Erling Haaland has been left out of Manchester City’s squad for their FA Cup semi-final tie against Chelsea at Wembley.
City are looking to recover from their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in midweek, with the defending champions going out on penalties despite dominating the second leg on the night.
They have the chance to move into the final of the FA Cup as they look to rescue a double from their season, but will have to do so without their key man, who has scored 31 goals so far this season.
Haaland was one of a number of players who had to be withdrawn through injury against Madrid, and was taken off at the 90-minute mark with Julian Alvarez replacing him for the last 30 minutes plus penalties.
‘They asked me to go out,’ Guardiola said of Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Manuel Akanki. ‘They could not continue.’
Erling Haaland has been left out of Manchester City’s squad for their FA Cup game against Chelsea
Haaland had asked to be substituted in the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid with a muscle issue
Akanji and De Bruyne have started the game for City, recovering from their issues, but the same could not be said for Haaland, who could face an extended spell on the sidelines.
‘He’s injured,’ Guardiola said of his forward prior to the game. ‘I don’t think it’s much but he’s not able to play today.’
When asked if he would be fit enough to play against Brighton in midweek, he replied: ‘I don’t know.’
Haaland missed a number of weeks for City earlier on this season, returning in January after a foot injury had caused him to miss the Christmas period, including the Club World Cup.
Now, he is battling a muscle injury, and will have to watch his side try and reach another Wembley final from the stands in the capital.
Kevin De Bruye, however, who also left the field with injury, was fit enough to stat the game at Wembley
Guadiola’s side are looking to keep their hopes of winning what would now be a double alive
Elsewhere in the City side, John Stones returned to the team in defence, with both Phil Foden and Jack Grealish maintaining their places from the Madrid loss.
For Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez returned from the win over Everton earlier in the week, with Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer all starting after their spat over a penalty on Monday.