Manchester City’s preparations for the Manchester Derby have been hampered by a mounting injury crisis that has depleted their defensive ranks.
The club confirmed today that Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, and John Stones are all sidelined, with Gvardiol officially ruled out until July following surgery on a fractured tibia.
Additionally, Mateo Kovacic and Savinho are unavailable, while Omar Marmoush remains on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. These absences leave Pep Guardiola with a major selection headache as he attempts to close the six-point gap behind league leaders Arsenal.
Despite the defensive woes, the mood around the Etihad has been lifted by the instant impact of new signing Antoine Semenyo. The forward followed up a debut goal in the FA Cup with the opener in City’s 2-0 League Cup semi-final win over Newcastle United earlier this week.
Guardiola praised Semenyo’s energy and adaptability, suggesting he has provided a vital spark during a period of physical exhaustion for the squad.
With the derby looming, City will likely rely on a makeshift backline to contain a Manchester United side eager to impress under new management.