Guardiola fears Aguero injury will sideline Man City striker for “toughest period” of the season

Pep Guardiola fears the injury sustained by Sergio Aguero during Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Chelsea is a “bad” one.

The Argentine striker was withdrawn in the 77th minute as Man City got back to winning ways at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, being replaced by Gabriel Jesus.

Man City’s injury crisis deepens: Five things to know…

• Man City have already seen the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Leroy Sane and Oleksandr Zinchenko sidelined with injury this season.
• Ederson missed the defeat to Liverpool, while midfielders Fernandinho and Rodri have both had to play as centre-backs.
• Aguero, David Silva and Rodri all came off during Man City’s 2-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday.
• Guardiola fears Aguero’s injury is a serious one.
• But he did at least reveal that Silva and Rodri had only suffered from cramp.

But while Aguero initially thought the injury was suffered because of a kick from an opposition player, Guardiola revealed fears of a muscular injury which could rule him out for some time.

“I think Sergio will be bad,” Guardiola told Sky Sports after the game.

“The doctor will have to look, he thought it was a kick, but it’s maybe he has strained something.

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“The feeling is if it is muscular, we are going to lose him in the toughest period of the season, but it is what it is.

“We have young players and we will try.”

Man City have already struggled with numerous injury problems throughout the course of the 2019/20 campaign and also had to watch Spaniards Rodri and David Silva forced from the pitch against Frank Lampard’s side.

However, Guardiola eased fears around the midfield pair, insisting they were merely suffering from cramp and tiredness.

“With Rodri and David Silva, they were problems with cramp, and they were tired,” he added. “Rodri is a month and a half without playing games.

“David after the international break didn’t train too much and after these games, you need some rhythm in your legs.

“These games are so demanding and that’s why it happened.”