handed Manchester City a fitness boost ahead of
Thursday's derby against United at the Etihad
Stadium.
The influential attacking duo were substituted
during Sunday's sapping 2-1 extra-time loss to
Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley,
prompting fears over their availability for a crunch
clash with Jose Mourinho's men.
But Omnisport understands Aguero and Silva were
involved in a recovery session with the rest of Pep
Guardiola's squad on Monday – an encouraging
sign that two of the Catalan's key players could
still play a part in a match that is likely to have a
huge say in the battle to for Champions League
qualification.
City are a point and a place better off than United
in fourth with six matches remaining after their
rivals eased to a 2-0 win at Burnley on Sunday.
Dust yourselves down, Blues... it's derby
week! #MondayMotivation
pic.twitter.com/ryIIYlCcYC
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 24,
2017
Silva was substituted during the first half at
Wembley, having been on the receiving end of a
heavy challenge from Arsenal defender Gabriel, and
team-mate Yaya Toure told reporters the Spain
playmaker was suffering from a sore hamstring.
Aguero scored his 30th goal of the season to open
the scoring after the hour but taking a knee to the
back from Laurent Koscielny eventually caught up
with him. At his post-match news conference,
Guardiola said the Argentina star was "dead" when
he made way for Fabian Delph during extra time.
Fernandinho also limped off to prompt an enforced
double change in the 99th minute - Alexis Sanchez
netted Arsenal's winner 86 seconds later – but the
midfielder is confident he will be back for the
derby.
"I believe I can recover very well by Thursday and
should be 100 per cent for the game," said the
Brazil international, whose compatriot Gabriel
Jesus could enjoy his first action since suffering a
broken metatarsal in February when United visit.
"Now we must raise our heads. We have a very
important derby on Thursday and our aim now is to
finish in a position that will get us to the
Champions League.
"It's a decisive game, they are behind us by one
point and they won their game on Sunday."
pic.twitter.com/JLd0gYLCDg
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 24,
2017
Fernandinho's midfield colleague Toure feels the
race for a top-four spot will go down to the wire.
"It is going to be difficult, it's very tight," he said.
"United are doing well, Arsenal are going to get
confidence from this win.
"Liverpool, they lost [to Crystal Palace] but it's not
finished yet. This league is going to be very, very
tough and very, very close."
Toure impressed as he completed 120 minutes at
Wembley and played down the prospect of fatigue
affecting their performance against United.
"It's okay, we're used to it," he added. "It's like you
– you go to your job every day. Sometimes you are
tired and you finish early, sometimes you finish
very late and you have to go in again.
"It is the same for us and we are used to that."
0 Comments