Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is facing uncertainty ahead of his team’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. Haaland was taken off during their recent Champions League defeat to Real Madrid due to a muscular issue. While City manager Pep Guardiola remains hopeful about Haaland’s availability, the decision will ultimately depend on his recovery in the coming hours.
Another player who requested to be substituted against Real Madrid was Kevin de Bruyne. However, Guardiola believes that de Bruyne’s exhaustion is a result of returning from a long injury layoff earlier in the season. Despite these setbacks, Guardiola is determined for his team to bounce back and not dwell on their Champions League exit.
On the other side, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is optimistic about his team’s chances. He expects City’s exertions in the Champions League to work in their favor. Pochettino acknowledges the physical and emotional toll that comes with playing 120 minutes in a high-intensity fixture, and he hopes his team can take advantage of City’s potential fatigue.
Looking at their previous encounters this season, Chelsea has had mixed results against City. They drew 4-4 and 1-1 in the Premier League, indicating that they are capable of competing with Guardiola’s side. Pochettino recognizes the strength of City’s squad but remains confident in his team’s abilities.
In terms of their journey to the semi-finals, both teams have had impressive runs. Manchester City defeated Huddersfield 5-0 in the third round and Preston 4-0 in the fourth round. They went on to secure a 1-0 victory against Tottenham in the fourth round and triumphed over Aston Villa 3-1 in a replay. City then overcame Luton Town 6-2 in the fifth round and secured wins against Leeds United and Newcastle United in the quarter-finals.
Chelsea, on the other hand, started their FA Cup campaign with a 4-0 win against Aston Villa in the fourth round. They secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Tottenham and followed it up with a 3-2 win against Leeds United in the fifth round. In the quarter-finals, Chelsea defeated Sheffield United 2-0 and Leicester City 4-2.
Overall, the upcoming FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Chelsea promises to be an intense and closely contested match. Both teams have shown their quality throughout the competition, and with the added factor of recent injuries and fatigue, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.