Posted: 23:05, 14 April 2022 | Updated: 23:08, 14 April 2022
Manchester City goalkeeper Kevin De Bruyne is set to miss Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool with an ankle injury. The Belgian’s problem is considered to be a collision injury and not a muscle one, but the club doctors will better understand the schedules for his absence after further evaluation. Coach Pep Guardiola is likely to miss both Kyle Walker and De Bruyne, whose performances have peaked as City arrive home this season chasing three trophies. Kevin De Bruyne is expected to miss the semi-final of the English Cup of Manchester City with Liverpool Kyle Walker could also be out of action at Wembley after falling into bed on Wednesday Guardiola is counting the cost of the progress from Atletico Madrid after Wednesday’s stormy draw in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Phil Foden played much of the second leg with a bandage on his head and Walker left with a similar problem to De Bruyne. The defender said he hoped the injury was not serious but was seen wearing a protective boot. Guardiola is prevented from reaching the semifinals of Wembley, with Wednesday proving physical and emotional exhaustion to his players. The team flew from Madrid to London on Thursday afternoon after a morning warm-up and is doing its last training session at Millwall Stadium, Den, before meeting Liverpool for the second time in a week. “We have the team to go to the end to win everything,” said defender Aymeric Laporte. “We know it will be difficult, but I think we can do it and we will go for it. This week is something amazing that we probably have not realized at the moment. Pep Guardiola calculates the cost of a physical and bruised conflict with Atletico Madrid “If everything goes as we want, then it could be one of my best weeks as a professional.” The consequences of the massacre that took place in the last stages of the match against Atletico have not yet been determined, but UEFA is ready to investigate the matter. The role of former City defender Stefan Savic in the field and tunnel clashes will be scrutinized after his extensive conviction. Savic chased Jack Grillis into the tunnel – which was quickly followed by four armed police officers – with his hair pulled back and hit by Rahim Sterling. German referee Daniel Siebert did not see the head, who lost control of the tie. Several other players and staff members on both sides had heated discussions, which were claimed to have become physical, with post-match footage and testimonials available for examination by UEFA. De Bruyne is in great form for City and will miss Guardiola a lot at Wembley UEFA has temporarily suspended Bodo / Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen and Roma goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos after the former was accused of attacking the latter in the tunnel last week and could be used as a precedent in the coming days. Bodo / Glimt claimed that Santos was the attacker, receiving their complaints to the police. Both are suspended until UEFA reaches a final decision. Atletico’s bill is growing, the club has just managed to suspend the partial ban of 5,000 seats on the pitch on the eve of the city match thanks to the Sports Arbitration Court. UEFA had closed an area of Wanda Metropolitano after some of the club’s fans were arrested for performing fascist greetings during the first match at the Etihad. “It was a learning curve for us,” John Stones said of the race. “It will be a great experience for us in big games, knowing that we have overcome it and that we can adapt to certain situations. “It will definitely help us grow as a team and I’m really proud of the boys, how we played and the result after two games.”
