Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, is set to miss the upcoming Premier League matches after undergoing back surgery in Barcelona. The Premier League champions recently revealed in an official statement that Guardiola has been grappling with persistent back pain over an extended period. To address this issue, he underwent emergency back surgery in Barcelona, which necessitates his temporary absence from his managerial duties.
Having played an instrumental role in guiding Manchester City to their remarkable achievements, including a treble-winning season, Guardiola’s absence on the touchline is undoubtedly a significant development.
The 52-year-old manager’s absence will extend beyond just the immediate matches, as he is expected to remain away from the team’s training and matches even during the international break. Consequently, he will not be present to oversee Manchester City’s forthcoming match against Sheffield United, scheduled for this Sunday.
In the interim, the responsibility of overseeing training sessions and managing matches for the Premier League champions will fall to Juanma Lillo. Lillo’s return to the club as an assistant manager just earlier this month, following a managerial stint at Al Sadd in Qatar, has coincided with Guardiola’s unexpected medical situation.
Fans and football enthusiasts alike will be keenly observing how Juanma Lillo, an experienced figure in the world of football, adapts to his new role as the acting manager during Guardiola’s absence. The expectations and demands on Manchester City to maintain their performance and achieve positive results will remain high, even in the manager’s temporary absence.
