Manchester City has announced that defender Josko Gvardiol has sustained a tibial fracture in his right leg and is scheduled to undergo surgery later this week. The injury occurred during the second half of the team’s recent 1-1 draw against Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Following tests conducted on Monday, the club confirmed that the 23-year-old Gvardiol will likely be sidelined for several months as he recovers from the surgery, although no definitive timeline for his return has been provided. The club stated, “Manchester City can confirm that Josko Gvardiol has suffered a tibial fracture to his right leg. The injury was sustained during the second half of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League.”
This injury is a considerable setback for manager Pep Guardiola as City aims to close the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League standings. The situation is compounded by additional injury concerns for the team, as John Stones has only appeared in one league match since August, and Rúben Dias also picked up an injury during the game against Chelsea.
With Gvardiol’s absence, Guardiola will need to carefully strategize to maintain performance levels and push forward in the title race. Fans and analysts alike will be monitoring how the City squad adapts to these challenges in the weeks ahead.