Pep Guardiola has major concern ahead of Man City’s FA Cup semi-final with Sheffield United

Manchester City kept their hopes of securing a historic treble alive by progressing through to the semi-final of the Champions League last night. But manager Pep Guardiola then claimed his players are physically and mentally fatigued.

Guardiola’s men are preparing to face Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday, and may also have one eye on the crucial Premier League match against league leaders Arsenal four days later.

They have been in sensational form since a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham at the start of February, winning 12 and drawing three of their following 15 matches.

A 1-1 draw in Munich last night booked a place in the last four of the Champions League, but he says that quarter-final victory may have come at a cost having taken so much out of his players.

He says he is now unsure how his side recovers in time for Saturday’s showdown against Heckingbottom’s men.

“We are exhausted,” Guardiola said. “I don’t know how we recover to play against Sheffield United.

“We are playing Saturday, we cannot play on Sunday because of course [Manchester] United have Europa League. It’s so demanding and I don’t know how far we will arrive because now it is a tough moment for the game on Saturday,”

Comparatively, Arsenal only have the league to play for having been knocked out of the FA Cup by City back in January whilst also being eliminated from the Europa League last month.

That makes Wednesday’s visit to Manchester even more crucial for Mikel Arteta and co, who will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Friday against Southampton after drawing twice on the bounce.