Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the fitness of John Stones and Ruben Dias following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth in the Premier League.
After enjoying a club-record 32-game unbeaten league run dating back to December 2023, the reigning Premier League champions suffered their first top-flight loss of the campaign at the Vitality Stadium and the first in their history against the Cherries.
A late strike from Josko Gvardiol gave City hope of a comeback, but earlier goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson ultimately secured maximum points for Bournemouth and condemned Guardiola’s team to their second defeat in the space of just four days after also losing 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
Both Stones and Dias started in the defeat at Spurs, but the defensive duo were left out of the matchday squad for the clash with Bournemouth due to injury, with Guardiola revealing prior to kickoff that both players “are out for a little bit of a long time”.
The Catalan coach has since provided a fresh update on Stones and Dias after the match, confirming that the Citizens pair are set for spells on the sidelines.
Speaking at his post-match press conference (via SportsMole), Guardiola said: “[Stones and Dias] are injured. Ruben until the international break will be injured. John – I don’t know if he’ll be back for the next two games.”
Commenting on the rest of his defensive options, Guardiola added: “I’m really pleased for the incredible effort from Nathan [Ake], I asked him this morning and I asked him. He said he wanted to try. Struggle this season with problem in his feet.”
“[Manuel Akanji] couldn’t play against Spurs and make an effort today. [Kyle] Walker – his last game played was with the national team to reach 100 games and since then could not train one session, yesterday he did six minutes. Rico [Lewis], [has played] a lot of minutes, he was tired.
“We have players with rhythm, but we have other players with a lack of rhythm. It is what it is. Accept it.”
Confirmation of injuries to Stones and Dias means they are both set to miss Man City’s Champions League trip to Sporting Lisbon next Tuesday and next weekend’s Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break.
ity will hope that Stones and Dias have recovered in time for a Premier League home encounter with Tottenham Hotspur after the international break on November 23.
