How do Man City cope without injured defenders?

Football writer Adrian Clarke looks at how Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could adapt to losing centre-backs Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias to injury.

Team analysis: Manchester City

Matchweek 20 was not especially kind to Man City.

A late Chelsea equaliser cost them two valuable points in the title race, on an evening where they also lost both centre-backs to injury.

A broken leg suffered by Josko Gvardiol, coupled with a hamstring problem for Ruben Dias, means that Pep Guardiola is forced into making a major defensive reshuffle for Brighton & Hove Albion’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

Adrian Clarke takes a closer look at what that could mean for the Citizens…

Will this be a decisive blow?

Cluster injuries are every Premier League manager’s worst nightmare, so Man City will be hugely frustrated to lose key defenders Gvardiol, Dias and John Stones (thigh strain) to injury all at the same time.

Breaking up the accomplished first-choice pairing of Dias (four-to-six weeks) and Gvardiol (four-to-five months) is potentially problematic.

Guardiola did not start 2025/26 with those two at the heart of his defence, but since a shutout 3-0 win against Manchester United in mid-September, they have been outstanding as a duo.

Averaging 2.5 points per game, City have won 11 of 14 Premier League matches they started together, losing just once, in a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United.

On the flip side, when that partnership has not been in place, City have lost three of six games, averaging 1.16 points per match.

City's PL record with Dias and Gvardiol starting, and without

Will Khusanov take his big chance?

The chief beneficiary of Man City’s injury crisis could be Abdukodir Khusanov.

Cementing a regular place in Guardiola’s starting line-up has been tough for the 21-year-old since joining from Lens almost a year ago.

Khusanov is the first Uzbekistan international to play in the Premier League, but after a misjudged headed backpass that cost City a goal on his debut against Chelsea (see below), he has rarely featured consistently in his preferred centre-back role.

This season he has made seven starts in all competitions, but five of those outings were at right-back.

So, there is a possibility Khusanov may be a little rusty if he partners Nathan Ake at centre-back against Brighton tonight.

The Premier League's fastest central defender

While Guardiola will be sad to lose Dias as his right-sided centre back, Khusanov’s blistering pace in that position can be an asset.

He has clocked up a top speed of 35.7km/h this season, quicker than Erling Haaland (35.4km/h).

Nico O’Reilly (36.0km/h) is City’s speediest player in 2025/26, but Brighton's forwards will face the Premier League’s fastest centre-back.

Rapid at recovering his position and providing cover, there is no player in that position with more pace than the Uzbeki.

Premier League's quickest centre-backs

How have Ake and Khusanov fared before?

Netherlands international Nathan Ake has always been reliable for Man City.

Since the start of 2025, the versatile defender has made 13 Premier League starts, winning eight times, and his overall win ratio from 119 starts is an impressive 66 per cent.

Yet there is no body of evidence that guarantees he will gel alongside Khusanov.

They have started just four times together before, with the last two matches - a 2-0 win against Brentford in the EFL Cup and a 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen - seeing Khusanov deployed as a right-back.

That means tonight’s match will only be the third time they have started next to one another in central defence.

City beat Swansea 3-1 earlier this season in the EFL Cup, with a 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool last February the only top-flight game they have both started next to one another.

The balance of their pairing should be fine, but it may take some time for the chemistry to build.

Matches Ake and Khusanov have played as centre-backs

Could Pep switch to three at the back?

Initially, Guardiola is almost certain to stick with a 4-3-2-1 formation.

But if he does have any concerns over an ongoing partnership between Ake and Khusanov, do not be shocked if the Spaniard tries out a different shape.

He has not used a back three in 2025/26, but last season he did start six matches in a 3-2-4-1 system, winning five of those encounters.

Matches using a back three, 24/25

If he does experiment with that shape again, we could see O’Reilly slot in as a left-sided centre-back, with Ake sliding across to the middle of a trio.

In a bold set-up, you could see Matheus Nunes and Rayan Ait-Nouri, after the Algerian returns from the Africa Cup of Nations, used as wing-backs.

Could Rodri drop back?

Fit-again Rodri is another tactical option for Guardiola, if he is inclined to try a back three while his preferred centre-backs are missing.

The Spanish maestro has not featured as a central defender since May 2023, and has been utilised in that role just four times since joining the club.

Matches played by Rodri at centre-back

In that position, he could mimic the "Stones role", which was synonymous with City’s title triumph in 2022/23.

Playing in the middle of a back three, the England international would push into midfield to form a 2-3-5 shape in possession, and that type of position might suit Rodri.

Look out for Alleyne

Recalled from a successful loan spell with Championship side Watford, 20-year-old centre-back Max Alleyne could also be given his chance to shine.

The England Under-21 international impressed at Vicarage Road, and will be under consideration to play while Dias is recovering from a pulled hamstring.

Son of former England cricketer Mark Alleyne, the former Southampton academy star is potentially next in line to start in City’s rearguard.

With 11 matches to play in all competitions before Dias’ possible return in mid-February, the way that Guardiola and his side react to this double blow could shape their entire campaign.

Matches Dias could miss