Swansea City will lineup to face Manchester City this Saturday, with both sides knowing they’re just one step away from a Wembley appearance in an Emirates FA Cup semi-final.
Pep Guardiola’s men will be strong favourites going into the tie, knowing that a win at the Liberty Stadium would move them one step closer to an elusive quadruple.
Depleted City
As the fixtures continue to pile up, inevitably, injuries continue to take their place.
The Citizens have had a torrid time with injuries thus far this season, and Guardiola says that his options are limited ahead of his sides trip to Wales.
"We will have to make changes," started Guardiola.
"We don't have too many options. Tomorrow is a quarter-final, that is the most important thing by far, to reach the semis."
City have already wrapped up the Carabao Cup, although continue to fight in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, as well as the FA Cup. This means that the Blues are going to have to nurse these injuries and find a way to cope if they’re to become the first ever English side to win the quadruple.
The champions of England are expected to be without Kevin de Bruyne, Fernandinho, John Stones, Vincent Kompany, Benjamin Mendy and Claudio Bravo ahead of this game, although if anyone has the depth to cope with numerous key names being out, it’s City.
Celina out to prove a point vs former club
Former City man, Bersant Celina was sold to Swansea, from City, last summer for £3,000,000.
The midfielder was signed by the club at the age of 16, however, never made an appearance for the Mancunians before being sold – a man desperate to prove a point.
"I want to go and prove to them that I'm very good," stated Celina. "When I look back on my time at Man City I remind myself I was training with top players and I know what to do to get to that level."
The now 22-year old went on further.
"I managed to get through at one point when I was much younger. That is the level I want to be at."
If Celina is to help his team to cause one of the biggest shocks of the competition thus far, he’ll have to do so without the help of some of his first-team colleagues.
Oli McBurnie is unlikely to recover from illness in time, whilst Kyle Naughton will be assessed prior to kick-off.
Cameron Carter-Vickers is expected to return.
Swansea predicted XI: Nordfeldt; Roberts, van der Hoorn, Carter-Vickers, Naughton; Fulton, Grimes, Dyer, Celina, Routledge; James.
Man City predicted XI: Ederson; Danilo, Stones, Otamendi, Zinchenko;; Gundogan, B. Silva, Foden; Mahrez, Jesus, Sane.
City dominant in recent meetings
The Welsh-based club have never faced City in the FA Cup, although have a record that doesn’t make good reading vs the Blues in recent years.
The Swans are winless in their last 13 games against the Citizens in all competitions, drawing twice and losing 11 on 11 occasions.
City fans left mesmerised by David Silva’s performance at the Liberty last time City travelled there, with the Spanish wizard scoring a hat-trick on that day.
‘Anything can happen in the FA Cup’ is a phrase that is tossed around freely almost every time a cup weekend comes around, and this will be a saying the home side will be living by going into this one as huge underdogs.