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John Stones, a defender for Manchester City, is expected to be out of commission due to an injury sustained during their Champions League match against Young Boys on Tuesday.
The English player was substituted during the break at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola, the manager, referred to Stones’ absence as the “devastating news” on a night when City easily secured their spot in the last 16 for the 11th consecutive year with a 3-0 victory.
Guardiola said: “It’s muscular, he is injured, so he’ll be a while out. It is a pity for him because he’s an incredible professional.
“He attempted to complete the task, but unfortunately, it’s not good news for us. It’s unfortunate news that will affect tonight.”
This development is another setback for Stones, who has already been sidelined for two months this season due to a hamstring injury.
Unfortunately, teammate Manuel Akanji was unable to play in the game due to an injury sustained during training. Despite appearing much older than his actual age, according to Guardiola, the manager remains hopeful that it is not a serious injury and that Akanji will be able to play in the upcoming game on Sunday.
Erling Haaland, despite suffering from an ankle injury on Saturday, seemed unfazed as he scored two goals for City in a dominant match against the Swiss champions.
City secured their spot in the next round of the Group G games with two matches remaining, thanks to goals from Phil Foden and a fourth consecutive win.
Guardiola commented on Haaland, who was replaced after 60 minutes, stating: “We noticed his movements and how content he seemed and felt good. I reiterated that he is extremely valuable to us.”
“After completing most of the job, he decided to take a break before Sunday’s game against Chelsea.”
Guardiola expressed satisfaction with his team’s success, but stressed that he will not relax until they have secured the top spot in the group, especially with RB Leipzig close behind by three points.
He stated that while they have already secured a spot, their work is not complete until they finish in first place. Having the second leg of the last 16 at home is preferred as they feel more confident playing on their own turf.
“You still have a task to complete, but I’m impressed that you have taken the first step.”
The night was a difficult one for Young Boys as they finished the game with a player short due to Sandro Lauper receiving a second yellow card.
Coach Raphael Wicky expressed dissatisfaction with our performance, acknowledging the challenges of achieving a positive result in this particular setting.
“We understood that in order to secure a point or victory, we needed to play a flawless game.”
“I observed some promising elements in the initial half, but it is quite challenging to defend against Manchester City. They consistently create opportunities.”
The source is the website independent.co.uk.
