Manchester Metropolis defender John Stones will miss the champions’ Premier League journey to Chelsea on Sunday, supervisor Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
The England worldwide was pressured off at half-time of Tuesday’s Champions League win over Younger Boys with a muscular downside.
Guardiola has revealed the harm is just not as unhealthy as feared however there isn’t any prospect of him travelling to Stamford Bridge. Additionally it is not clear whether or not Stones will likely be obtainable for England this month or the November 25 conflict with Liverpool.
Guardiola mentioned at a press convention: “He’s injured. He’s not prepared (for Sunday) and we’ll see after we come again from the worldwide break.
“The physician mentioned to me it’s not as unhealthy (as first thought) however I nonetheless don’t know when he’s going to be match.”
Guardiola additionally delivered a optimistic replace on Kevin De Bruyne, who may return earlier than the tip of the 12 months, however he is not going to rush the Belgium playmaker again into motion.
De Bruyne has been sidelined since present process surgical procedure on a hamstring harm in August.
Guardiola mentioned: “I spoke to him two days in the past and he mentioned, ‘I really feel actually good’ however nonetheless he isn’t coaching with us and never working a lot.
“I don’t know however it’s the final time (interval) earlier than he comes again to coach with us.
“I wish to say in two weeks or three weeks, however these kind of accidents are higher to not put any strain on. When he feels good, the docs and physios say go to the following step, then he’s coming. Like John Stones, get better with out strain.
“Kevin’s was a tricky harm with surgical procedure, so step-by-step.”
Metropolis head to Chelsea contemporary from securing their place within the Champions League knockout phases for an eleventh successive 12 months.
The holders have hardly been troubled as they’ve cruised by means of with two video games to spare – an achievement that, in comparison with final 12 months’s treble success, appears comparatively modest.
Guardiola, nevertheless, insists it’s one thing that ought to be savoured as a result of – as this week’s opponents Chelsea, the 2021 European champions, have found – the nice instances is not going to final indefinitely.
He mentioned: “I can’t make any remark about Chelsea as a result of I’m not there however all the time we remind ourselves. Final Tuesday we certified and I advised the gamers to rejoice as a result of, possibly sooner or later, if we cease doing what we do or the opponents are higher than us, we is not going to be there.
“What we now have performed is the previous. If we aren’t doing properly we’ll go down, and the down might by no means finish. You’ll be able to go down extra.
“So, take perspective, be calm and (take pleasure in) good moments. For each workforce world wide, not simply the truth that we’re Man Metropolis and the final years have been good, (it doesn’t imply) it would occur sooner or later.
“If you’re conscious of that, you’re nearer to nonetheless being constant in Europe for a few years.”
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