Manchester City qualified for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a 5-0 aggregate victory over Sporting CP.
After a convincing performance against the Portuguese giants in the first leg, the Blues could afford to relax in yesterday’s game – a game that was probably reflected in the 0-0 draw.
The main talking point before the game was Pep Guardiola’s squad selection, with four senior defenders either injured or missing through suspension.
Kyle Walker’s three-game ban from UEFA competition caused him to miss Wednesday’s draw, but he will be back available for Premier League selection on Monday.
The main absentees through injury were Nathan Aké, Joao Cancelo and Ruben Dias. The latter picked up a hamstring injury in the FA Cup round of 16 tie with Peterborough United and will be sidelined for another four weeks.
IMAGO / Sportimage
IMAGO / Sportimage
Pep Guardiola, speaking to the press ahead of their crucial Premier League clash at Selhurst Park, has provided a further injury update on the rest of his staff.
Cancelo was ‘sick’ for the game against Sporting and Guardiola has confirmed that the full-back will be assessed over the weekend.
Nathan Aké was another who was substituted at half-time in the FA Cup, with Guardiola unwilling to risk his fitness in midweek.
The Catalan says the situation is similar for the Dutchman, whom he hopes to see back in training sooner rather than later.
In full Guardiola said: “There are still a few days left until Monday evening. We have few problems, we don’t have many players available. Hopefully some of them come back, today we are training the guys who didn’t play yesterday.”
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