MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Manchester City will be without injured leading scorer Sergio Aguero as they try to regain the advantage in the Premier League title race against struggling Cardiff on Wednesday (April 3).
A thigh injury means the Premier League's leading marksman - he has 19 goals to his name - will sit it out with Brazil star Gabriel Jesus taking his place.
Victory over a side they thrashed 5-0 in the away fixture earlier this season would see City leapfrog Liverpool to lead the title race by a point, with both having played the same number of games.
City manager Pep Guardiola admitted Aguero faces a race to be fit for the FA Cup semi-final with Brighton on Saturday and the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final away to Tottenham next Tuesday.
"Tomorrow (Wednesday) Sergio is not able to play," said Guardiola. "He didn't train the last two days.
"Hopefully, he can on Saturday or next Tuesday. We will see his evolution in the next few days."
Guardiola, whose side is bidding for a historic quadruple in winning the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League to add to their League Cup success already this term, has faith in Jesus being able to fill in for Aguero.
"Gabriel is ready," said Guardiola.
"He is having a good season and it is not always easy to play in this club as a striker in the same position as Sergio.
"He is fighting against one legend and an incredible top player in his best season since we have been at the club.
"When Gabriel played, he played well. Tomorrow he is going to help us and fight and score goals and create space for others."
City might still have been top but for a late error by France's World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris gifting Liverpool all three points on Sunday in a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
"When you see that, you say 'Ah s**t'," he said.
"But after five or ten minutes, you think it's a nice but terrible challenge.
"Nobody said it would be easy. Nobody. We knew it and I knew it.
"Everybody is excited for what we are going to live in the next weeks.
"Let's beat Cardiff for the main target to go back top of the league with six games left.
"After that we live again, Wembley, to achieve the one final (FA Cup) I never experienced in my life in the oldest trophy, and after that the Champions League."
London: Andre Gray came off the bench to fire Watford into the FA Cup semi-finals with the late winner in their 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday. Javi Gracia's side took the lead
Football: Super-sub Gray sends Watford into FA Cup semis
China enters the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates with one win in seven games, including disappointing draws against Palestine, India and Bahrain. A runners-up in 1984 and 2004, China opens their campaign Monday against Kyrgyzstan, followed by matches against the Philippines and South Korea in Group C.
Qatar beat Japan, football world in shock over insane Asian
Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi will undergo surgery after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon. The 18-year-old winger is set to miss the rest of the season after being taken off in the 41st minute
Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi says his season is over - Sportstar
'We can score at Barca' Barcelona striker Luis Suarez celebrating with Lionel Messi (left) and Arthur after an own goal by Luke Shaw gave them a 1-0 first-leg win in their Champions League quarter
Solskjaer: We Can Score At Barca - PredictionBoard
VAR drama mars Juve's historic win. Dec 31, 2018, 5:00 am. Football: We are all Koulibaly: Napoli fans don masks to support racism victim. Dec 30, 2018, 6:09 pm.
Veronica Mars & 90210 Revivals: Everything We Know
How Pep Guardiola's Man City starting XI has changed since first match in charge. Pep Guardiola has made wholesale changes to the Man City line-up since taking charge in 2016 - we analyse what has
EzineArticles Submission - Submit Your Best Quality Original
Football: Spanish LaLiga unaware of English Premier League interest in Javier Tebas. La Liga President Javier Tebas smiles during an interview in Madrid, Spain, on Oct 2, 2018. PHOTO: REUTERS.
Spanish La Liga unaware of English Premier League interest in
Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool's record-breaking season is just the "first step" for his team after they were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City. Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 at
Just the first step: Klopp, Football News & Top Stories - The
Homesick Sarri hints at Italy return, but Juventus still playing coy. Sarri indicates a swift return to Italy. By Sudip Majumder @studipm Jun 4, 2019, 8:30pm BST Share Tweet Share.
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri - News
Football: Italy upset Australia at Women's World Cup with Bonansea double; As Canarinhas thump Reggae Girlz. 1 day ago. VALENCIENNES, France (REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN) - Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in their opening Group C game at the women's football World Cup on Sunday (June
Women's World Cup: Italy upsets Australia with Bonansea
PODGORICA (REUTERS) - England recovered from an early scare in Montenegro as Ross Barkley scored twice in a clinical 5-1 victory to continue their strong start to the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign
England thrash Montenegro 5-1 after early scare - Reuters
Football: Five games that tipped the scales in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's favour for the United job Related Story Football: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives stars 'licence to express', says Dwight Yorke
Obsession with past leaves Solskjær's United stuck in a
Paris St Germain's Ligue 1 title celebrations were delayed again when they suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat by second-placed Lille after being reduced to 10 men on Sunday. The capital side, who
Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for title
0 comments:
Post a Comment