Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has been sidelined for up to four weeks with a muscular injury, adding to Pep Guardiola’s growing challenges as he looks to revive the club’s season.

The Portugal international had previously missed five games in November due to a calf problem but returned in December, featuring consistently until now. However, Dias will be unavailable for City’s clash with Aston Villa on Saturday, with further doubts surrounding the fitness of goalkeeper Ederson.

“Ruben is out for a long time, and Ederson, I don’t know if he will be ready tomorrow,” Guardiola revealed during a press conference on Friday. He added that Dias is expected to be sidelined for “three or four weeks.”

The injury occurred during City’s recent match against Manchester United. “After 75 minutes, Ruben felt something,” Guardiola explained. “He’s strong and wanted to stay on the pitch, but now he’s injured.”

City have been struggling with injuries and form, losing eight of their last 11 matches across all competitions. They currently sit fifth in the Premier League table.

While Nathan Ake remains out, there is some good news for City, as defenders Manuel Akanji and John Stones have returned to full training. “Manuel and John are back, which is good for us,” Guardiola said. “The more players we have available, the better. But I don’t know yet if they can start against Aston Villa. They’ve been out for a while, and yesterday was their first proper training session.”

City’s poor run is the worst in Guardiola’s illustrious managerial career, which has seen success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Despite the setbacks, Guardiola remains optimistic ahead of the match against seventh-placed Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery.

“If you fall down six times, you have to stand up seven,” Guardiola stated. “There’s no alternative. I’m fine. When things go well, I feel better. When they don’t, we focus more on what needs to be done.

“We have to start again. We don’t know what will happen at Villa Park, but we’ll keep trying, and sooner or later, things will turn around.”

Mason Mount is set for another extended spell on the sidelines, adding to his challenging first season at Manchester United. The former Chelsea midfielder, who joined the club in July last year, has struggled with inconsistent form and recurring injuries since his arrival at Old Trafford.

The England international has made just 32 appearances for United, scoring only one goal and starting in nine Premier League matches. His latest setback came during the Manchester derby last week, where he was forced off early in United’s 2-1 victory.

Manager Ruben Amorim confirmed that the 25-year-old would be out for “several weeks” and expressed his frustration over the situation.

“I don’t know the exact date, but it’s going to be for a long time,” Amorim said. “It’s part of football, and we continue.”

Amorim added that he plans to support Mount during his recovery, focusing on helping him adapt to United’s style of play even while sidelined.

“What I can do is help Mase learn more about our game while he’s recovering,” Amorim explained. “We’ll use this time for him to reflect and prepare mentally. The tough part is not having enough time for proper team training when players are recovering because of our busy schedule.”

Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford will be available for Sunday’s home match against Bournemouth after missing the games against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Amorim clarified that Rashford’s absence was not due to a disciplinary issue, despite the player recently hinting at seeking “a new challenge” in an interview about his future at United.

Despite United’s current position at 13th in the Premier League, Amorim remains optimistic about the team’s progress under his management since replacing Erik ten Hag last month.

“I think we are improving in the final third,” he said. “In some games, we were near the opponent’s box but lacked a real threat. Against Tottenham, you could see we’re creating more opportunities, shooting, and showing more physicality.

“Our pressing has improved, and the team’s understanding of the game is better. I can see us controlling matches more effectively.”

Amorim’s focus on building cohesion and improving performance will be critical as United navigate their challenging season with key players like Mount sidelined.

Former boxing world champion Thierry Jacob has passed away at the age of 59, as announced by Natacha Bouchart, the mayor of his hometown, Calais, on Friday.

Jacob etched his name in boxing history in 1992 when he won the WBC super-bantamweight title by defeating Mexico's Daniel Zaragoza in an unforgettable bout before an enthusiastic home crowd in Calais.

“This morning begins with heartbreaking news. Thierry Jacob has left us, far too soon,” Mayor Bouchart shared on Facebook.

Turning professional in 1984, Jacob enjoyed a decade-long career in the ring, amassing an impressive record of 39 wins and six losses. However, his reign as WBC champion was brief, as he lost the title in his first defense to American Tracy Harris Patterson in New York.

Continuing the family legacy, Jacob’s son, Romain Jacob, also pursued a boxing career, achieving success by winning the European super featherweight title in 2014.

Jacob’s passing marks a significant loss for the world of boxing and his community, where he remains a celebrated figure.

A Paris court on Thursday sentenced Mathias Pogba, brother of French midfielder Paul Pogba, to three years in prison with two years suspended in a high-profile extortion case.

Mathias Pogba will serve his one-year custodial sentence under electronic monitoring instead of in jail.

The court also imposed a €20,000 fine on Mathias for his role in attempting to extort €13 million ($13.5 million) from Paul Pogba in 2022. He was found guilty of exerting pressure on the footballer, his family, and business associates to secure the payment.