Nicolas Otamendi Injury: Updates on Manchester City Defender's Status and Return

Manchester City’s Nicolas Otamendi was replaced during March 15's Champions League game with Dynamo Kiev because of a knee injury. The Argentina international faces an unspecified time on the sidelines.

Continue for updates.

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Otamendi Out vs. Manchester United

Sunday, March 20

City confirmed Otamendi's absence from the matchday squad for the visit of neighbours Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium.

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City's Defensive Problems Pile Up

As Daniel Taylor of the Guardian reported, remarkably, City had already lost their other centre-back during the Kiev encounter, as Vincent Kompany was replaced within the first five minutes of the contest.

With Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis stepping in as replacements against Kiev, manager Manuel Pellegrini is short of reliable figures and depth in the heart of his defence.

Otamendi has endured a mixed debut campaign since his big-money summer move from Valencia, although he has often played with different partners.

Alongside Kompany, he has looked most assured in recent weeks. The Argentina man is a forceful presence at the back, and while he can occasionally be a little reckless in his defensive duties, he is a player who, with some more composure, could thrive much more consistently in the Premier League.

For City, these defensive-injury blows have come at the worst possible time, with crucial clashes on the horizon on both the domestic and European fronts.