Manchester City faced a tough loss in their pursuit of a Champions League spot after losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest. The team had recently returned to form with a 1-0 win over Tottenham and a 3-1 victory over Plymouth, securing their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals. However, their defeat against Forest marked their ninth loss of the Premier League season, and despite this setback, Pep Guardiola reported no new injuries. This was a relief considering the number of injuries City has dealt with this season.
Nathan Ake, a key central defender, has had a difficult season with injuries. After recently recovering from a previous injury, Ake now faces another setback after undergoing surgery on a fracture in his left foot. Guardiola mentioned that Ake could be out for 10 to 11 weeks, suggesting he might return in May 2025.
John Stones is another player who will be sidelined for an extended period. He suffered a muscle injury during Manchester City’s Champions League match against Real Madrid and had to be substituted early in the game. Although Guardiola confirmed that Stones wouldn’t need surgery, he is expected to be out for about eight to ten weeks. This puts his potential return at the end of the season, possibly in May 2025.
Manuel Akanji, another central defender, also faces a lengthy recovery after undergoing surgery on a thigh injury sustained during the first leg of the Real Madrid play-off. Akanji is expected to miss at least eight to ten weeks, making his return likely in early May 2025.
Oscar Bobb had a promising pre-season, but his campaign was derailed when he broke his leg just before the season started. He returned to training in January but hasn’t been able to make a matchday squad due to ongoing discomfort in his ankle. Guardiola expressed hope that Bobb would be ready soon but also noted that his return timeline remained uncertain.
Rodri, a crucial midfielder for Manchester City, has been out since September after undergoing surgery for a serious knee injury suffered against Arsenal. Initially, it was expected that he wouldn’t play again this season. However, Guardiola has said that Rodri’s recovery is ahead of schedule. While there’s still no pressure on Rodri to return early, he has been making progress and could potentially feature before the end of the domestic season, even if his return might not come until the summer’s Club World Cup.
Guardiola has emphasized that while the fans are excited about the prospect of Rodri’s return, they must be patient and not rush him back too soon to avoid further setbacks. Though Rodri is still not close to making a comeback, Guardiola noted that he has been feeling more confident and has been participating in some light training with his teammates.
