 51 minutes at Stamford Bridge. Another center-back, Ruben Dias, also left the game due to injury about half an hour later.
The club confirmed that Gvardiol fractured his right leg and will undergo surgery soon. The extent of the injury and the recovery timeline are still being evaluated. Gvardiol was assisted off the field after a collision, while Dias had to exit the match later, leaving City with defensive challenges.
In response to the injuries, City has recalled Max Alleyne from his loan at Watford to bolster the squad. The 20-year-old academy graduate might feature in the upcoming game against Brighton. Despite the setbacks, City remains unbeaten in their last 10 matches, with eight wins and two draws, moving them to second place in the league standings, six points behind leaders Arsenal.
Gvardiol expressed determination to come back stronger after the injury, stating on Instagram, “This is a hard moment, but it will never define me. I know who I am and where I come from. I’ll fight every day to return stronger. I will rise again, better than ever.”
City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, acknowledged the injury concerns, mentioning the absence of key players like Stones, Dias, and Gvardiol. Guardiola emphasized the team’s resilience and spirit in overcoming challenges, aiming to find solutions and maintain a competitive edge in the league.
