Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic go miss ball till at least February because of one Achilles injury wey go need second surgery, na wetin dem don reveal.
The Citizens beat Liverpool 3-0 for Etihad on Sunday, and dem still control midfield even with key players wey no play.
Nico Gonzalez replace Rodri for midfield base, and the small boy perform well – win many duels and even score the second goal (wey deflect small off Virgil van Dijk).
Rodri no be the only big name wey miss, as former Chelsea man Kovacic still dey sidelined. The 31-year-old don miss almost all of 2025-26 season after he first do operation for him Achilles before the Club World Cup for summer.
According to Daily Mail, Kovacic go need another surgery after he begin feel pain again, and him fit no return till February – maybe even later, depending on how e recover.
Man City midfield options: Why Kovacic injury no too heavy like that
Considering say Rodri na the current Ballon d’Or winner, e go shock if Guardiola no put am straight back into the starting lineup once he fit again.
The Spaniard still dey struggle small with fitness since he come back from the knee injury wey hold am for 2024, but last weekend him absence no too show because Gonzalez handle the job well.
Even though Gonzalez no get the same wide passing range like Rodri, the 23-year-old sabi move ball clean, connect with players like Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki, and that chemistry help dem wipe Liverpool well.
Gonzalez still get more energy and speed than Rodri, so Pep Guardiola get sweet headache now for midfield base because the two of dem get different skills wey fit balance each other.
Pep Guardiola fit snatch title from Arsenal and Arteta hand?
Man City dey second for Premier League table with 22 points, while Arsenal dey top with 26 points. Defending champions Liverpool dey third with 18 points.
Guardiola men still be Arsenal biggest threat for title race, and their experience for winning big trophies fit play big role for the fight for number one spot.
Arsenal next two league games na against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, while City go face Newcastle United and Leeds United — chance dey for dem to close the gap if Arsenal slip up.
City performance don improve strong from how dem start the season — dem don concede only two goals for their last five league matches — and as long as Erling Haaland dey fit, dem go continue to dey give every team wahala.
