Pundit says £47m Man City star’s injuries may have caused a big problem for Pep Guardiola this season

Pundit says £47m Man City star’s injuries may have caused a big problem for Pep Guardiola this season

Julien Laurens believes the constant injuries sustained by John Stones may have been a major headache for Pep Guardiola this season.

 

 

Of course, the Englishman was available for selection during City’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

 

After starting against Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday, the £47 million (BBC Sport) seemed dead set to start against Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

 

Julien Laurens says John Stones’ injuries this season may have been a headache for Pep Guardiola

However, the former Everton defender witnessed proceedings from the bench as Manuel Akanji took his place in the centre of defence against Chelsea.

 

But all in all, Stones has started a mere 10 games in all competitions this season due to his recurring injury woes while during the previous campaign, he had played a total of 34 matches from the off.

 

Due to John Stones’ fitness issues, journalist-cum-pundit Julien Laurens believes Pep Guardiola may have endured troubles in setting his side up during his absence.

 

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“Maybe [John] Stones’ injury worries this season have prevented Pep [Guardiola] from using Stones as he did in the second half of last season, almost in midfield and in that kind of hybrid role that really protected the back three or the back four, at times and he doesn’t have that option”, he said (via ESPN FC).

 

John Stones may have been rested against Chelsea

Perhaps Pep Guardiola agrees with Julien Laurens and due to John Stones’ persistent injury problems, he may have decided to rest him against Chelsea.

 

 

With City firmly in the business end of the campaign, the cost of potentially losing Stones to another injury could be season-defining.

 

Manuel Akanji’s unconvincing display against Chelsea was proof that he is not fit to replace his presence in the middle of the park and while Pep Guardiola may have been tempted to bring John Stones off the bench, he may have resisted the temptation after looking at the bigger picture.

 

Whether the 29-year-old manages to stay fit and becomes a regular starter for the Sky Blues until the end of the season could determine their chances of winning silverware, especially in the Premier League and the Champions League.