LONDON: Pep Guardiola says he is unsure whether to restore Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne to the Manchester City line-up at Crystal Palace on Saturday with Real Madrid looming.
The pair were unused substitutes in midweek as the defending champions brushed Aston Villa aside 4-1, with Phil Foden bagging a hat-trick.
City are third in the Premier League after the midweek fixtures, three points behind leaders Liverpool and one behind second-placed Arsenal.
Top goalscorer Haaland and playmaker De Bruyne could be kept on ice once again this weekend with the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Real taking place in Spain on Tuesday.
“I don’t know yet,” Guardiola said on Friday, when asked about the prospect of Haaland and De Bruyne returning to face Palace. “Playing at 12:30 p.m. (1130 GMT) and playing two days ago, I have to think. There are so many games.
“We play less than two-and-a half-days after our last game. Some players recover quicker than others. A long week is completely different but a short week, you have to talk with doctors, physios and staff.
“We are used to playing every three days over many months and months. For many, many years it has happened that way.
“We play 12:30 pm, it’s perfect. More time to recover for the next game in Madrid. We then play on Saturday against Chelsea in the FA Cup afterwards. It’s not fair but we are going to do it.”
City, who could welcome back goalkeeper Ederson at Selhurst Park but are still without defenders Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake, have not lost in the Premier League since early December.
“If we were at the top of the league it would be in our hands — that’s not the case, so what we have to do is win our games,” said Guardiola. “I hope it happens but we cannot control it.
“The quality of the opponent is why we have to keep going and at the end we will realize which team is there.”
Palace have taken points in six of their past 12 meetings with City, winning in 2018 and 2021, most recently coming from 2-0 down in December with goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olize.
“They’ve always been tough,” said Guardiola. “I think (manager Oliver) Glasner is doing a really good job.
“The quality is there with (Eberechi) Eze, (Jordan) Ayew and Mateta. They have good structure, strong defensively with (Joachim) Andersen leading the back five, the physicality is always there. Selhurst Park is always difficult.”
Guardiola still deciding over Haaland, De Bruyne returns for Man City
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Guardiola still deciding over Haaland, De Bruyne returns for Man City
- City are third in the Premier League after the midweek fixtures, three points behind leaders Liverpool and one behind second-placed Arsenal
- “I don’t know yet,” Guardiola said on Friday, when asked about the prospect of Haaland and De Bruyne returning to face Palace
Manchester United stun leaders Arsenal to open up Premier League title race
- United’s win, their first in the league at Arsenal since 2017, lifted them to fourth
LONDON: Manchester United loosened Arsenal’s grip on the Premier League title race with a 3-2 win in north London on Sunday thanks to stunning second-half goals by Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha.
Victory would have restored Arsenal’s seven-point lead over chasers Manchester City and Aston Villa, both of whom won this weekend, but Mikel Arteta’s side instead left the door open as they lost at home for the first time this season.
United’s win, their first in the league at Arsenal since 2017, lifted them to fourth, and while they are not in the title equation themselves, it fueled the new-found optimism sweeping the club since Michael Carrick stepped in as interim coach.
Everything was going to plan for Arsenal when they took the lead in the 29th minute with a Lisandro Martinez own goal.
But a terrible mistake by Martin Zubimendi in the 37th minute gifted United an equalizer for Bryan Mbeumo.
Dorgu then smashed a ferocious shot in off the crossbar to put United ahead in the 50th minute but substitute Mikel Merino prodded the hosts level in the 84th.
United were not finished though and substitute Cunha was allowed to advance toward Arsenal’s goal before curling a low shot past the dive of David Raya from 25 meters to spark wild celebrations among the visiting fans.
Arsenal, who are now winless in three league games after two 0-0 draws, have 50 points from 23 games with City and Villa on 46. United moved fourth with 38 points.
United’s win followed their 2-0 defeat of Manchester City last weekend in Carrick’s first game of his second spell as the club’s interim manager.
The nerves are clearly starting to show at Arsenal as they seek their first title since 2004.
Even after Martinez got his legs in a tangle and deflected Martin Odegaard’s shot past his own keeper, Arsenal never looked completely at ease and slowly lost control of the game.
The omens still looked bad for United at that stage with Arsenal having won their last 15 Premier League games in which they had taken the lead.
But when William Saliba passed to Zubimendi who in turn gifted the ball straight to Mbeumo to score in style, the visitors suddenly sensed an opportunity.
Things took a dark turn for Arsenal five minutes after the interval. Again their defense was found wanting as Dorgu was allowed to control a bouncing ball before thumping a left-foot volley in off the crossbar past a stunned Raya.
Arteta reacted by making four substitutions, sending on Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Ben White while Noni Madueke also joined the fray later from a stacked bench.
There was huge relief when United failed to deal with a corner and Merino prodded in from close range — the ball being adjudged to have crossed the line after a brief delay.
It looked as though Arsenal had got out of jail and might even snatch a win but United’s belief was unwavering as Cunha delivered a gift to City and Villa.
