Why is Pep Guardiola missing Manchester City’s next two Premier League games?

Premier League and Champions League holders Manchester City are already going to be without injured playmaker Kevin De Bruyne for the foreseeable future and are also about to lose another key figure in the shape of...Pep Guardiola. The former Barcelona head coach will be forced to sit out at least a couple of matches after undergoing a routine operation on a “minor” back problem.

“The Manchester City boss has been suffering with severe back pain for some time lately, and flew out to Barcelona for emergency surgery performed by Dr Mireia Illueca. The surgery was a success, and Pep will now recover and rehabilitate in Barcelona”, the club revealed in an official statement on its website.

Which Manchester City games will Guardiola miss?

With Guardiola “expected to return after the forthcoming international break” (which ends on 10 September), he will not be in the dugout for the away game at Sheffield United (27 August) and the home clash with Fulham (2 September). The 52-year-old is likely to return to the bench for the fixture at West Ham United at the London Stadium on 16 September.

Assistant Juanma Lillo set to take charge

“In his absence, assistant manager Juanma Lillo will oversee coaching of the first team on the training field and will assume duties on the touchline until Pep’s return”, the statement continues.

Lillo returned to City as assistant coach this summer following the departures of Enzo Maresca to Leicester City and Rodolfo Borrell to Austin FC. He had previously served as Guardiola’s assistant between 2020 and 2022, when he left for a short spell in charge of Qatari club Al Sadd.