Manchester City manager Guardiola undergoes minor back surgery

ANKARA

Manchester City on Tuesday announced that their manager Pep Guardiola underwent a minor back surgery.

In a statement, the Premier League club said that the 52-year-old had been “suffering with severe back pain for some time lately, and flew out to Barcelona for emergency surgery.”

“The surgery was a success, and Pep will now recover and rehabilitate in Barcelona,” the statement added.

During his absence, assistant manager Juanma Lillo will oversee the coaching of the first team on the training field and will assume duties on the touchline.

Guardiola has clinched 15 major trophies since joining Manchester City in 2016 – including five Premier League titles, one UEFA Super Cup, two FA Cups, four League Cups, one Champions League, and two Community Shields.