- Rodri and Oscar Bobb have long-term injuries, while Mateo Kovacic is also absent
- A first-half brace from James Maddison got Spurs off to a perfect start in a 4-0 defeat
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Manchester City have suffered a setback as they look to bounce back from five consecutive defeats in their Champions League match against Feyenoord.
Pep Guardiola had never lost four games in a row in his managerial career until his side succumbed to a fortnight’s nightmare against Tottenham, Bournemouth, Sporting Lisbon and Brighton earlier this month.
City then slumped to a fifth successive defeat after Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs again came out on top on Saturday, this time at the Etihad.
A quick-fire brace from James Maddison, who was celebrating his 28th birthday, got the away side off to a perfect start before second-half goals from Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson secured the defeat.
The Cityzens’ woes have been partly affected by a series of injuries to key figures, including long-term problems for Rodri and Oscar Bobb and more recent blows to the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Dias and Jeremy Doku.
Now another name can be added to the list of those on the sidelines after England defender John Stones missed training ahead of tonight’s shot at redemption. Manchester Evening News reports.
John Stones is the latest injury problem for Man City after missing training on Monday
Pep Guardiola has now seen his City side suffer five consecutive defeats in all competitions
The Cityzens will be determined to put their bad run behind them with a victory over Feyenoord
The 30-year-old was substituted at half-time in City’s humiliating defeat to Spurs and following the debacle, Guardiola hinted the move was injury-related.
He said: ‘John is feeling good but has to leave after 45 minutes.
‘John can play, but he can play for 45 minutes and without training you need rhythm.’
Stones missed City’s pre-season training on Monday amid strong indications he will be absent for the match against Feyenoord.
The centre-back has been a mainstay during a golden era in the club’s history. He played 268 games and won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a Champions League in 2023.
Opportunities are limited this season due to injury problems. He played just 11 times in City’s difficult season, making just seven starts.
He is joined on a long list of absentees by Spaniard Rodri, whose calming influence in midfield has been missed after a season-ending knee ligament injury, and exciting forward Bobb, who is expected back in February.
Meanwhile, Kovacic remains out after suffering a blow during the international break.
The good news is that Ruben Dias (left) and Jeremy Doku (right) are back in training for City
However, their list of absentees is still long and also includes Rodri, who is absent this season
James Maddison scored twice in the first twenty minutes for Spurs on Saturday
In a rare bit of good news for Guardiola, centre-back Dias and tricky winger Doku returned to training yesterday to give the manager more options at both ends of the pitch.
Dias is not expected to be ready in time for the match against Feyenoord, with youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey given a chance against Sporting after 90 minutes, while Grealish and Savinho have played in place of Doku.
City will be as desperate for a win at the Etihad as they have been at any point in Guardiola’s glittering reign after they plumbed new depths against Spurs on Saturday.
The home side dominated for the first ten minutes, but the visitors soon clicked and Maddison stuck twice to fire Spurs into a 2-0 lead midway through the first half.
Porro made it three shortly after the break by scoring against the club that used to own him but never gave him a chance in the first team. Substitute Johnson then tapped home from a Timo Werner cross to complete a rout in added time.
Meanwhile, City remain second but eight points behind after Liverpool beat Southampton on Sunday.