Manchester, England — Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has been ruled out for up to 10 weeks after sustaining an abductor muscle tear, manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
The Premier League champions, already dealing with the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri due to injury, suffered another setback as Akanji picked up the injury during City’s 3-2 Champions League quarterfinal defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday. The Swiss international was forced off at halftime, with City eventually conceding a stoppage-time winner from Jude Bellingham.
Speaking ahead of their upcoming fixture, Guardiola revealed the extent of Akanji’s injury, confirming that the defender would undergo surgery on Saturday and is expected to be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks.
“His abductor is broken,” Guardiola stated. “We wish Manu a speedy recovery. The effort he has put in this season has been incredible. Both he and Nathan [Ake] have played through difficult conditions due to our limited options in central defense. Unfortunately, his body couldn’t take it anymore.”
With Akanji likely to miss the remainder of the season, Guardiola also provided an update on Jack Grealish, who limped off during the first half of the same Champions League clash. While the England international remains doubtful for City’s upcoming Premier League clash against Newcastle on Saturday, his injury is considered less severe than Akanji’s.
“It’s not as bad as Manu’s, but I’m not sure if he’ll be ready for tomorrow. We’ll assess him over the next few hours,” Guardiola explained.
Additionally, the City boss addressed the condition of Nico Gonzalez, the club’s deadline-day signing, who suffered an injury during his debut against Leyton Orient. Although Gonzalez was named on the bench against Madrid, he was not used, with Guardiola expected to monitor his recovery closely in the coming days.
As City battles for silverware on multiple fronts, Akanji’s absence poses a significant challenge, with Guardiola now forced to rely on a stretched defensive lineup in the crucial final months of the campaign.
By Taiwo Olatinwo |February 15, 2025.
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