Manchester City midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne will be sidelined for four to six weeks at most with a hamstring injury according to Pep Guardiola.
The Belgium playmaker, Kevin de Bruyne suffered a hamstring injury during Wednesday’s 2-0 Premier League win against Aston Villa. In this case, the midfielder is expected to be absent from the squad. His absence will start with Saturday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Cheltenham.
De Bruyne could miss up to 10 matches including the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie with Borussia Monchengladbach on February 24th.
Pep Guardiola said, “the doctor said after reviewing the scan Kevin will be out for four to six weeks. It’s a big blow, but we have to move forward”.
“I’m not saying anything that anyone doesn’t know. It is unfortunate for him and for us and we have to find a solution because everyone in their own life is struggling in the situation we are living in and we have to adapt”.
City has a run of 16 unbeaten games in all competitions including wins in all their past nine matches. Also, they are the second in the Premier League, two points behind Manchester United but with a game at hand.
Also in the FA Cup tie at League One Cheltenham Town, De Bruyne will also miss the Premier League matches against West Brom, Sheffield United, and Burnley as well as games against fellow title contenders Liverpool on February 7th at Anfield and Spurs at home six days later.
The playmaker could also be absent for the home league game against Arsenal, the Champions League tie against Monchengladbach, and the Premier League encounter with West Ham. City is then scheduled to play a derby against Manchester United on March 6th.
Guardiola said his players are having to play too many matches and are picking up injuries as a result.
“To demand they are fit for 11 months, playing every three days, is impossible. With this number of competitions, the body says, ‘it’s enough’. The players don’t want to get injured but it’s not secret”.
“When we demand five substitutions, it’s for this reason. Why can we do it in the FA Cup but not the others? I’m bot just saying it because it’s Kevin, it’s too many games and competitions and in the end the players suffer”.