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Guardiola has cited injuries as a factor in the four-time defending champion’s alarming slump, which has seen it lose nine of its last 12 games in all competitions.
John Stones of Manchester City (AP)
Center back John Stones sustained a fresh injury setback in Manchester City’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League.
The England player was substituted at halftime after his first start in a month due to a foot issue. That injury flared up again, City manager Pep Guardiola said.
Guardiola has cited injuries as a factor in the four-time defending champion’s alarming slump, which has seen it lose nine of its last 12 games in all competitions.
It was confirmed on Friday that Ruben Dias will be out for up to four weeks because of a muscle injury.
“We have just one central defender fit, that is difficult,” Guardiola said on Saturday.
Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers at Villa Park consigned the four-time defending champion to a ninth defeat in 12 games in a season that is unravelling. Pep Guardiola’s team has won just once during that run.
“We don’t have a defense for the results. They are not good,” Guardiola said.
Third-placed Arsenal closed the gap on league leader Liverpool to three points with a 5-1 win at Crystal Palace, but has played two games more.
City dropped to sixth in the standings, nine points below Liverpool, and has played two games more.
“It’s about what I can do with my people to get the results back and continue,” Guardiola said. “If there is a moment that I cannot overthink, it is right now. Try to be simple, stick to my principles and give certainty to the team.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)
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