Manchester City defender Nathan Ake is hoping the injury he suffered against Bayern Munich is not serious as Pep Guardiola’s side prepare for a major title showdown with Arsenal next week.
The Dutch international started the Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie in Bavaria on Wednesday night, a game which City drew 1-1 to coast into the semis 4-1 on aggregate after a comprehensive 3-0 home win last week, but lasted only 66 minutes at the Allianz Arena.
Ake limped off to be replaced by Aymeric Laporte after appearing to suffer a hamstring problem, with City easily setting up a titanic last-four clash with holders Real Madrid despite a shock and rare penalty miss from record-breaking striker Erling Haaland on his return to Germany.
Though Guardiola boasts plenty of strength in depth across all positions, losing the former Chelsea defender’s versatility for a pivotal week for Treble-chasing City that includes an FA Cup semi-final showdown with Championship promotion-chasers Sheffield United at Wembley this weekend and a mammoth home Premier League meeting with title rivals Arsenal next Wednesday would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Ake is set to undergo scans on Thursday and insists his hamstring issue feels less severe than similar injuries suffered in the past, hoping it won’t keep him sidelined for long.
Talking to Sky Sports News after the draw with Bayern, the 28-year-old said: “I’ve had it before and it feels a little bit less to be honest, but you never know with these things, so we will do the ultrasounds and stuff tomorrow and then hopefully it’s not too bad.”
Ake aside, City have an otherwise clean bill of health at present, with England midfielder Phil Foden an unused substitute in Munich on Wednesday after recovering from appendix surgery.
However, Guardiola has now expressed fears over his side’s Treble chances after admitting they are “exhausted” as they continue to battle for glory on three fronts this season.
“Every time we play FA Cup after this competition we are exhausted,” he told BT Sport.
“The team is exhaused, so I don’t know how we are going to recover to play against Sheffield because we play on Saturday. We cannot play on Sunday, because of course United have Europa League.
“It’s so demanding, so I don’t know how we will arrive because now is a tough moment for the game on Saturday.”
