Pep Guardiola confirms key Man City star will be out for ‘next games’

Pep Guardiola claimed Manchester City are 'in trouble' due to their mounting injury problems, with Bernardo Silva set to miss the 'next games'.

The midfielder was replaced in the 44th minute of City's Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade, and grimaced as he took his place on the substitutes’ bench. Speaking after the match, Guardiola gave a worrying update on the Portugal international.

“He didn’t say anything at the end," the City boss explained. "I didn’t speak with the doctors but apparently for the next games he won’t be able to play.

Silva’s injury is a concern amidst a spate of absentees for City, with four players missing the midweek Champions League victory. Silva is now expected to sit out Saturday’s Premier League encounter against Nottingham Forest and the Carabao Cup game at St James’ Park next week.

City also have important matches upcoming against Wolverhampton Wanderers (30 September), RB Leipzig (4 October) and Arsenal (8 October) before the next international break.

With four players missing on Tuesday, Guardiola could only name eight players on the bench in the Champions League group-stage opener, two of which were goalkeepers. Guardiola admitted it a concern how many injuries he currently has in his squad, with John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Jack Grealish all potentially unavailable again this weekend.

"When we have five important players - really important players - injured, so sustain that for a long time will be difficult," said Guardiola. "But it is what it is. But we cannot have the salaries the budgets the transfers to have 55 players. It would be chaos for the clubs and would be bankrupt. Sometimes it happens.

"Long time for Kevin [De Bruyne]; John still didn't play needs a bit longer, maybe Kova is coming back, Jack maybe one week, 10 days will be there but after needs to make the conditions. We are in trouble but it is what it is.

"I'm not going to say we have a lot of injuries. It is what it is. I prefer to be everyone, but for the players we have we go for it. As much we have this mentality to go there, it's good."

City began the defence of their Champions League trophy with a 3-1 win over Red Star on Tuesday. The Blues had trailed 1-0 at the break courtesy of Osman Bukari’s counter-attacking goal, but Julian Alvarez and Rodri netted in the second period, alongside an own-goal from opposition goalkeeper Omri Glazer, to hand City three points in the group stage.