Pep Guardiola says Nathan Ake is set for a ‘final test’ ahead of the Arsenal clash (Picture: Getty)
Pep Guardiola has provided an injury update on Nathan Ake and Phil Foden ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League title showdown against Arsenal.
Ake picked up a hamstring problem during the second leg of Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Netherlands international defender has been in fine form for City this term and has predominantly been used at left-back.
City are without another recognised senior left-back in his absence and Guardiola has confirmed that while Ake will definitely miss the FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United on Saturday, he has a ‘final test’ before the clash against Arsenal.
It is a gigantic match at the Etihad on Wednesday in terms of the Premier League title race, with Guardiola’s second-placed side four points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand.
Quizzed about Ake’s fitness, Guardiola said: ‘I don’t know. He’s not ready for tomorrow but I don’t know the damage.
‘I think this afternoon (Friday) they do the final test to see exactly what he has.’
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 was on the bench in Munich after two training following two, three weeks without training,’ Guardiola added. ‘Every day that passes he’ll be better.’
There have been suggestions that Guardiola may heavily rotate his squad for the semi-final against Championship side Sheffield United in order to keep his players fresh as they continue to hunt a historic treble.
‘I have to see and I have to smell how the players are doing today,’ Guardiola said about the possibility of rotation.
‘After Munich they couldn’t even celebrate because they were so tired. They didn’t have as much sequences on the ball to rest on the ball, they had to run a lot.
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‘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.’
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