Pep Guardiola confirms Man City has suffered a new setback

01/09/2025 08:14:00 pandatv

Rayan Cherki has suffered a quadriceps muscle tear, requiring a two-month break from playing, which increases the concerns for Pep Guardiola and Man City given the intense fixture list ahead.

Manchester City are currently facing a challenging period after consecutive defeats against Tottenham and Brighton in the Premier League. The recent 1-2 loss at the Amex Stadium not only put Guardiola’s team under heavy pressure but was also accompanied by the shock injury to Rayan Cherki.

The 22-year-old French midfielder was absent from the squad against Brighton, and immediately after the match, Guardiola confirmed he had suffered “a quadriceps muscle tear” and will be out for approximately two months. This is a significant blow as Cherki had only just joined from Lyon in June for a fee of £30.45 million, with expectations to become a new creative spark in Man City's attack.

Cherki made an immediate impact in his Premier League debut, scoring in a 4-0 victory over Wolves, and was then given a starting spot in the defeat to Tottenham. However, his joy was short-lived as the injury forced the young player to miss numerous important matches.

Cherki confirmed to have a quadriceps muscle tear

It has been confirmed that Cherki will miss the Manchester derby against MU on September 14, the away game at Arsenal, as well as the first two Champions League matches against Napoli and Monaco. He was also dropped from the French national team, with Hugo Ekitike taking his place for the September international fixtures.

Cherki’s absence means Guardiola loses a dynamic attacking option. He admitted: “We will have to adjust our style of play; this is a tough period but the whole team must adapt.”The lack of a creative player like Cherki places even more pressure on Phil Foden, who has just returned from injury.

The timing of Cherki’s injury has heightened Man City fans’ concerns since the team has little time to rotate players amid a congested schedule. Pep has previously expressed confidence in competing for titles this season, but two consecutive defeats coupled with personnel shortages mean City must quickly find solutions.

bìa — Pep faces a headache over squad rotation

Cherki’s injury not only disrupts Pep’s squad plans but also heats up the transfer market as rumors spread that Man City might need to reinforce the squad before the window closes, especially as Ederson and Akanji have attracted interest from other clubs.

Ahead of Pep Guardiola lies a difficult challenge: to lift the team’s morale, stabilize their style, and overcome adversity without a highly anticipated new signing like Rayan Cherki.

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