Pep Guardiola is expected to rest a number of players for Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United on Saturday.
The Blues head into the game on the back of a draining Champions League second leg on Wednesday, a match Guardiola claimed left his players too tired to celebrate in the changing room despite eliminating Bayern Munich.
The City boss said in his pre-match press conference that he will assess his players ahead of the semi-final to determine who may need a rest, but confirmed Nathan Ake will miss out through a hamstring injury he sustained in midweek.
With a potentially title-deciding meeting with Arsenal on Wednesday, Guardiola is likely to view Saturday’s Wembley encounter as an opportunity to give certain players a breather. Erling Haaland is one first-team member who might drop to the bench given he’s had his minutes managed this season.
“With this demanding schedule of games every three or four days we have to take care of them - with nutrition, rest, sleep, food,” Guardiola said last week on Haaland’s fitness levels. “For the training, how many minutes - there is data. Sometimes they cannot train more than 10 or 15 minutes.”
The Norwegian attacker was also replaced at half-time against Bayern and he may be kept in reserve ahead of the Arsenal encounter, while the likes of Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish have featured heavily in recent weeks.
With that in mind, here’s how we think the team could shape up against Sheffield United…
1. GK: Stefan Ortega
Has played every FA Cup match this season and expected to start against the Blades.
2. RB: Kyle Walker
Hasn’t been given many starts lately but could could back in to face his former side.
3. CB: Manuel Akanji
We’re tipping Ruben Dias to be rested, with Manuel Akanji to remain in the side.
4. CB: John Stones
In excellent form and playing a hybrid defence/midfield role.