PEP GUARDIOLA has confirmed Fernandinho is an injury doubt for Manchester City’s clash with Tottenham on Wednesday. The Spanish boss revealed his star midfielder, 33, could miss the second-leg of the Champions League clash at the Etihad – with City trailing 1-0. Fernandinho missed Sunday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace – with Guardiola unsure […]
PEP GUARDIOLA has confirmed Fernandinho is an injury doubt for Manchester City’s clash with Tottenham on Wednesday.
The Spanish boss revealed his star midfielder, 33, could miss the second-leg of the Champions League clash at the Etihad – with City trailing 1-0.
Fernandinho missed Sunday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace – with Guardiola unsure of his status for Wednesday evening.
When asked if the Brazilian was not in the starting line-up at Selhurst Park due to injury, Guardiola said: “Yes.
“He finished badly against Tottenham. Today he is not fit. It’s short-term.”
However, on whether he’d be OK for the midweek game in Manchester, Guardiola added: “We’ll see.”
Fernandinho has proven to be irreplaceable in front of the Man City back-four this season.
In fact, Guardiola is thought to be hunting a defensive midfielder in this summer’s transfer market to replace him for the long-term.
Meanwhile, back at Selhurst Park, Kevin De Bruyne – back in the starting line-up after missing out against Spurs – notched his first league assist in nearly a year.
The Belgian superstar, 27, played a lovely ball through to Raheem Sterling – who rifled City ahead in their crunch title race fixture at Crystal Palace.
Amazingly though, it was De Bruyne’s first assist in the league for 336 days, when he set-up a goal in the final-day win over Southampton.
On the last day of the 2017-18 season, the former Chelsea playmaker set-up Gabriel Jesus to scored a 94th-minute winner against Saints.
The goal saw City dramatically reach the 100-point tally for the season with almost the final kick of the game.
