Pep Guardiola confirms 3 Man City stars out for rest of season

The Premier League leaders have a triple injury crisis in defense on their hands.

Manchester City will be without defenders Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker, and John Stones for the rest of the season.

Dias was the only one of the three players to feature in Sunday’s 5-0 win over Newcastle. The Portugal international, however, only lasted until half-time. He limped off with a hamstring problem and now joins Stones and Walker on the sidelines to leave City down to ‘three defenders for three games’.

“Ruben [Dias], Kyle [Walker] and John [Stones] are out for the end of the season. Next pre-season maybe they will be ready,” Pep Guardiola told reporters after the final whistle.

The Man City manager added: “We have big problems at the back because we have just three defenders for these three games but we are going to try to do it.”

Ake also has an injury

The Citizens, who moved three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League last weekend, will travel to Wolves on Wednesday for their next match.

One option Guardiola may call upon to cover in central defense at Molineux is Fernandinho. The Brazilian replaced Dias during the break against Newcastle and performed well.

As things stand, Aymeric Laporte is the only fit central defender for Man City. Nathan Ake is struggling with an ankle problem. He was an unused substitute in the victory over Newcastle.

“He has had a problem in his ankle for a long time,” Guardiola said about Ake’s injury.

“It happened in the game against Leeds. Still, he has a little niggle and doesn’t feel comfortable.

“Maybe not [ready] for Wolves, but maybe for the next two [games]. We have Joao [Cancelo], Oleks [Zinchenko] and Aymeric [Laporte].”