‘Huge boost!’, ‘Protect him at all costs’ – Man City fans react as Pep Guardiola warned against rushing Ruben Dias back too soon

Pep Guardiola will not rush star defender Ruben Dias back into first team action, for fear of losing him for the remainder of Manchester City‘s campaign.

The 24-year-old defender, who will sit out in Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Southampton, suffered a hamstring injury in the FA Cup win over Peterborough at the start of March and an initial diagnosis of four to six weeks was given.

However, the City manager has been warned by his medical team that Dias may need to be kept out for longer, for fear that a recurrence will rule him out of the whole season.

‘They told me five or six weeks. I think we will be short after the international break but they told me it is getting better, his symptoms are very good,’ said Guardiola.

‘But the problem when he got injured, the doctors told me to be careful. It looks like you are good but falling down again means the season is over.

“The position of the injury in the hamstring means ‘be careful’. We maybe have to wait a few more weeks but it is getting better.”

These Guardiola’s comments were shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.

“Huge boost!.”
Credit: @Mahrez_Merchant

“As long as he’s back for Liverpool.”
Credit: @SxrgioSZN

“Protect him at all costs.”
Credit: @Smartiemcfc

“We want him against Liverpool.”
Credit: @SavulaneE

“Hopefully he plays against Liverpool. Because there’s no way we keep a clean sheet if Laporte starts.”
Credit: @mbaalthani8

“Just don’t rush him back, don’t even really need him vs Atletico cause of their style of play but will be Crucial vs Liverpool.”
Credit: @Ellisjc2

“Ok don’t play him until Liverpool game. Against Atletico and Burnley, we can genuinely survive plus Liverpool is the biggest game of the season.”
Credit: @KdbEnthusiasm

“That’s scary but we need him for the Liverpool game.”
Credit: @Thompson15Lewis