Man City Team News: Pep Confirms Major Injury Blow Ahead Of Cup Final vs Arsenal

Manchester City will be looking to secure their first piece of silverware this season when they take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and he’s provided a team news and injury update ahead of the game.

The City boss has revealed a major injury concern as Raheem Sterling is considered a doubt to face the Gunners this weekend due to a muscle injury.

Sterling was forced off early in the second half during City’s Champions League last-16 first leg victory over Basel last week and missed the FA Cup defeat to Wigan on Monday night.

The attacker is now in danger of missing the Arsenal game, which would be a huge blow for City as Sterling has been one of their key players this season having provided 20 goals and 10 assists in his 36 appearances in all competitions so far.

Guardiola is also going to have to find a solution at left-back as Fabian Delph is suspended while Benjamin Mendy is still working his way back from a serious knee injury.

However, there is more positive news on Gabriel Jesus as the striker in contention to play in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final after making a swift recover from his own knee ligament problem.

The Brazilian international suffered the injury on New Year’s Eve and was initially expected to be out for several months but he returned to training earlier this week and could be in the squad against Arsenal.

Guardiola told mcfc.co.uk:

“Raheem has a problem in the muscle. He had problem against Basel. Right now, I don’t know [if he will be fit for Sunday].

“We have another option [to cope with Delph’s absence]. We will decide the best one for the game, knowing our team, knowing the opponents. Fabian can’t play, so we need another option.”

“We will see tomorrow [whether Jesus is fit enough]. He made the third training session and every day he is better.

“[Jesus’ return to fitness is] so important. Sergio [Aguero] helped us incredible during the period Gabriel was out, but he needs to be fresh and that’s why it’s so important Gabriel is coming back. It’s so important.”

City head in to the final off the back of a disappointing defeat to Wigan so Guardiola will be desperate to get back to winning ways and secure his first piece of silverware in England this weekend.