Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has, on Friday evening, provided an explanation for the respective absences of Ruben Dias and John Stones from his latest matchday squad.
City, of course, are set to return to action in short order, kicking the defence of their Premier League title into gear in a meeting with Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
As expected, Pep Guardiola has opted to shake things up for the clash, after his side’s Community Shield defeat at the hands of Arsenal.
All of Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis have come into the visitors’ XI at Turf Moor.
Dropping out, on the other hand, are Stefan Ortega, Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish, John Stones, and Ruben Dias.
Our first @premierleague team news of 2023/24 🙌
XI | Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Ake, Lewis, Rodrigo, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Foden, Alvarez, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Phillips, Kovacic, Grealish, Laporte, Gomez, Gvardiol, Palmer, McAtee#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/i3IF8qqZ7t
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 11, 2023
In the case of the latter pair, meanwhile, both are absent from City’s matchday squad altogether.
And the Spaniard went on to reveal that England international Stones is suffering with an adductor issue, whilst stalwart Dias has been forced to take ‘seven days off’, owing to a concussion.
John Stones is out after feeling a ‘little bit something in the adductor’ confirms Guardiola. ‘Ruben (Dias) has a tough concussion. The protocol means he has seven days off.’https://t.co/cckOHhGs0b#MCFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) August 11, 2023
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