Man City dealt huge blow on eve of UEFA Super Cup

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will be hoping to add another piece of silverware to his already bloated trophy cabinet when his side face Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday. 

The Citizens completed a remarkable treble last season, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, and their reward for triumphing in the latter is a place in the Super Cup against Europa League holders Sevilla.

The Spanish side have become something of specialists in Europe in recent seasons, winning the Europa League a remarkable seven times since 2006.

City will undoubtedly be favourites to lift the Super Cup, though, having cruised to a first ever Champions League triumph last term.

With just 24 hours until kick-off, though, City have been dealt a huge blow.

Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne may have to undergo surgery on a hamstring injury and could therefore miss up to four months of the season, Guardiola has confirmed.

De Bruyne, 32, was forced off early on during City’s 3-0 win over Burnley on Friday evening, just two months after also limping off during the Champions League final against Inter Milan.

Speaking ahead of the match in Athens, the Spaniard revealed that De Bruyne’s injury is worse than first feared.

De Bruyne was forced off injured against Burnley on Friday

“It’s a serious injury,” he said, as reported by BBC Sport.

“We have to decide if he needs surgery or no surgery but he will be out for a few months,” he added. 

“The decision on surgery will be taken in the coming days and could see him miss three or four months”.

The Belgian didn’t feature for City in pre-season due to injury, and made his return to action during the second half of the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal at Wembley earlier this month.

Since joining City from German club Wolfsburg in 2015, De Bruyne has established himself as one of the best players in the world.

The former Chelsea man has made 358 appearances for the Manchester outfit across all competitions, scoring 96 goals and providing 158 assists.

Last term, the Belgium international scored ten goals and provided 31 assists as City became just the second English side to complete the treble.

He now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, though, and it remains to be seen whether City will delve into the transfer market to source a replacement.