13 February 2024 , 23:09
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Manchester City moved to the brink of the Champions League quarter-finals - but paid a heavy price.
Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva were both kicked out of the first-leg clash as the team that knocked Manchester United out of the competition put the boot in on Pep Guardiola ’s reigning European champions. Kevin De Bruyne scored twice and then set up goals for Silva and Phil Foden to virtually seal City’s passage into the last eight.
But City’s bid to repeat last season’s Treble is being tested by a growing casualty list that saw Grealish and Silva join Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic on the sidelines. Guardiola said: “Jack felt his groin. I didn’t speak to the doctor, but it looks muscular. He wanted to continue but we can’t take any chances - and injuries like that usually take a few weeks.
“Bernardo took a big knock on the ankle. Hopefully it is not a big issue, but we will see. Josko is out for two or three weeks after damaging the ligament in his ankle, but we hope Kova could come back to training on Thursday or Friday.”
City look home and hosed ahead of the second leg with Copenhagen on March 6 - which could help Guardiola in his bid for glory given his team are scheduled to meet Manchester United and Liverpool either side of the return. The month also brings Premier League games against Brighton and Arsenal.
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Guardiola said: “I know the schedule - and that’s good. We’ll prepare for the second leg knowing we’re not through. It’s one game at a time. We played so good. Ask Bayern Munich, Galatsaray and Man United if it easy to come here and beat Copenhagen. Copenhagen are so, so aggressive - but I thought the referee made a good job. It is what it is.
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Jack Grealish came off injured in the first half against Copenhagen (Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)“We behaved with character, personality and patience. Everyone was at a top level. It's not decisive. It’s a good result and hopefully we can make the quarters-finals when we play in front of our own people.”
De Bruyne continued his sensational form since returning from a five-month injury absence by setting up goals for Silva and Foden. De Bruyne said: “It's been a long five or six months and I still need a couple more games. I haven't played 90 minutes for a long time. I am getting there. I feel good.”
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