Pep Guardiola has issued an injury update after Erling Haaland missed Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. Haaland was subbed off during City’s midweek clash against Real Madrid and had been a doubt heading into Saturday’s match.
The striker didn’t travel with the City squad for their Wembley clash and Julian Alvarez replaced him in the starting XI. Guardiola confirmed to BBC Sport before the clash that Haaland wasn’t fit enough to be involved, but worryingly for the Premier League champions, the Spaniard wasn’t able to offer a timescale for his return.
Speaking ahead of the match, the Catalan said: “He’s injured. I don’t think it’s much but he’s not able for today. I don’t know [if he will be back for the next game].”
His absence could hamper City’s Premier League title charge, with the 2023 European champions chasing an unprecedented fourth league championship in a row. No team in the history of English football has achieved such a feat, with City’s Premier League campaign resuming against Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday.
After that, City travel to relegation candidates Nottingham Forest, before their penultimate home game of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Guardiola’s men face both Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur away from home in the last week of the campaign, prior to a final-day match against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium.
Aside from Haaland, Guardiola named a near-to-full-strength team for the Chelsea game. Despite going the distance against Real Madrid on Wednesday, Guardiola was able to call upon the likes of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker in his starting XI.
There was also a spot on the teamsheet for Kevin De Bruyne, who just like Haaland was taken off before full-time on Wednesday. Commenting on De Bruyne’s fitness status, Guardiola said: “He feels good. We start with this team and we’ll see what happens.”
Whereas on City’s opponents, Guardiola said: “We’re in an FA Cup semi-final against a historical team like Chelsea. Top team. Quality. Physicality. They are built to arrive in these stages.”
