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Pep Guardiola confirmed John Stones is injured following Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday, with the manager admitting he doesn’t know the recovery timeframe for the England defender. The injury comes at an inconvenient time as City prepare for a Champions League trip to Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Guardiola Confirms John Stones Injury Blow Ahead of Real Madrid Champions League Clash
Speaking to reporters at the Etihad Stadium after the comfortable victory over Regis Le Bris’ side, Guardiola was questioned about Stones’ absence from the matchday squad. “He was injured, yes,” the Catalan coach confirmed. However, when pressed for further details about a potential recovery timeframe, Guardiola admitted: “To be honest, I don’t know.”
The timing of Stones’ setback is particularly problematic given City’s demanding fixture schedule over the coming weeks. The England international has endured repeated injury interruptions over the past 18 months, frequently halting his rhythm and limiting his availability during crucial periods of previous campaigns.
City managed Saturday’s fixture with authority despite the defensive absence, with goals from Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Phil Foden securing a dominant result against Sunderland. The victory moved City within touching distance at the top of the Premier League table following Arsenal’s earlier defeat, though Sunderland did threaten on the break in spells during the contest.
Guardiola revealed that Phil Foden had told him after the match that he wasn’t feeling completely well despite his impressive performance and goal. “Phil is incredible. He’s scoring a lot of goals… He told me after, ‘I didn’t feel well today.’ And look what happened; how he runs in-behind and regaining the ball,” Guardiola said. “Phil, when he’s in these momentums, in this mood, he’s a gift. He’s a diamond. He’s top. Top.”
City now face a crucial period with the Champions League trip to Madrid on Wednesday before visiting Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Sunday. Guardiola will hope for positive news from the medical department as his squad attempts to navigate the busiest and most decisive period of the season with several players managing fitness concerns.
