Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Fernandinho will be a ‘big loss’ as the Premier League leaders wait to discover the extent of his injury.
Fernandinho suffered a hamstring injury in the second half of City’s 3-0 win over Arsenal in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final being replaced by Bernardo Silva in the 52nd minute.
The 32-year-old has been instrumental in City’s success this season and his absence will leave them vulnerable, as they do not have another recognised defensive midfielder.
“He’s injured. The next games he’ll be out. We’ll assess him tomorrow, but he’s a big, big loss,” The Daily Mail quote Guardiola as saying after collecting his first piece of silverware as City boss.
“Now we have to find a solution, to find out which players can play in Fernandinho position. Now we have a problem in that area.”
Fernandinho has featured in all 27 of City’s Premier League matches this season but will not be available when Guardiola’s side face Arsenal on Thursday for the second time in five days.
Guardiola will loath City’s failure to sign Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred in January, as the 24-year-old has been earmarked as Fernandinho’s long-term replacement.
Only City team-mate Nicolas Otamendi (2346) has attempted more passes than Fernandinho (2266) in the Premier League this season.
