Manchester City

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

So, Pep Guardiola has put a timescale on Erling Haaland's absence from the Manchester City side.

And it leaves a question mark over whether the Norwegian will feature again in the domestic campaign.

On Guardiola's best-case five-week absence, Haaland would be back for the Premier League game at Southampton on 10 May. Guardiola's worst-case seven weeks would be the final game of the season at Fulham on 25 May.

Intriguingly, in the middle of those two matches is the FA Cup final.

Nottingham Forest will argue against whether City will even be at Wembley to face Aston Villa or Crystal Palace in the showpiece. However, it is a target for Haaland, whose absence surely means Mohamed Salah will be crowned the Premier League's Golden Boot winner.

Haaland will also have a couple of internationals for Norway at the beginning of June to make sure he is fully fit for the Club World Cup.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Leicester at Etihad Stadium (kick-off 19:34 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He has been told Erling Haaland will miss "five to seven weeks" by the club's medical staff.

• On another injury blow: "Sometimes there are years when these kinds of things happen. It has happened all season."

• He said they "have to adapt and find a solution" to not having the number nine, but added: "We don't have another player with his skills or specific qualities. His numbers have been exceptional and he is our incredible threat for many things."

• On the planned fan protest over ticketing: "Of course, I have sympathy. The club has its ways and arguments. They [the fans] can express what they truly want and I prefer that to them being passive."

• Asked what his message to the fans is, Guardiola said: "All I can say is that we need them from minute one. I know how tough Leicester is [going to be]. We desperately need them to achieve our success to be in the Champions League again."

• He said City have to win their home games if they are to qualify for Europe's top competition, but it is still not the toughest challenge he has faced in his nine years at the club as winning titles is harder.

• On whether he has seen enough from his players to think they can go on one of their infamous unbeaten runs: "I would like to say yes, but I don't know. In previous seasons we have done it, but this season we have not been consistent."

Hear more from Guardiola on BBC Sounds

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart says winning the FA Cup final in 2011 "was one of the best feelings of my footballing career".

City went on to beat Stoke 1-0 thanks to a late strike by midfielder Yaya Toure, who also scored the winner in the semi-final against Manchester United.

"There will be a lot of haters looking at that Newcastle celebration [first trophy in 70 years] saying: 'You won the league cup, calm down.' No, absolutely not, it was an incredible moment for that city and that football club," Hart told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"When Manchester City won their first trophy - which we are all very accustomed to doing now - that emotion that went on, especially playing in the semi-finals and beating Manchester United and then going on to win that trophy, felt like everything."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Manchester City will try to sign Arsenal defender William Saliba this summer, with the 24-year-old France international also a target for Real Madrid. (Defensa Central - in Spanish), external

AC Milan and Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is also a target for City, who have already made contact with the Serie A club about the 26-year-old. (Teamtalk), external

Barcelona say their midfielder Pedri is not up for sale amid links him with Manchester City, who believe the 22-year-old Spain international would be the ideal replacement for Kevin de Bruyne. (Marca - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy described Erling Haaland as "a pillar" in Manchester City's team and "the best of the best" when responding to a question about the striker's form this season.

Haaland has scored 30 goals in all competitions this season in 40 appearances, while last season he netted 38 times in 45 games.

Former Premier League striker Van Nistelrooy was asked: "By his [Haaland's] standards, he's had a difficult season - is it very different as a world class striker to keep that heart and confidence?"

Van Nistelrooy replied: "How many goals did he score so far this season? Yesterday he scored his 30th. Come on.

"This is what I mean? 30 goals - he's the best striker in the league. He's proven it. He's won everything possible. He's a class act. He's the best of the best. He has an A mindset, A quality and will continue with that for many more years.

"He has signed an extremely long contract and is one City is building around. When you have a guy like that in the building and you're keeping him, you have a guarantee for 30 goals and apparently it's a bad season.

"Imagine when he starts to play well - he'll score 60 or 70! He's a pillar in City's current team and in their future, so nothing but praise for him from my side."

Image source, Getty Images

After his two assists off the bench against Bournemouth, Manchester City's Nico O'Reily has been directly involved in five goals in four FA Cup appearances this season (three goals, two assists) - only bettered by Exeter's Josh Magennis.

Illustrating his impact on the quarter-final, the 20-year-old also became the first City substitute to assist two goals in a game since Ilkay Gundogan against Leeds in December 2021.

"My instructions were to just get involved as much as I can in the attacking phase and make sure I'm secure in the defensive phase," O'Reilly told BBC Radio Manchester.

"It was good to get the contributions with the two assists so I'm just buzzing."

Naturally a forward-thinking midfielder, O'Reilly's physicality and attacking instinct is shown in his touch map - but his defensive solidity was particularly impressive for a player not used to filling the left-back berth.

He was bought on at half-time and the Cherries did not have a shot in the entire second period.

"Towards the start it was a bit challenging because I've not really played there but I know what I need to do there and I'm just buzzing I can play," O'Reilly added.

"I'm just grateful for the opportunities I get from the manager and to play with the players who are out there."

O'Reilly showed his attacking tendencies in trying to progress the ball at every opportunity. He usually did this centrally as City were playing without traditional wingers.

Where he found himself positioned for his assist also demonstrated his aggressive movement and ability to get into the penalty area.

"Nico is a number 10," Pep Guardiola said on O'Reilly. "He possesses such quality in the final third and has so much vision.

"We thought he could do it for us on the left as well, and he did."

Listen to all the reaction on the Manchester City feed on BBC Sounds

We asked for your views on Manchester City's victory over Bournemouth in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Here are some of your comments:

Bournemouth fans:

Tim: Five shots in the game and none after the 38th minute! Crikey, that doesn't sound like Bournemouth. Let's go all out for league points and recapture the form that has disappeared recently.

Mark: Classic game of two halves. First half intensity slipped away while City's subs made a difference but ours not so much. A must-win home game against the Tractor Boys on Wednesday under the lights.

Matt: A rollercoaster of emotions ended ultimately in disappointment. Gave it a right go first half, but ran out of steam, ideas and threat in the second. League points now the priority to avoid what would feel like a damp squib of a season.

Zia: I think the first half was the more dominant half for the Cherries but in the second half, they just fell asleep.

Man City fans:

Brian: A game of two halves. Bournemouth pushed City all the way but youth won the day in the second half and their belief and commitment shown. City are on track for a cup when a trophy was not at all likely this season. They are so dangerous in attack when the game is played at pace and with one-touch football. The new faces are smiling and that is the investment we need for the future. Defence has its issues and Pep needs to address the goalkeeping frailty. But this was a good day and they have their sights firmly focused on the FA Cup.

Clint: A fair result. City struggled to make inroads in the first half, without being overly-troubled, other than the goal. In the second half there was only one team in it. Nottingham Forest have flattered to deceive this season and Pep will, hopefully, have learned enough about them from the smash-and-grab a couple of weeks back. Would be lovely to finish the season with a cup final.

Geoff: We beat a nasty Premier League pub team and only suffered one injury - an excellent result.

Abdullah: All I've got to say is that Omar Marmoush is a real star player, and Nico O'Reilly is a must to keep for the future.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

At the heart of Manchester City's win at Bournemouth was Guardiola - excitable, animated and showing with every action just how important the FA Cup is to him and City.

Even by his own standards, Guardiola has rarely looked as engaged and involved as this.

He has a huge rebuild on his hands, and some cracks were still visible here, with an ageing squad containing the players he described as "legendary" called into action such as Ederson, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne.

This might be the last shot at glory as City players for some.

And the use of Matheus Nunes at right-back, a position even his greatest admirers would not suggest he has the qualities for, showed how Guardiola has had an air of desperation about some resources he has juggled this season.

This was, however, about the here and now - not the future. The old trophy-winning muscle memory of Guardiola and his players kicked in when it mattered.

It looked like it was all Guardiola could do to stop himself entering the action at some points, mixing applause for his players with furious expressions of discontent at moments of carelessness.

And at the final whistle Guardiola's elation overflowed in front of City fans basking in the glorious sunshine.

He marched at pace around every player, wrapping them in fierce bear hugs and even planting kisses on some.

If the FA Cup really is struggling to count as a consolation prize for Guardiola and City this season, you could have fooled everyone inside this ground who watched him.

Winning the cup would not disguise the scale of the renewal Guardiola must oversee to restore City to their former eminence, but the great old prize will certainly be something to be going on with.

Read the full piece

AC Milan's Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is a target for Manchester City this summer, although the 26-year-old recently signed a new deal which does not include a release clause. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Man City boss Pep Guardiola spoke to BBC Sport after today's victory: "It was harder for them [Bournemouth]. We played an outstanding game and had incredible chances, missed a penalty. We conceded with one chance we gave away. Our approach was magnificent. Seven times in a row semi-final in the FA Cup, no team has done it and it will be difficult for any other to do what these legendary players, the new ones and the old ones, will have done."

On seven semi-finals in a row: "It is unbelievable. The way we competed today compared to the way we played in the first game here [in the Premier League]. I was not good enough to overcome that situation then. We were sloppy for many games and I was not able to let them realise is what they have done today. For example Brighton was a difficult game, we didn't play our best but we fought. This is what had to happen".

On Nico O'Reilly: "He is an attacking midfielder. He is physical, he is strong. He is really, really good."

On what he changed at half-time: "The first half we played with the same intensity as the second. The difference was that we played better with the ball with more composure - we were more calm. I said at half-time, we have the game in our hands."

On whether they will appoint a new penalty taker after Haaland's miss: "Absolutely not. Against Brighton he scored."

On facing Nottingham Forest in the semi-final: "Sometimes we've lost when we've performed well. In the home game we won 3-0 so when we lose one game it looks like a disaster. It's not true. They are third in the table, they are a very good team and we are pleased to play against them in Wembley with our fans."

On how he would sum up the campaign if the FA Cup is the one title his side win this season: "We won one title already. We won the Community Shield, we won it. This season has been poor, nothing is going to change. It has not been good, that is not going to change. Last year we played in a final and could not win it. We have an incredible target to qualify for the Champions League next season and that is what we are going to try to do."

Image source, Getty Images

Man City's Nico O'Reilly has also been speaking to ITV after today's win: "I am just trying my hardest every game and trying to help the team out as much as I can and I'm glad I've been able to do that so far."

On what Pep Guardiola told him to do: "He was just telling me to run in behind, try and get high, come inside when the winger goes outside and I was just trying to do that."

On which assist of his two he preferred: "They were both important so I'm happy with both."

Image source, Getty Images

Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva has been speaking to ITV after today's victory: "I think the motivation that this is the only hope of us winning something [pulled us through]. The team played a really good game, a really aggressive game - we are really happy today."

On Nico O'Reilly: "He was unbelievable. Against Plymouth he showed the impact he can have on the game and the energy he brought today changed the game. That's what we need."

On semi-final opponents Nottingham Forest: "It's another tough draw for us. It's the semi-finals and we will be playing at Wembley. We are very happy."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have qualified for the FA Cup semi-finals for the 20th time in their history, with eight of those 20 having been achieved under Pep Guardiola - the most by any side since the Spaniard took charge in 2016.

Manchester City restricted Bournemouth to just five shot attempts, the joint-fewest for the Cherries in a game under Andoni Iraola.

Manchester City have conceded the opening goal of a match on 21 occasions this season – across all competitions, Leicester (25), Man Utd (22) and Southampton (22) are the only Premier League sides who've done so more often.