Pep Guardiola has said that Erling Haaland might not be able to play in Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.
Haaland was taken out before the start of extra time in City’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg defeat against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Guardiola mentioned that after the loss in penalty shoot-out, the striker from Norway requested to be substituted but didn't explain why.
The City manager has now confirmed that Haaland got injured against Real and hinted that it's not certain if their top scorer will recover in time for the FA Cup holders’ match with Chelsea.
“We'll wait and see. It was a tough game, a lot of action, high intensity for both sides,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
“Erling felt something, a muscular issue. That’s why he told me he could not continue.
“The doctor said he had a little bit of niggles, a little problem, we will see how his evolution is in the next hours.”
While Guardiola worries about Haaland’s fitness, City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne should be part of the match against Chelsea after being taken off during extra time against Real due to fatigue.
Considering City’s busy schedule, Guardiola admitted it is understandable that players are exhausted at this point of the season.
“It’s normal with the number of games we are playing this season and the previous seasons and not much recovery, and extra time and high intensity.
“We put a lot of pressure on our game and that’s why the fatigue is there. They are human beings. They are not machines. We are used to it,” he said.
The painful shoot-out loss to Real put an end to City’s hopes of achieving a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble for a second consecutive season.
But they are still on track to repeat the domestic double and Guardiola is determined to make sure that the Premier League leaders recover from their disappointment in Europe.
“We don’t have another option. I don’t want us to feel sorry for ourselves.
“In football, you lose games. We performed at our best and we were not able to win. You have to accept it.
“We did everything. We know it, they know it, all the world knows it, but it was not enough. When it’s not enough, it’s a bad night. So congratulations (to Real) and, tomorrow, FA Cup,” he said.
AFP
