Haaland injury threatens Man City’s FA Cup semi-final chance

Haaland injury threatens Man City’s FA Cup semi-final chance

Pep Guardiola has revealed that Erling Haaland might miss Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley this Saturday.

Haaland was subbed off just before extra time during City’s recent Champions League quarter-final second-leg match against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

Guardiola, following the penalty shoot-out defeat, mentioned that the Norwegian striker requested to be substituted but refrained from providing specific details about the situation.

The City manager has now confirmed that Haaland sustained an injury during the encounter with Real Madrid and hinted at uncertainty regarding his leading scorer’s recovery in time for the FA Cup fixture against Chelsea.

“We will 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.”

As Guardiola awaits updates on Haaland’s condition, Manchester City’s midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is expected to be in the lineup against Chelsea following his substitution during extra time against Real Madrid due to fatigue. Guardiola acknowledges the intense schedule, understanding the fatigue among players at this juncture of the season.

“It’s normal with the amount 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 agonising shoot-out defeat by Real ended City’s hopes of winning a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble for a second consecutive season.

But they remain on course to repeat the domestic double and Guardiola is determined to ensure the Premier League leaders bounce back from their European frustration.

“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.