Pep Guardiola expects to have his defenders back by season’s end | OneFootball

Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Nathan Ake have all been sidelined of late due to injury. In the case of Ake and Akanji, the pair of centre-backs had to have surgery after pushing their bodies too far this season. Stones is currently sidelined with yet another injury issue. It has been frustrating to see three of Manchester City’s key defenders be sidelined with injury so often this season. Speaking before Manchester City’s Premier League fixture against Leicester City, Pep Guardiola believes all three players could be back before the end of the season.

Speaking during his pre-game press conference yesterday Pep Guardiola was asked about how Akanji, Stones and Ake were recovering from their injuries. In positive news for Manchester City Guardiola expects the trio to be back before the end of the season. He told the media: “All of them will come before the end of the season. I don’t know when but he’s (Akanji) getting better. It’s been a long time since he has been out. Same with John and Nathan, the three of them. I’m lucky that Josko is a real warrior.”

Luckily for Manchester City, they signed Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis in the January transfer window. They have provided cover for the absence of Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji. But Pep Guardiola’s side are a better team with the trio of centre-backs available. There is no doubt about that fact.

Based on Pep Guardiola’s update we should see the trio back before the end of the season. When that is exactly remains to be seen. But they could all potentially a have a role to play in Manchester City’s push to secure Champions League qualification and claim the FA Cup this season. But it appears more likely that they will feature at the Club World Cup in June.