MX23RW : Friday, November 8 19:21:41| >> :60:1227:1227:

Pep Guardiola: 'Manchester City must react to injuries'

Guardiola: 'City must react to injuries'
© SilverHub
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits that the hamstring injury sustained by John Stones will provide a major test to their title credentials.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that the injury suffered by John Stones during Saturday's win over Leicester City will provide a major test of their title credentials.

Stones is expected to miss the busy Christmas period after picking up a hamstring injury during the 2-0 triumph at the King Power Stadium, with Guardiola suggesting that he could face up to six weeks on the sidelines.

There was better news in the shape of Vincent Kompany returning from his own injury layoff at the weekend, but Guardiola acknowledged that the loss of Stones at such a key period is a significant blow.

"We don't have a big squad. It is a big pity we lost a month and a half of Vincent Kompany in the national team and now John Stones. To win the titles we need all the squad, especially important players like John and Vinny," he told reporters.

"On the other side, we have an opportunity. We have to play 12 games in a short space of time with only three central defenders. One of them is a risk, in Vincent only just back. It is not easy but I want to see how we react. Always when you are champions you have to handle the big situations, the tough situations.

"When everyone is ready and comfortable, that is not when you get credit. We are going to see how we react in the most important moment of the season. Until Watford, on January 2, it is about how we react."

City's win over the Foxes ensured that they remain eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

ID:312306: cacheID:312306:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2735:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany warms up before his side's Premier League match against Everton at the Etihad Stadium on October 15, 2016
Read Next:
Gallagher defends referee over Kompany
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!