‘We might be finished’, ‘can’t bare to see Stones against vini’ – Man City fans react as Pep Guardiola confirm facing full-back conundrum vs Real Madrid amid new Kyle Walker setback

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City defender Kyle Walker will miss the visit of Watford on Saturday and and could be unavailable for the Champions League semi-final first-leg versus Real Madrid on Tuesday.

Walker picked up a knock in the Champions League quarter-final win over Atletico Madrid and was ruled out of the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool last weekend before missing the Premier League visit of Brighton and Hove Albion in midweek.

If he misses the Real Madrid fixture then City will have no fit right-backs as Joao Cancelo is suspended. That could leave Aleks Zinchenko as the only fit full-back option, with covering players John Stones and Nathan Ake also facing a race to be fit to face Watford.

There was hope Walker would be fit enough to face the Hornets but Guardiola confirmed the game comes too soon for the defender, who faces a race against time to feature in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

“Walker will not be ready for tomorrow,” Guardiola said on Friday after initially indicating he might recover in time to feature.

“He’s much, much better. We’ll see on Tuesday if he has time. I have few, few thoughts about Madrid.

“Brighton and Watford were so important – tomorrow [Saturday] at 5pm, 7pm I will start to watch. I don’t have much time to watch them. So we will see.

“Today I didn’t decide the line-up – tomorrow morning the doctors will come to my office and say these guys are available and we’ll see. We can make the selection.”

These Guardiola’s comments were shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.

“Please be there for madrid”
Credit: @nourmcfc

“His pace vs Vinicius is invaluable.”
Credit: @MosesGoldsmith

“Let’s hope he will be available for Real Madrid.”
Credit: @stillgroot

“Thats fine. Play Zinny and Cancelo, and then let Cancelo rest when hes suspended against Madrid and bring Kyle back for that one”
Credit: @ahugetroll

“Would have been stupid to play him vs watford.”
Credit: @MCFCnish

“They’re gonna kill us with their runs in behind. We might be finished….”
Credit: @Ayem47ii

“I can’t bare to see stones against vini.”
Credit: @wetblankyio

“We really need him back against Real.”
Credit: @canceloimpact