Guardiola Laments Injury Blow as Man City’s Title Push Stalls Against Chelsea

SME News UK. Pep Guardiola admits “it doesn’t look good” for Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol after both defenders were forced off in Manchester City’s late 1-1 draw with Chelsea, leaving the champions six points behind Arsenal.Pep Guardiola has expressed concern over fresh injury problems after Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge suffered another setback in a dramatic 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.City were heading for victory after Tijjani Reijnders’ first-half opener, but Enzo Fernandez struck in stoppage time to earn a point for managerless Chelsea. The late equaliser came after City were forced into defensive reshuffles following injuries to Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol during the second half.Defensive injuries raise alarm for GuardiolaBoth Dias and Gvardiol were withdrawn after sustaining injuries, leaving City to finish the match with Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Aké at centre-back.Speaking to the BBC after the match, Guardiola admitted the situation is worrying.“Apparently, it doesn’t look good,” he said. “We will see tomorrow. I think they will be on the sidelines for a few weeks.”The City boss added:“When you have all the squad, you can compete and rotate. But now it is a situation.”Gvardiol was helped off shortly after the restart following a challenge with Malo Gusto, appearing to injure his right ankle. Dias was substituted nine minutes from time but walked off unaided, suggesting his issue may be less serious.City’s injury list grows amid hectic scheduleThe defensive setbacks come just days after City lost Nico Gonzalez and Savinho to injuries in their draw at Sunderland, with both players missing Sunday’s clash. Guardiola’s side now face a demanding run of fixtures, starting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, one of nine matches scheduled this month.Asked whether the injuries could affect January transfer plans, Guardiola admitted uncertainty.“I cannot change the schedule,” he said. “I have no idea if this will change our plans.”There were positives for City, however, as Rodri made his first start since early October, while Jeremy Doku continued his return from injury with another substitute appearance.Guardiola praises performance despite dropped pointsDespite surrendering points late on, Guardiola was pleased with City’s overall display.“Chelsea is a world champion team,” he said. “To control a team like that for 90 minutes is so difficult.“We missed chances in the second half — four or five situations where we should have finished the game. But how we defended, how we ran, how we played was extraordinary.”The result leaves City six points behind league leaders Arsenal in the title race.Reece James proud of Chelsea response after Maresca exitChelsea captain Reece James praised his side’s resilience after a turbulent week that saw head coach Enzo Maresca depart on New Year’s Day following a poor run of results.With Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane taking charge on an interim basis, Chelsea battled back to secure a valuable point.“It’s been difficult, of course,” James told Sky Sports. “But we had to fight for each other. We dug in and got the point.“We missed many players, but others stepped up. We fought as a team, and I’m proud of the boys.”James also credited the coaching staff for adapting quickly under pressure.“To come to Manchester City away as your first first-team game is difficult,” he said. “We grew into the game and adapted well.”Chelsea future still uncertainChelsea remain without a permanent head coach, with Liam Rosenior widely reported as a leading candidate. However, James insisted the players are focused solely on performances.“We know nothing at the moment,” he said. “This week was about this game. What happens behind the scenes is not down to us.”The draw leaves Chelsea fifth in the Premier League, three points off the top four and level on points with Manchester United, ahead only on goal difference.As City assess the extent of their injury concerns and Chelsea continue their search for stability, both clubs face crucial weeks that could define their seasons.