Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Josko Gvardiol could now be out with an ankle injury.
As Manchester City convincingly beat Copenhagen 3-1 in the first leg of the Champions League last 16, the Croatian international was not named in the matchday squad.
Naturally, Nathan Ake retained his spot in the side, starting as City’s left-back against the Danish side on Tuesday night.
Pep Guardiola confirms Josko Gvardiol could be out with ankle injury for three weeks
The 22-year-old started in the Sky Blues’ recent 3-1 victory against Brentford in his usual left-back position.
Starting as many as 16 games in the Premier League, three out of six games in the Champions League group stage, two out of two in the FA Cup and the one match in City’s elimination from the Carabao Cup, Gvardiol’s absence is far from a pleasant surprise for his side.
During his post-match press conference, Pep Guardiola gave an insight into the latest injury suffered by Josko Gvardiol.
“Josko [Gvardiol], yeah, two weeks, three weeks, has a ligament [problem] in the ankle”, he said after his side’s win against Copenhagen [via BeanymanSports].
Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji could fill in for Josko Gvardiol
If the £200,000-a-week (Sport Rac) man is indeed injured for three weeks, he could miss games against Chelsea, Brentford, Bournemouth and Manchester United in the league, the fifth round of the FA Cup against Luton Town and the second leg of the Champions League last 16 against Copenhagen.
However, Pep Guardiola could call upon both Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji to play at left-back as Josko Gvardiol nurses his injury.
Both Ake and Akanji showcased last season that they are more than comfortable in the position, keeping top wingers quiet in massive games for the treble-winners.
The Dutchman, especially has been a revelation at left-back and even against Copenhagen, he was excellent in his unnatural position.
As a result, Pep Guardiola perhaps should not be sweating over Josko Gvardiol’s latest setback.
