‘Tears in my eyes’, ‘Vini jnr is not ready’ – Man City fans react as Guardiola provides major fitness update ahead of champions league semi-final return leg

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that Kyle Walker could feature in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old right-back has missed the last five matches across all competitions since he landed awkwardly on his ankle against Atletico Madrid last month.

City have been handed a boost regarding Walker’s fitness as the Englishman was seen training with the first-team squad on Tuesday morning.

Guardiola has since provided a positive update on the defender’s condition when he spoke at a press conference ahead of City’s trip to the Santiago Bernabeu.

“[Walker] trained and he will travel. Tomorrow we will decide, he is three weeks without training but happy he is back. He tries to be in contention tomorrow,” the Spaniard told reporters on Tuesday.

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

“Tears in my eyes.”
Credit: @YKMCFC

“Vini jnr is not ready.”
Credit: @Ajinaab_Imma

“No way Pep will play him so y’all better stop hoping.”
Credit: @ian_kola

“Oh, walker not playing then..”
Credit: @TundeVorm

“Hopefully he starts & plays 90 Minutes ”
Credit: @DeBruynelnc

Guardiola has, however, also confirmed that John Stones will not travel with the first-team squad to the Spanish capital, adding: “No. [Stones] is not fit.”

Unlike Walker, Stones was not involved in training on Tuesday and the 27-year-old remains sidelined with a muscle problem, which he aggravated in the first leg against Los Blancos last week.

It remains to be seen whether Walker is fit enough to start on Wednesday, but Joao Cancelo is available to return to the starting lineup at either right-back or left-back, after he was forced to miss the first leg due to suspension.

The absence of Stones will likely see Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte continue at centre-back, while Nathan Ake and Oleksandr Zinchenko could be battling for a start at left-back if Cancelo is to play on the opposite flank.

After winning the first leg 4-3 at the Etihad Stadium last week, City only require a draw against Real Madrid on Wednesday to progress on aggregate to their second consecutive Champions League final.