In a setback for Manchester City, midfielder Mateo Kovacic has added to their injury concerns by withdrawing from the Croatia squad, joining Erling Haaland on the sidelines.
Kovacic is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks due to a recurring quad injury, according to The Athletic. The Croatian midfielder, who recently featured from the bench in City’s 4-4 draw with Chelsea, withdrew from Euro 2024 qualifiers against Latvia and Armenia. Croatia’s coach, Zlatko Dalic, cited a muscle issue for Kovacic, who had previously suffered a similar injury in September.
With key players like Nathan Ake, Ederson, and Matheus Nunes also withdrawing from international duty due to injuries, City faces a challenging period. Ake has a knock, Ederson picked up a foot problem, and Nunes was declared unfit with a muscular injury.
As City prepares for upcoming matches against Liverpool, RB Leipzig, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa, manager Pep Guardiola must navigate the team through this injury crisis. The focus shifts to how Guardiola manages the team’s resources in the midst of multiple key players being sidelined.
