De Bruyne to miss EFL Cup tie vs. Utd

Manchester City visit city rivals Manchester United later tonight for an EFL Cup fourth round tie in what is their third match inside a week, and Guardiola has conceded that the frantic pace of the latest run of games is exhausting. It is telling and with the game played at Old Trafford, United are expected to take the initiative and attack meaning the little Spaniard will be vital to United doing well to turn their season around.

Only three players had played every minute of Manchester United’s Premier League campaign up to the point when Bailly suffered a knee ligament injury during the second half of the 4-0 loss at Chelsea. Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho with mascot Fred The Red before the EFL Cup, round of 16 match at Old Trafford, Manchester.

He called it a “disaster” but at least there was no disaster on the pitch last night.

Guardiola said: “The last time Willy played against Swansea, so I think it is going to happen again”.

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His first start was against Manchester City in the derby, where he was dragged off at half-time after an average 45 minutes.

Jose Mourinho will seek a quick response from his United side after a 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Chelsea in the league on Sunday, but Guardiola said he remained wary of United’s threat.

Pablo Zabaleta is also unlikely to have recovered in time for the United game, though Vincent Kompany has a chance. The Belgium defender would not make it out after the break.

“Pep will also want to win his first competition with City, that will be important for him”. Then we started recovering balls and being unsafe. Referee Dean waved away calls for a foul and Mata swept home convincingly.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has told his players not to lose faith in the high-risk, high-reward style of football he has introduced at the Etihad Stadium despite the club’s recent winless run, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has said.

Mourinho will hope United get their league form back on track against Burnley on Saturday as pressure shifted towards his opposite number.

City continued to struggle to carve out clear-cut opportunities and United came close to a second when Ibrahimovic just failed to connect with a well-placed Marcus Rashford cross.

“It is the first time, okay, but hopefully it does not happen again in my career”.