Pep Guardiola delivers Man City injury news that could affect the finals against Manchester United and Inter Milan.
Before the midweek trip to Brighton, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was asked about Nathan Ake’s recovery.
Nathan Ake is recovering from a hamstring injury, according to Pep Guardiola, and might be eligible for Manchester City’s two finals next month.
After suffering a hamstring injury against Bayern Munich on April 19, the Dutchman has suffered with ailments in recent weeks. The problem led him to miss the next three games, but Ake scored again in a win over West Ham United in early May.
The ex-Bournemouth man also appeared three days later when City defeated Leeds United at the Etihad, although he was forced to come off in the second half due to a recurrence of the hamstring injury. As a result, Ake has missed the last four games and is unlikely to play when the champions go to Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday for their penultimate league encounter of the season.
It has called into question the 28-year-old’s participation in the FA Cup and Champions League finals. City will face Manchester United at Wembley next week before meeting Inter Milan in Istanbul seven days later in their quest for their first Champions League title.
Asked about Ake’s injury ahead of the midweek clash at the Amex, Guardiola said: “He is getting better.”
“I don’t know if arrives for tomorrow, I don’t know for Brentford, but he is at the latter stage. We have to be careful as it was the second time injured. We have to be right that he is fit just in case he is needed for United and Inter.”
Ake was instrumental in the club’s strong run from February to April, and he has made 38 appearances this season. His ability to line up at left-back and press inside when City has control was critical to the team’s tactical set-up, and Phil Foden said last week that Ake, along with Erling Haaland, was the club’s player of the season in 2022/23.
