Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker and John Stones Ruled Out for the Rest of the Season for Manchester City

• Pep Guardiola jokes that he might be forced to play Phil Foden as a defender as injury woes hit the defending champions
• Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker have all been ruled out of the rest of the season with different injuries in what will be a big blow for Guardiola
• Manchester City have three games left to play as they aim to beat Liverpool to the Premier League title and win back to back titles

Manchester City have been hit with a defensive crisis as the season enters a crucial stage. Head coach Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker are out for the rest of the season.

City beat Newcastle 5-0 on Sunday evening to get back to winning ways, but that came at a cost. Ruben Dias was substituted off at half-time, with captain Fernandinho, stepping into the centre-back role.

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The club’s official website has mentioned that Dias picked up a hamstring injury in the Newcastle demolition. Walker, meanwhile, landed awkwardly in their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid. The English defender had a solid game but had to be replaced in the 72nd minute.

Nathan Ake is not fully fit

John Stones has been in and out of the squad this season but is now set to miss the remainder of the term. Nathan Ake was named on the bench against Newcastle, but Guardiola insists that he is not yet at 100%.

The defending champions have three important games in the coming two weeks as they seek to clinch their fourth top-flight title in five years. They were given a little bit of breathing space when Tottenham Hotspur held Liverpool to a one-all draw.

Guardiola’s men now lead at the top with three points. They face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday in a game that Guardiola has described as a ‘final final.’ The Spanish tactician mentioned jokingly in an interview with Sky Sports that Phil Foden could play as a defender.

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We have 15 and a half players because Nathan Ake is not in perfect condition. No central defenders for these three days. But I am not worried at all because if Phil Foden has to play central defender, he will play central defender.

After Wolves, City will travel away to face West Ham United. London Stadium has been a bogey ground for top teams this season and Guardiola will be alive to this fact.

Guardiola says everyone supports Liverpool

Earlier, Sports Brief also reported that Guardiola took a swipe at Liverpool. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach feels like everyone in England supports Liverpool.

The two are embroiled in a neck to neck battle for the title with City in box office position to defend their title.

Guardiola however didn’t hold back in his post-match conference against Newcastle, saying that Liverpool has huge support due to its European pedigree.