- Pep Guardiola delivers injury news update
- Two players unavailable for Everton clash
- Manger pays tribute to John Stones
Pep Guardiola has spoken to the media to discuss whether any of Manchester City’s unavailable players will be fit in time to face Everton.
Monday night sees Manchester City travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium and the stakes could not be any higher.
Then Citizens re-established their lead at the top of the Premier League table after defeating Burnley just over a week ago.
However, City had to turn their focus to the FA Cup last Saturday, allowing Arsenal to reclaim first place in the top flight.
With the Gunners in action again this Saturday, Man City could find themselves with a six-point deficit to overcome before a ball has even been kicked in their next match.
To make matters even worse, Pep Guardiola has confirmed that two injured players are still not ready to make their returns against Everton.
Ruben Dias and Rodri are still injured
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Guardiola confirmed that both Rodri and Ruben Dias are on the road to recovery.
Despite this, neither of the first-team stars are going to be in the squad against Everton, even after what will have been a nine-day gap since the Southampton victory.
Guardiola said: “He [Rodri] is getting better, still didn’t train with us. He [Dias] is not yet with the team, but he is getting better.”
Guardiola provides update on John Stones
One positive piece of news is that Stones has not suffered any further setbacks after completing 90 minutes in the FA Cup semi-final.
This means the 31-year-old could have some involvement when City take on his former club on Bank Holiday Monday.
“He was best played by far in the final in Istanbul,” Guardiola said. “Now he feels fit, hopefully he can find physically the rhythm to be ready and like Bernardo [Silva] said, part of ourselves, not just me, is leaving.
“He is an incredible person on and off the pitch.”
Continuing to show his respect for the departing defender, Guardiola added: “He was one of my first signings.
“I remember travelling to London to meet him at my brother’s house for the first time. He was young, and there are very few players who can understand what we, as a club, have done in this period together.”
Man City have options to fill in for Rodri and Dias
Replacing Dias is not a problem for Man City, with Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi likely to return to the starting line-up.
Additionally, Stones and Nathan Ake are alternative options, with both defenders showing they are still capable of delivering after playing last weekend.
As for Rodri, Guardiola is more likely to keep Nico Gonzalez in his starting XI, rather than moving Nico O’Reilly into midfield and playing Rayan Ait-Nouri at left-back.
Nico was the match winner against Southampton and by starting the Spaniard, this would minimise the disruption caused by Rodri’s absence.
