Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Ruben Dias will miss Manchester City’s crucial Premier League encounter with Chelsea on Saturday, adding to the club’s mounting challenges.
The match at the Etihad comes just days after City’s Champions League hopes suffered a blow with a 4-2 loss to PSG, squandering a two-goal lead.
That defeat leaves the Citizens on the brink of an early European exit, while their domestic form also raises concerns.
Currently fifth in the league table, City trail Chelsea by two points, with Arsenal and Nottingham Forest sitting four points ahead.
Dias, a defensive linchpin for Guardiola, was substituted at halftime in Paris after reporting discomfort. Initially, Guardiola played down the severity of the issue, but in his pre-match press conference, he confirmed the centre-back’s absence.
“Ruben and [Jeremy] Doku are out. The other players out are [still] out,” Guardiola said. On Dias’ condition, he added: “Abductor. I don’t know [his recovery time] yet. He’s been stable and always able to play a lot of games, but this season it is what it is.”
Dias’ importance to City’s defense cannot be overstated. The 27-year-old has already endured three injuries this season, with the team managing only three wins in the ten matches he has missed.
Abductor injuries often have variable recovery timelines, meaning Dias could be sidelined for weeks or even months, potentially missing critical fixtures.
City’s upcoming schedule is daunting, featuring clashes against Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Tottenham in the Premier League, along with a decisive Champions League match against Club Brugge and an FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient.
To cope with their injury crisis and inconsistent form, Manchester City has invested £152 million in January signings, bringing in Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, and Abdukodir Khusanov
Guardiola confirmed that all three new recruits are in contention to feature against Chelsea. “[Marmoush brings] exceptional quality to the team. He’s a future player for years with quality in the final third,” Guardiola stated.
As City struggles to stabilize its season, the absence of key players like Dias will only add to Guardiola’s challenges in keeping their campaign on track.