Man City players ‘exhausted’ and carrying injuries ahead of finals | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says several of his players are feeling “exhausted” or are carrying injuries ahead of Man City’s two cup finals.

City will face rivals Man Utd in the FA Cup final next weekend, followed by Inter Milan in the Champions League final the following weekend.

But, following a 1-0 loss to Brentford in which several key players including Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias were left out of the squad with injuries and many others were left on the bench, Guardiola says the team is suffering from both injury problems and tiredness.

“We have four or five players with niggles, not big injuries but they are injuries,” he said.

“The guys that didn’t play here who normally play, they were really exhausted yesterday and the day before. We spoke with them and mentally they were completely drained.

“The guys who played today deserved it. For me, it’s important to see them.

“Unfortunately we could not give Kyle (Walker) time to rest because we don’t have many substitutes.

“But they needed to rest and now to arrive with the right energy that is going to happen against United and then in the final of the Champions League.”

Man City will become only the second side to ever win the treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League if they win their two upcoming finals.

But pushed on whether those who missed out will be ready for the FA Cup final, Guardiola continued: “I don’t know right now.

“They will train tomorrow, they will do their recovery, so hopefully but right now I don’t know.

“Ruben (Dias) didn’t train for ten days, Jack Grealish neither. After the Brighton game Kevin (De Bruyne) felt the same feeling he had before weeks ago.

“They are not big, big issues. I think they will be ready but they have to be ready in the training sessions. I am going to see over the next few days and which is why today was so important for me to see these players and how they are.”