Pep Guardiola will be without five key players for Manchester City’s clash with Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime as the champions have been dealt a huge blow.
Guardiola, 53, will be hoping to bounce back from last Sunday’s 2-1 derby defeat against Manchester United.
Saturday’s trip to Birmingham will give the Premier League champions the chance to improve their recent torrid form. They have won just once in their last 11 games in all competitions.
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But the club's recent record against the Villains is an impressive one, which may give the travelling fans some hope as they head to the Midlands.
Villa's only victory against City in their last 17 meetings came when they defeated Guardiola's side 1-0 in December 2023.
Tomorrow, City will be without five players as Rodri, Oscar Bobb, and Nathan Ake remain sidelined.
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Goalkeeper Ederson is thought to be a major doubt, while Ruben Dias is set to be out for three to four weeks due to a muscular injury, the City boss has confirmed during his press conference on Friday.
Dias, 27, previously missed five matches in November after sustaining a calf injury.
“Ruben [Dias] is out for a long time, and Ederson, I don’t know if he will be ready tomorrow,” said Guardiola.
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“[On Dias] Three or four weeks. Muscular.
“[He played] 75 minutes against United. He felt something but he is so strong and wanted to stay on the pitch."
Guardiola continued to explain how Manuel Akanji and John Stones were back in full training, which will no doubt boost their defence in the coming weeks.
“I don’t know yet [if they can start against Aston Villa]," added the City boss.
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"Yesterday was their first training session, I would say, properly. They have been out for a while.”
Rico Lewis, who was suspended for the Manchester derby after being sent off against Crystal Palace, will also be available for selection.
The six-time Premier League-winning manager went on to stress how he still has belief in his side despite their recent poor showings.
“I handle good moments, and I handle bad ones,” he said.
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“I had bad ones in the years as a manager, but we were able to come back.
“Now it is taking longer. It is more than 40 bad days of results, that is the truth, but compared to eight years it is better.
“This 40 days is bad, absolutely. I said after [the defeat to] United we don’t have a defence; the results speak for themself.
“I know we can get a good result and see the team coming back and that is what we want to do.”
Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Aston Villa, Premier League, Ruben Dias, Ederson
Luke Davies