Guardiola facing more defensive injury woespublished at 22:02 1 March
22:02 1 March
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola flagged another defensive injury concern following his side's FA Cup fifth round win against Plymouth.
John Stones and Manuel Akanji are already on the sidelines, and Nathan Ake failed to return for the second half as Ruben Dias partnered youngster Vitor Reis.
The 19-year-old was making only his second appearance following his January transfer window move from Brazilian club Palmeiras.
No wonder Guardiola is grateful the club bought in Reis and Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov, who wasn't involved against the Championship strugglers.
"We have another central defender out for a long time," said Guardiola in his post-match news conference. "I'm so grateful for Khusanov and Reis, without them we don't have any chance to qualify for the Champions League next season or fight for FA Cup.
"We would have Ruben [Dias] and that would be it. It is a miracle they are here."
'They defended with solidarity, I didn't take anything for granted'published at 20:40 1 March
20:40 1 March
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day after his side progressed to the FA Cup quarter-finals: "I didn't take anything for granted when I saw how well they defended and the problems they created for Liverpool. They are an incredibly solid team.
"We created a lot and conceded little - the basics we have done for many years. We are happy to reach the quarter-finals and we are happy with the way we played.
"How many times in the last few years have we reached the semi-finals? When you arrive six times in a row to the semi-finals, it is because the FA Cup is important. When you play in this competition and you behave like the way we behave, I'm so proud – I love it. It shows how honest we are - and I like that.
"We are one game away from Wembley and we'll see what happens."
On Nico O'Reilly's performance: "He is not a typical academy player. He is a physical presence. He is a number 10, I would say. He can play in a few positions and he is a threat from set-pieces because he is strong. I'm really pleased for him because he helped us a lot."
On Plymouth's performance: "Defensively, they were incredibly well organised. They didn't press much and defended a little deeper, but they defended with solidarity. That's why I said I didn't take anything for granted."
What did you make of Man City's display? Tell us here
Man City 3-1 Plymouth: Key statspublished at 20:28 1 March
20:28 1 March
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Manchester City have won 15 consecutive home games in the FA Cup since a fourth-round defeat to Middlesbrough in January 2015. It is their longest-ever run in the competition and the longest winning home run since Liverpool in January 1955 (16 games).
Since his FA Cup debut in January 2016, Kevin De Bruyne has been involved in more goals (first round onwards) than any other player (28 - 10 goals, 18 assists). This is the third time he has both scored and assisted in an FA Cup match.
Nico O'Reilly has scored three goals in his three FA Cup appearances this season, with no Manchester City player scoring more in this year's competition.
When is the FA Cup quarter-final draw?published at 08:53 1 March
08:53 1 March
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The road to Wembley continues this weekend, as teams battle it out to book their spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
There is still lots of Premier League interest in the competition, with 11 top-flight teams all dreaming of a trip to Wembley. Aston Villa are already in the hat for the last eight after victory over Cardiff City on Friday.
The draw will take place on BBC One after Sunday's tie between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford, which kicks off at 16:30 GMT and features Danny Murphy, Micah Richards and Wayne Rooney in the studio with host Gary Lineker.
Earlier, we asked how well you remembered Manchester City's opening Premier League game of the season.
The match against Chelsea ended in a 2-0 win, with Erling Haaland and Mateo Kovacic scoring for City.
Guardiola on Haaland, Reis and futures of older playerspublished at 13:18 28 February
13:18 28 February
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup game against Plymouth Argyle (kick-off 17:45 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Erling Haaland "is good" after recovering from his knee injury.
Guardiola said forward Oscar Bobb "is getting better" and has trained for the last two days so he hopes "he can help us in the last part of the season".
In response to opponents Plymouth being labelled as 'unknown', Guardiola said: "It is not unknown if you are able to beat the best team in the country this season Liverpool. They went unbeaten also at Brentford then it is not unknown."
On new signing Vitor Reis, who is in contention to play on Saturday, the head coach added: "He is young and he came from Brazil. He has incredible focus. Defenders there [Brazil] have great physicality and conditioning, but are also so clever and intelligent, and this is one of the ones. We are really pleased with the way he is training, behaving and the potential he has."
Speaking about the future of the older squad members: "There are players here that their age is over 30 but they are part of the future of this club. Except Kevin [de Bruyne] - and Kevin and the club will decide on his future - everyone who has a contract for next season I expect him to be here. They are going to help us. Next season will be a lot of games. We cannot do it just with our new ones. They will be able to help and be part of our season."
Guardiola would not answer any questions on La Liga president Javier Tebas reporting the club to the European Commission, but did reply when asked why City seem to be a target for other people: "I don't know. It happened in the past with Uefa and in a few weeks it'll happen in the Premier League, the sentence [to the 115 charges], right? We wait, and after we talk."
Man City v Plymouth Argyle: Did you know?published at 12:09 28 February
12:09 28 February
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Since losing 1-0 at Wigan Athletic in the 2017-18 fifth round, Manchester City have won their past 18 FA Cup games against sides from a lower division by an aggregate score of 69-9.
Today's trivia challengepublished at 08:09 28 February
08:09 28 February
Manchester City played Chelsea in their opening Premier League game of this season - what was the final score and who found the net?
Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT
Gossip: Man City scout Ederson replacementpublished at 07:59 28 February
07:59 28 February
Manchester City are keen to sign a goalkeeper to replace 31-year-old Ederson this summer and the club are in talks with Porto over a move for 25-year-old Portugal international Diogo Costa. (CaughtOffside), external
The Premier League could be forced to have two separate transfer windows this summer because of disruption caused by the Club World Cup. (Guardian), external