Pep Guardiola has confirmed that both Kevin De Bruyne and Aymeric Laporte are ill, rather than injured, after missing the trip to RB Leipzig.
The Manchester City duo didn't train on Tuesday and were left out of the squad that travelled to Germany for the Champions League last-16 first leg at Leipzig on Wednesday. Both started at Nottingham Forest at the weekend, with Laporte completing 90 minutes and De Bruyne replaced five minutes earlier after Forest equalised.
And Guardiola says both are unavailable through illness rather than any longer-term injury concern - although he couldn't offer any timeframe on their return with a trip to Bournemouth awaiting in the Premier League at the weekend.
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Speaking at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Guardiola said: "Kevin and Laporte are illness. They are not ready. I don't know [if they will recover for the weekend].
"It's a blow for both, it is what is during the season, unfortunately. He didn't feel good right after the game with Forest on Sunday, yesterday Aymer didn't feel good. It happens sometimes."
Regarding the threat City will face, Guardiola said: "Right after the draw I felt that it would be a tough opponent. We know the quality of them for many years. A culture for young players, recruitment, clear patterns of play, a lot of play in the middle, physicality in German football in the transition they are unstoppable. Many respect for this club and what they've done.
"Last year with Jesse Marsch and [Christopher] Nkunku we struggle. Here we lost okay we had qualified but we struggled. Every season they've qualified for the Champions League I know the quality and it will be tough, tough two games. Try and make it a good performance and have a good result to go back to Manchester."
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