Injuries leave Man City with Mendy dilemma

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AFP London
Last Updated : Apr 05 2019 | 9:35 AM IST

Manchester City are strong favourites to take another step towards an unprecedented quadruple of trophies in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Brighton at Wembley.

A potential 13 more games lie between Pep Guardiola's men and a clean sweep of FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League to add to the League Cup they lifted in February.

However, with another seven matches to come before the end of April, Guardiola faces a headache in a familiar problem position.

Oleksandr Zinchenko suffered a hamstring injury in Wednesday's routine 2-0 win over Cardiff that restored City to the top of the Premier League.

The Ukrainian has deputised ably at left-back, despite being a midfielder by trade prior to Guardiola's arrival, while $68 million World Cup winner Benjamin Mendy has been sidelined for much of the past two seasons due to knee injuries.

Guardiola's patience with Mendy has worn thin and was tested again this week when the defender was filmed in a nightclub at 3.30am last Saturday morning, hours before the English champions travelled to Fulham.

Mendy was not in the matchday squad, but was due in training the next day to continue his rehabilitation.

"They are old enough to know what they have to do, I'm not his father," said Guardiola when asked if he was angered by Mendy's late night. "I would prefer him to go home earlier but I don't control the players in that situation."
Yet, with Fabian Delph also out injured, he could now be thrown back into the action for the most crucial stretch of City's season with Guardiola admitting "we don't have many options."
"He (Zinchenko) is important for us. He knows the way we want to play," added Guardiola. "Danilo fought a lot in that position, but it is not his natural one. We will find a solution."

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First Published: Apr 05 2019 | 9:35 AM IST

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