Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that he is uncertain about the availability of Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish for the upcoming FA Cup final next weekend.
In Manchester City’s final-day 1-0 defeat against Brentford, De Bruyne, Grealish, and defender Ruben Dias were all sidelined due to injuries.
As they strive to complete the second leg of a historic Treble, facing Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday, the Premier League champions suffered defeat courtesy of Ethan Pinnock’s late goal.
With the absence of De Bruyne and Grealish, and Erling Haaland left on the bench, Manchester City fielded a makeshift lineup, and even the presence of established stars like Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez failed to make a significant impact.
How the @premierleague 2022/23 unfolded… pic.twitter.com/Uw0s52pE5j
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 28, 2023
But Guardiola said: “Congratulations to Brentford for the victory. It’s difficult to faze them, how quick they play, how aggressive they are in all departments.
“I’m pretty sure we would have behaved a little bit different if we needed the points.
“I don’t have any complaints of how we behaved. I said to the players after the game, ‘Today we finished the Premier League you deservedly won. Enjoy two days with your families, don’t see each other and on Wednesday we’ll prepare for the first final’.
“The guys who didn’t play who normally play were exhausted yesterday. They needed to rest to arrive with the right energy to face United.”
When asked if the players who missed out would be fit for Wembley, Guardiola said: “I don’t know right now. Hopefully.
“Ruben, Jack and Kevin couldn’t play. It is what it is. I think they will be ready but it’s hard to get ready in training. That’s why I had to see the players who played today.”
Deserved winners 💪 pic.twitter.com/Y6mnllAURW
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 28, 2023
Pinnock’s 85th-minute strike made Brentford the only team to do the double over City this season — and only the fifth since Guardiola took over in 2016.
The Spaniard added: “They are the best team by far at set-pieces, they are exceptional. What Thomas Frank has done for years is amazing and the unity of his squad is there for all to see.
“Hopefully we can do better and beat them like we did last season, so we have a target for next season already.”