Man City suffers injury blow following defeat to Tottenham

Manchester City had an unfortunate evening as left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri sustained an injury and had to leave the pitch early during their match against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2025/26 Premier League second round.

The 24-year-old Algerian newcomer just joined Etihad from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer but was quickly seen as the solution to the left-back problem that had troubled Pep Guardiola for years. In his debut, Ait-Nouri played the full 90 minutes and helped Man City keep a clean sheet in their 4-0 victory over Wolves.

Therefore, it was no surprise that he was included again in the starting lineup against Tottenham. However, less than half an hour into the match, Ait-Nouri suddenly faced an ankle issue after a challenge in the opponent’s half. Despite medical staff’s attention and his effort to continue, the Algerian defender appeared to be in pain and signaled for a substitution. Pep Guardiola promptly brought Nathan Ake on to replace him.

This forced change significantly disrupted Man City's gameplay. Immediately after Ait-Nouri left the field, the Citizens' defense showed vulnerabilities that Tottenham quickly exploited. Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha scored consecutively, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead in the first half and putting Guardiola and his team in a tough spot.

Upfront, players like Omar Marmoush, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, and Oscar Bobb worked hard to find an equalizer but were blocked by Spurs' tight defense. The match ended with Man City losing 0-2 at their home ground, Etihad.

What worries Man City more than the result is the condition of Rayan Ait-Nouri. The image of the 24-year-old defender limping off the pitch in pain has concerned fans. If Ait-Nouri faces a long-term absence, it would be a significant loss ahead of a crucial run of matches, including two major Premier League clashes against Manchester United and Arsenal.

With Josko Gvardiol not fully recovered, Nathan Ake is likely to be trusted to fill the left-back role. However, rotating players in a short period could affect Man City's stability early in the season. Additionally, Savinho, Mateo Kovacic, and Marcus Bettinelli were absent from the squad for various reasons, further thinning Pep Guardiola’s resources.

Currently, the exact extent of Ait-Nouri’s injury remains unclear. Pep Guardiola is expected to provide an official update after the match.