Pep Guardiola says Nathan Ake will be out injured "for a long time" after being forced out of Manchester City's FA Cup win over Plymouth Argyle.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Ake limps off against PlymouthMan City's defensive issues growGuardiola issues update on DutchmanFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Dutch defender Ake started in his side's 3-1 win over Plymouth on Saturday but he did not return for the second half, with Ruben Dias replacing him. After the fifth-round FA Cup victory, manager Guardiola said they will "miss" Ake, while being grateful the club signed defenders Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov in January – else they would be short in their backline.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT PEP GUARDIOLA SAID
He told reporters: "Now again we have a central defender out for a long time, I think we'll miss Nathan. I'm so grateful to the club to bring [Abdukodir] Khusanov and Vitor [Reis] otherwise we have no chance to qualify for the Champions League next season or fight for the FA Cup. Impossible! We would just have [Ruben] Dias."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
City are currently without centre-backs John Stones and Manuel Akanji due to injury, and talismanic midfielder Rodri has been sidelined for months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. To lose Ake as well is a big blow in their bid to win the FA Cup and to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
City will hope their new backline will be fit and firing when they travel to Nottingham Forest next Saturday in the Premier League.
