Erling Haaland has been left out of Manchester City’s squad for the FA Cup semi-final match against Chelsea at Wembley.
City are looking to bounce back from their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in midweek, and the defending champions were eliminated on penalties despite dominating the second leg that night.
They have a chance to progress to the FA Cup final as they look to salvage a double from their season, but they will have to do it without their key man, who has scored 31 goals so far this season.
Haaland was one of the players who had to be taken off due to injury against Madrid, and was taken off in the 90th minute and Julián Álvarez replaced him for the last 30 minutes plus penalties.
“They asked me to leave,” Guardiola said of Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Manuel Akanki. “They couldn’t continue.”
Erling Haaland was left out of Manchester City’s squad for the FA Cup match against Chelsea
Akanji and De Bruyne started the game for City, bouncing back from their troubles, but the same cannot be said for Haaland, who could face a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
“He’s injured,” Guardiola said of his striker before the game. “I don’t think it’s much, but he can’t play today.”
Asked if he would be fit to play against Brighton in midweek, he replied: “I don’t know.”
