ahead of title showdown
Pep Guardiola has provided an injury update on Nathan Ake and Phil Foden ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League title showdown against Arsenal on Wednesday. Ake has been ruled out of the FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United on Saturday, but Guardiola has confirmed that he will have a ‘final test’ before the clash against Arsenal. The 28-year-old Netherlands international defender has been in fine form for City this term and has predominantly been used at left-back. Guardiola was also asked about star midfielder Foden, who has been ruled out in recent weeks with appendicitis before returning to the bench last time out. He said: ‘He was on the bench in Munich after two training following two, three weeks without training. Every day that passes he’ll be better.’
When asked about the possibility of rotation for the semi-final against Championship side Sheffield United, Guardiola said: ‘I have many doubts tomorrow about the line-up. We will train today and I will have to talk to some. Of course they will lie and say they want to play but we will have to make sure they’re in the best condition. It’s not just this game but we have played many, many games every three, four days knowing if we lose we’re out. It’s fatigue. We will have to see.’