Manchester City have been dealt a blow with Erling Haaland a major doubt for the club’s FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea.
Haaland was substituted ahead of extra time in the club’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid in midweek, with Guardiola later revealing that the forward had requested to be taken off.
Guardiola has now confirmed that the Norwegian, who has scored 31 goals in all competitions this season, has a muscular issue and is doubtful to feature at Wembley this weekend.
The Spaniard also provided an update on Kevin De Bruyne, who also asked to be substituted against Real Madrid, though was more positive on the midfielder’s condition.
“Kevin seems well. Erling felt something, a muscular issue. Kevin felt exhausted, so tired, after five months out injured [at the start of the season], so that’s normal. We’ll see more tomorrow,” Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference.
Guardiola said it was ‘normal’ that his squad were feeling fatigue after a gruelling campaign, insisting the City squad are ‘not machines’.
“It’s normal, with the amount of games we’ve played this season and in the previous seasons. There’s not much time for recovery, we played extra-time and the intensity we play. We are not machines, the fatigue is there.”
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