Spanish manager Pep Guardiola, coach of Manchester City, confirmed that Portuguese defender Ruben Dias picked up an injury during the recent match against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in the penultimate round of the Champions League league stage.
Dias started the match at the Parc des Princes in Paris but was substituted early in the second half, with young English player Rico Lewis replacing him.
When asked about the substitution, Guardiola told the French website “Foot Mercato“: “He asked to be replaced because he didn’t feel good.”
Ruben Dias has missed several matches this season due to injuries. He had only just returned to the starting XI, playing 90 minutes in City’s 6-0 Premier League win over Ipswich Town before featuring against Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester City’s struggles continue
According to Champions League rules, the top eight teams in the league stage advance directly to the round of 16. Teams ranked from ninth to 24th will fight for the remaining spots in knockout matches.
City’s inconsistent Champions League form mirrors their struggles in the Premier League, where they sit in fifth place. They were also eliminated early from the Carabao Cup.
City have been active in the winter transfer market to address these challenges, securing three new signings: Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush and defenders Vitor Reis and Abdul Qadir Khosanov.
A significant section of City fans are pinning their hopes on these new players to help turn the season around and improve the team’s performances in the second half of the campaign.
