Man City v Chelsea: Pep Guardiola gives Erling Haaland & Kevin De Bruyne injury updates

Pep Guardiola has given an injury update on Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne ahead Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

The pair came off in the latter stages of Manchester City’s Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid on Wednesday, and Guardiola confirmed after the penalty defeat that neither could continue due to knocks.

And it was mixed news on the pair when Guardiola addressed the media ahead of the trip to Wembley this weekend. “Kevin feels well. Erling we will see,” the City boss said.

“It was a tough game and Erling felt something, a muscular issue and he could not continue. Kevin was exhausted and could not continue, that is normal after five months off.”

This weekend’s FA Cup semis are set against the backdrop of the news released on Thursday that replays in the competition will be scrapped from next season, a decision which is largely seen as suiting the clubs playing in Europe.

Guardiola, who spoke earlier this year about the importance of the FA Cup and English football’s pyramid, said he can understand the frustrations of lower-league clubs.

“I think you know better than me the reason why it was built, why there were replays in this country. It's for the lower-division sides to have the chance to have big clubs, and get money for them. In that sense, it is a problem, a big blow.

“For big clubs playing in European competitions, it is much better, we have less games and we have a tight schedule. To find a balance tody in world football is so difficult.

“I understand why clubs in lower divisions complain because if they have a game at the Etihad Stadium and we cannot win we have to go to a team from League One or the Conference. That game is so important for them and that’s why I think replays were created in the FA Cup.

“[It's been a] tradition for many years but with the schedule that we have,  playing in European competition and with many players going to the national team, it is much better.”