Pep Guardiola admitted he faces an anxious wait to see if his Manchester City players make it through the upcoming international break unscathed.
City kept hopes of a treble repeat alive on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the FA Cup quarter-final, setting up a semi-final showdown against Chelsea.
They are also in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they face 14-time champions Real Madrid, and trail Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League by a point.
The majority of Guardiola's squad now head off to play international football before the crunch Premier League fixture against title rivals Arsenal on March 31.
“I will not watch the [international] games, I will rest, and when they arrive on Thursday we will see which players survive and which did not survive,” Guardiola said.
“It’s difficult sometimes in that period to give all the players away for friendly games in a difficult part of the season, but the schedule is the schedule.”
Speaking immediately after Saturday’s game, Guardiola said he needed Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish to come back fit after the break. De Bruyne and Grealish were left out of Belgium and England's squads, respectively, as they recover from injuries.
Guardiola also mentioned Erling Haaland, who missed two months of the season through injury earlier in the season.
But although the Norwegian was unable to add to his eight FA Cup goals in Saturday’s match, bending a shot narrowly wide early in the second half, Guardiola was happy with the striker’s performance.
“This was the Erling I like to see,” he said. “In the moments we didn’t find him a little more with the players behind him…We should have used him a little bit more in the space but sometimes it’s difficult to see during the game.”
Grealish was an unused substitute following a groin injury which saw him left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, but Guardiola predicted he would be ready for the Arsenal match.
“Now we have 10 days to train,” he said. “We have a plan for him to train and he will be ready. Every three days we have a game in the final [stages] of the Premier League and the final [stages] of the Champions League. Everyone will be needed.”
Man City v Newcastle ratings
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CITY RATINGS. Crucial save from Isak in first half. Distribution typically bold albeit with a few hairy moments. EPA -
Pace served him well defensively, otherwise a routine shift for England defender. Reuters -
Solid game from centre-half who was back in the team after missing out against Liverpool. Reuters -
Impressive game from the Swiss who defended confidently and used the ball well. Getty Images -
Assured display and joined in high up on the left when required. AFP -
Mature and controlled performance from the key midfielder. EPA -
One of his better games for City. Sharp with the ball as he helped his side transition defence into attack. Reuters -
At the top of his game right now. Some sublime touches and runs as he looked to hurt Newcastle. PA -
Put his team in a commanding position with two deflected goals in the opening half. AP -
Another lively display from Belgian winger. Denied a deserved goal by decent saves from Dubravka. Getty Images -
Some eye-catching bursts from deep but seemed laboured at times and not at his explosive best. AP -
CITY SUBS: Bobb (for Doku, 77'); Alvarez (for Haaland, 82'): N/A. Getty Images -
NEWCASTLE RATINGS. Beaten by two deflected shots but denied Doku with a couple of decent stops. EPA -
Determined effort but struggled at times and was booked for tug on Doku. Getty Images -
Unfortunate to be booked for strong but fair challenge on Haaland. Reuters -
Not at his best and second goal deflected in off his head. AFP -
Worked hard down the right and put in a couple of dangerous crosses. Reuters -
Nodded down for Isak's chance but had a tough evening before being replaced in mass changes on the hour. AP -
Newcastle's best midfielder and kept trying to make things happen. Getty Images -
Largely anonymous in difficult night for the visitors. Replaced on the hour. Reuters -
Slow to close down Silva in prelude to opener. Another player hooked after an uninspiring display. Getty Images -
Didn't look fit after sustaining knock in previous game. Replaced on the hour. Getty Images -
Missed Newcastle's best chance in first half and hesitated when well-placed after the break. EPA -
NEWCASTLE SUBS: Almiron (on for Gordon, 62') - Injected some energy into Newcastle attack. PA -
(On for Longstaff, 62'): Some nice touches in closing stages. EPA -
(On for Burn, 62'): Brought some purpose down the left. EPA -
(On for Willock, 62'): Did his best to make an impact. Krath (on for Botman, 83'): N/A. Getty Images
