Jack Grealish’s absence against Chelsea is confirmed, but the extent of his muscle injury remains shrouded in mystery.
A malfunctioning machine in Manchester City’s medical department has delayed a definitive diagnosis, leaving Pep Guardiola guessing about the midfielder’s return timeline.
Guardiola revealed that Grealish picked up the injury during the Copenhagen match but admitted, “When we arrived after [Copenhagen] they could not do it [diagnosis] because the machine was broken.” Adding, “I will ask the doctor about it when I return.”
This technical glitch adds another layer of uncertainty to City’s preparations for the crucial Chelsea clash.
Guardiola also confirmed that the availability of Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic, and Sergio Gomez will be decided on Friday, while Josko Gvardiol is definitely out.
Guardiola also shed light on his apparent frustration with Grealish during the Copenhagen match.
The manager explained that Grealish initially tried to play on despite the issue, prompting Guardiola to warn him, “If you play, the damage will be bigger.”
He clarified, “Muscular injuries require immediate rest, not further strain.”
“I know he wants to play,” Guardiola acknowledged, “but we took the right decision for sure.”
Unanswered questions cloud City’s plans:
With Grealish sidelined and other players’ fitness yet to be determined, City faces a cloud of uncertainty heading into the Chelsea match.
The malfunctioning machine further complicates matters, leaving Guardiola and his team in a wait-and-see mode.