Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, will be absent from the club’s next two Premier League games after undergoing back surgery in Barcelona.

City made this known in a statement on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

The Premier League champions noted that their manager has been struggling with back pain for some time and has undergone emergency surgery in Barcelona.

Guardiola’s surgery was successful but he will continue his rehabilitation in Barcelona.

The 52-year-old manager is not expected to be back on the touchline for City until after the international break, meaning he will miss this Sunday’s trip to Sheffield United, as well as the visit of Fulham on September 2.

In his absence, Juanma Lillo – who only returned to the club as assistant manager earlier this month after undergoing a spell as Al Sadd manager in Qatar – will take charge of training and matches for the treble winners.

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“Everyone at Manchester City wishes Pep a speedy recovery, and look forward to seeing him back in Manchester soon,” the club added.

This is not the first time City have had to cope without their manager since Guardiola first came to the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2016.

A Champions League touchline ban in the middle of 2018 meant Guardiola put Mikel Arteta in charge for the visit of Lyon in September of that year, a group-stage game which City lost 2-1.

At the beginning of 2022, Guardiola also missed a FA Cup third round-tie at Swindon Town after contracting coronavirus.

Both Guardiola and assistant Lillo were ruled out of the game as assistant coach Rodolfo Borrell took charge of the game.

City won the game 4-1 despite 14 backroom staff and seven first-team players isolating due to COVID-19.

The Star