Manchester City Faces Defensive Crisis After Manuel Akanji Suffers Injury Ahead of Crucial Newcastle Clash

Manchester City has received some unfortunate news just days before their pivotal match against Newcastle.

The game, which is set to be crucial in their hopes of securing a Champions League spot for next season, now comes with a fresh injury concern.

Injury Problems Continue to Haunt Guardiola’s Squad

This season has already been a challenging one for Pep Guardiola’s team, with their defensive lineup taking several hits.

The struggles have been linked to key injuries, notably the ACL tear of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, which occurred late last year.

Other stars like Jack Grealish and John Stones have also been sidelined at various points, contributing to the club’s difficulties.

Akanji’s Injury Adds to City’s Woes

The latest setback comes in the form of Manuel Akanji, who has been an essential player for City in recent months.

After battling through an earlier injury in December, Akanji had been performing well, starting in City’s last eight Premier League games and the last three Champions League matches.

Unfortunately, he suffered a muscular injury during the match against Real Madrid on Tuesday, which has now been confirmed as requiring surgery.

Guardiola has stated that Akanji will be out for at least eight weeks, with some reports suggesting it could extend to ten.

Akanji had been filling in at right-back in the absence of Kyle Walker, who moved to AC Milan in January.

Recently, Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis have been filling in at the position, with the two likely candidates for the upcoming clash with Newcastle.

Midfield Injury Concerns Persist

Adding to Guardiola’s concerns is the fitness of new arrival, Gonzalez.

Since his move from Porto on deadline day, Gonzalez has struggled with injuries, limiting his impact on the pitch.

Guardiola mentioned that Gonzalez has shown improvement, though he is still a doubt for the Newcastle game.

Grealish’s Fitness Also Uncertain

The fitness of Jack Grealish remains up in the air ahead of the match.

Guardiola admitted that they will need to assess Grealish’s condition in the coming hours to determine if he’ll be fit to play.

With so many injuries piling up, City’s depth will be tested once again as they prepare for their crucial clash with Newcastle this weekend.