EPL: Man City Suffer Double Injury Setbacks After Bournemouth Defeat

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has shared updates on the fitness of John Stones and Ruben Dias following the team’s 2-1 Premier League loss to Bournemouth on Saturday.

City’s defeat at the Vitality Stadium ended a 32-game unbeaten league run that had stretched back to December 2023, marking the reigning champions’ first Premier League loss of the season and their first-ever league defeat against Bournemouth.

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A late goal by Josko Gvardiol offered City a chance to rally, but earlier strikes from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson secured a memorable win for the Cherries. This loss also marked City’s second defeat in four days, following their 2-1 exit to Tottenham in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

Both Stones and Dias were initially in the starting lineup for the Tottenham game but missed out against Bournemouth due to injury. Guardiola had mentioned pre-match that the pair would be “out for a little bit of a long time.” After the game, he confirmed that both players face extended time 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.”

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With injuries confirmed for both Stones and Dias, the pair are now ruled out of Man City’s upcoming Champions League fixture against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, as well as next weekend’s Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion, just before the international break.

City remains hopeful the duo will be fit to return for their Premier League home game against Tottenham Hotspur on November 23, following the break.

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