Manchester City received Chelsea this Sunday, January 4 at the Etihad Stadium, in a duel corresponding to matchday 20 of the Premier League. When the Citizens were already tasting victory, a goal by Enzo Fernández at 90+4 took two points from them in added time.
The tie was not the only bad news for Pep Guardiola’s team, since Joško Gvardiol had to leave the field at the beginning of the second half after suffering an injury, setting off alarms in the citizen team.
The Croatian defender suffered a tibial fracture in his right leg, meaning he will be out of action for three to four months, a significant loss for his team in the decisive stretch of the season.
As if that were not enough, Rúben Dias also came off the bench due to muscle discomfort. The severity of the injury and its recovery time are unknown.
Gvardiol has established himself as a key piece in Pep Guardiola’s scheme. This season he has accumulated 1,796 minutes spread over 23 games between the Premier League, the Champions League and the EFL Cup, a reflection of his weight and importance within the team.
According to the most recent reports, Pep Guardiola has already made a decision to reinforce his squad in the face of these tough losses. Manchester City cut the loan of Max Alleyne, who was on loan with Watford in the Championship.
🚨 Manchester City confirm exclusive story on Max Alleyne recalled from Watford loan.
Josko Gvardiol has suffered a tibial fracture to his right leg. He will undergo surgery later this week. pic.twitter.com/fs8XMJKAnx
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 5, 2026
The 20-year-old central defender was consistent with Watford: in 16 games he accumulated 1,266 minutes of activity in the league. The footballer, originally from Bristol, stands out for his versatility, as he can play in both profiles of the central defense without problems.
Currently, Pep Guardiola only has Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Aké to cover the central defense. Added to the absences of Joško Gvardiol and Rúben Dias is that of John Stones, who has been out of action since December due to muscle problems in his thighs, leaving Manchester City with very limited options in defense.
