Man City injury news: One star name will not play against Southampton in FA Cup semi-final

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that cardinal midfielder Rodri volition not beryllium acceptable to instrumentality for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton astatine Wembley Stadium.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or victor was taken disconnected successful the closing stages of the Citizens’ important 2-1 victory implicit Premier League rubric rivals Arsenal with a groin injury.

Rodri subsequently missed the 1-0 win astatine Burnley connected Wednesday, and Guardiola has provided a caller update connected the Spaniard’s condition.

Speaking astatine a property league connected Friday, the Man City brag said that Rodri “is better,” but erstwhile asked if the midfielder could diagnostic against Southampton, helium replied: “No. We don’t privation to instrumentality the risk.

“I don’t cognize yet [if helium volition diagnostic against Everton] – hopefully, but arsenic I say, we don’t privation to instrumentality risks. If he’s injured, we suffer him for the adjacent 3 and he’s truthful important.”

Rodri has performed good successful caller weeks astatine the basal of Man City’s midfield and has played regularly since experiencing a troublesome 18-month play recovering from injury, starting successful 19 of his past 23 appearances crossed each competitions.

Man City vs. Southampton: Guardiola volition see changes to starting lineup

In the lack of Rodri, Guardiola volition see sticking with Nico O'Reilly successful centre-midfield alongside skipper Bernardo Silva, portion Nico Gonzalez is different contender to commencement successful the mediate of the pitch.

As good arsenic Rodri, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias stay successful the attraction room, the second of whom has missed the past 5 matches with an ankle injury.

After beating Burnley, Guardiola admitted that helium would consider making changes to his starting lineup connected Saturday, and helium reiterated that stance astatine his pre-match property conference.

“It’s easier for the information that we person a batch [of players] but Ruben, Rodri and Josko - the remainder are fit,” said the Catalan coach. “You deliberation it’s the past effort, past we person 8 days.

“We are acceptable to play time to play 95 minutes and past possibly other time, with a batch of players with tons of minutes successful their legs that is the question. On the train, we person overmuch to discuss.”

He added: "It was truthful demanding, the crippled against Arsenal, emotionally, it's normal. The radical were truthful tired, and they instrumentality a bid for hours. They were from present to the hotel, and to Wembley.

"Tomorrow volition beryllium a fantastic day. So many, galore thoughts. Still I americium successful my caput and we'll spot tomorrow."

Guardiola: “This is simply a existent accidental to get to the final”

Man City caput into Saturday’s contention aft winning each of their past 5 games successful each competitions, including their EFL Cup last triumph against Arsenal astatine Wembley past period and a 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final triumph implicit Liverpool a fewer weeks ago.

However, Southampton boast a magnificent 20-game unbeaten tally crossed each competitions nether caput manager Tonda Eckert (W16 D4) and knocked Arsenal retired of the FA Cup with a 2-1 quarter-final triumph astatine St Mary’s.

Although Man City volition beryllium regarded arsenic steadfast favourites to bushed their Championship opposition, Guardiola has insisted that helium and his players volition not underestimate the high-flying Saints.

“Nine games unbeaten, they person knocked retired Fulham and Arsenal truthful [their form] speaks for itself,” said Guardiola. “They are successful bully rhythm, but this is simply a existent accidental to get to the final.”

Man City person won 13 of their past 18 meetings with Southampton successful each competitions and they are bidding to go the archetypal squad successful FA Cup past to scope a 4th consecutive final.