Following Manchester City’s narrow 3-2 loss to Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola’s team is now facing two new injury issues. Both Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji were forced to leave the pitch due to injury during the match held at the Etihad Stadium. Recent reports provide an update on Akanji’s situation, indicating that the Swiss defender is expected to be out of action for a significant period due to the injury he sustained on Tuesday night.
According to Paul Hirst’s report for the Times, Akanji is anticipated to be sidelined for several weeks due to a muscle injury. This means that Akanji will not only miss the crucial Premier League fixture against Newcastle this weekend, which is vital for City’s title chase, but he will also be absent from the much-anticipated second leg of their Champions League playoff against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu next week. Furthermore, the report suggests that Akanji is very likely to miss the upcoming match against Liverpool, which is another essential clash in their campaign.
This latest injury to Akanji adds to a troubling pattern concerning Manchester City’s defensive lineup this season. The only defender to consistently remain available has been Josko Gvardiol. John Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, and Kyle Walker have all encountered their share of issues related to fatigue and injuries. Notably, Walker has completed a transfer to AC Milan but had been struggling with fitness issues prior to his departure in January. The accumulation of injuries among the backline has negatively impacted City’s overall performance, leading to vulnerabilities that opponents can exploit. Even the young defender Rico Lewis has found himself facing fatigue due to an increased workload, necessitated by the absences of more established players.
A further update on Akanji’s condition is expected when Pep Guardiola interacts with the media ahead of the upcoming match against Newcastle on Friday. Guardiola may face intense questioning about how these injuries are influencing his tactical decisions and what adaptations he plans to implement to mitigate the impact of Akanji’s absence. With an intense fixture list approaching and highly consequential matches on the horizon, the pressure mounts on Manchester City to maintain a competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions, even as they contend with these setbacks. For the time being, City must regroup and find a way to perform without Manuel Akanji.
This injury represents a significant blow to Guardiola’s plans; however, the team must demonstrate resilience and determination as they seek to navigate through this challenging period in their season, showing that they are capable of overcoming adversity on the pitch.
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