Manchester City Optimistic About De Bruyne’s Return Against Arsenal

Manchester City is hopeful that Kevin De Bruyne will be able to play in the upcoming Premier League match against Arsenal. De Bruyne missed the FA Cup quarterfinal game against Newcastle United due to a groin injury, which also kept him out of Belgium’s recent matches.

The midfielder has been seen training with the Under-23s on Tuesday, raising hopes for his return to the first team. Additionally, Jack Grealish, who was recovering from a muscle injury and was left out of the England squad, has also been training with the team at the City Football Academy.

The medical staff at Manchester City will keep a close eye on De Bruyne’s progress, but he is expected to join the first-team training session on Thursday. This news comes as a relief for manager Pep Guardiola, who is already dealing with concerns about the fitness of Kyle Walker and John Stones.

Walker sustained a hamstring injury while playing for England against Brazil, while Stones had to be substituted early in the match against Belgium due to an adductor issue. Both players are crucial to the team’s defensive line, and their fitness ahead of the Arsenal game remains uncertain.

Manchester City has also expressed disappointment over the scheduling of their FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea. Initially, the club believed the game would be played on a Sunday, giving them time to recover from their Champions League match against Real Madrid. However, they have now been informed that the game will take place a day earlier, leaving them with just three days of rest.

Upcoming Fixtures

City is also set to play Brighton before facing Nottingham Forest shortly after the FA Cup semifinal. The tight schedule, especially with European matches involved, puts additional pressure on Guardiola and the players to maintain their fitness and form.

While Manchester City is hopeful about De Bruyne’s return, the team is facing challenges with injuries and fixture congestion. Guardiola will need to manage the squad carefully to navigate through a crucial period in the season.