Manchester City defender John Stones added to the club’s growing injury list as he was forced off at halftime in their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday. Stones, who was making his first start in a month following a foot issue, saw the same problem flare up again, according to manager Pep Guardiola.
The loss marked City’s ninth defeat in their last 12 matches across all competitions, a worrying trend for the reigning Premier League champions. The result leaves City further behind in the title race and adds more pressure on Guardiola to find solutions to the team’s slump.
Guardiola cited injuries as a key factor in City’s struggles. Ruben Dias was already ruled out for up to four weeks with a muscle injury, leaving Manuel Akanji as the club’s only fully fit central defender.
RECALL:
Stones’ return was highly anticipated after missing several weeks of action, but his injury recurrence highlights City’s ongoing defensive crisis. In addition to Dias, City have also had to manage without Kevin De Bruyne for much of the season, leaving gaps in both defense and midfield.
City’s defensive frailties were evident in the loss at Villa Park, where Aston Villa capitalized on their chances to claim victory. Stones’ injury forced Guardiola to make a halftime substitution, with Kyle Walker coming on, but the defensive reshuffle could not stop City from conceding again in the second half.
QUOTES:
Guardiola expressed his frustration after the game, saying:
“We have just one central defender fit, that is difficult. Injuries have been a big issue for us this season, and it’s showing in our results. We need to keep fighting and find a way through this.”
On Stones’ injury, he added:
“It’s the same problem as before. We’ll have to see how bad it is, but it’s not looking good.”
CITATIONS:
This report draws on live match coverage, post-match comments from Pep Guardiola, and injury updates shared by the Associated Press.
KEEP IN MIND:
Manchester City’s defensive depth is being severely tested, and their title defense is now in serious jeopardy. Guardiola faces the challenge of managing an injury-hit squad while trying to keep the team competitive in a congested fixture schedule.
