City manager reveals Nico Gonzalez suffered a ‘knock to the feet,’ raising concerns for the weekend clash with Aston Villa.
Manchester City secured a crucial 2-0 Champions League win against Villarreal on Tuesday, but the victory came with a potential cost as midfielder Nico Gonzalez was forced off with an injury, leaving his availability for the weekend in doubt.
With first-choice midfielder Rodri already sidelined, Gonzalez has been filling the vital holding role. His night was cut short in the second half following a heavy challenge from Villarreal’s Thomas Partey. The young midfielder immediately signaled to the bench that he could not continue and was replaced by Mateo Kovacic.
After the match, manager Pep Guardiola provided a brief but hopeful update on the player’s condition. “Nico had a knock on his feet, we will see,” Guardiola told reporters, indicating the medical staff would need to assess the injury in the coming days.
The City squad is already stretched thin in midfield, making Gonzalez’s fitness a primary concern as they prepare to host Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend.
Despite the comfortable scoreline, Guardiola was not entirely satisfied with his team’s performance, particularly in the second half. He expressed frustration that his players too often passed the ball backwards into their own half instead of seizing the initiative to attack.
“The first half was really good,” Guardiola said. “But in the second half? Football is about the opponent’s half. We need more fresh movement for Erling [Haaland] and more runs in behind, but it didn’t happen.”
He praised moments of individual brilliance, noting how substitutes like Rayan and Matheus would immediately drive forward, but lamented that the team as a whole didn’t do it enough. “I love when we are patient, wait for the right moment, and then we break the lines,” he explained. “That was clever.”
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For now, City fans will be hoping the knock to Gonzalez’s foot is as minor as Guardiola suggests, with a pivotal domestic fixture now just days away.
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