Willy Cabellero will play in both cup games this week
Vincent Kompany will return in 2 weeks
Willy Cabellero is expected to be just one of the changes that Manuel Pellegrini will make ahead of the Capital One Cup semi final second leg tie against Everton at the Etihad tomorrow night.
Cabellero is also expected to take his place in the FA Cup game away to Aston Villa at the weekend as City take a break from the Barclays Premier League with some changes designed to freshen up a team which was starting to look a little jaded in 2-2 draw at West Ham with players like David Silva still feeling the effects of recent injuries.
Pellegini confirmed that the injury situation had not changed from last weekend.
He said: “Eliaquim Mangala, Vincent Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov, Wilfried Bony, and Samir Nasri are out.”
This week’s cup games will come too early for Kompany, City’s talismanic captain, who will be fit to return in a couple of weeks after City boss Manuel Pellegrini brushed aside recent speculation of a six week layoff.
“He will return in a couple of weeks.” stated the Chilean. “It’s important the way he improves in the next two weeks but he will be fit until the end of the season when he returns.”
Kompany’s injury record has prevented his involvement for much of this season as he has struggled to cope with a variety of muscle injuries but Pellegrini was confident they would be solved soon.
He said: “Be sure that we are doing all that we can to review Vincent.
“Different places and different doctors. It’s sad for him not to play for our team. I hope when he recovers at the end of the season he will be fit.”
The Chilean is aware of City’s gruelling schedule which could see them playing nine or even ten games in February in the event of an FA Cup replay.
City may well have played twice as many games as league leaders Leicester City by the end of the season if they continue to be involved in all four competitions this season.
The Blues will have to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at Goodison Park to take their place in the final at Wembley.
“It’s just as important for City.” reiterated the Chilean. “If you arrive at the semi final you must win and arrive at Wembley.”
“Maybe Everton were last in a final many years ago so they’ll be motivated, but we’ll do everything we can.”
“I am sure if we repeat what we did against Everton in the Premier League especially in the last 45 minutes we will score a lot of goals.
“We must be concentrated in defending. They have players like Ross Barkley, Gerard Deulofeu and Romelu Lukaku.
“We need to win here and we will try and score from the beginning. It’s better not to play extra time but if we must we will.
“If we score an early goal the game isn’t finished.”