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Pep Guardiola provides update on Jack Grealish injury as Man City handed Josko Gvardiol blow

Jack Grealish came off early with a muscle injury (Action Images via Reuters)
Jack Grealish came off early with a muscle injury (Action Images via Reuters)

Pep Guardiola confirmed that Jack Grealish picked up a muscle injury in Man City’s win over Copenhagen, while Josko Gvardiol faces a spell on the sidelines.

City took a significant step towards the Champions League quarter-finals, as they eased to a 3-1 win in Denmark in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring and although Magnus Mattsson punished a poor pass out from Ederson to equalise, goals from Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden ensured City have complete control ahead of the second leg in Manchester next month.

There was an early blow though, as Grealish, making his first start in over a month, was forced off with barely 20 minutes on the clock, going down and immediately signalling to the bench.

“Something muscular I think,” Guardiola told TNT Sports after the match.

“A little bit groin - I don’t know perfectly. It’s a pity because these type of games, we need this type of tempo. The control, Bernardo and Jack they help us a lot to make an extra pass in the right moment to attack.

“In the last days, in the training sessions it was much better. It was a pity.”

Bernardo Silva was replaced late in the match, having been on the receiving end of a poor challenge. Guardiola confirmed that the Portuguese star had taken a “big knock” to his ankle, and it remains to be seen whether that proves to be a significant issue.

City did have a fully-fit squad in the build-up to their trip to Copenhagen, but Gvardiol was not involved as missed out on the squad entirely.

Guardiola revealed the defender has suffered an ankle ligament injury, and is set to miss two to three weeks as a result.