Man City XI vs Brighton: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Premier League game today
The versatile Dutch centre-back has not played since the 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Leeds on May 6 after aggravating a hamstring issue.
However, City are eager not to take any risks with Ake’s fitness with a fifth top-flight title in six seasons already secured after Arsenal’s defeat by Nottingham Forest last weekend.
After Wednesday’s rearranged trip to Brighton, City travel to Brentford on the final day of the season on Sunday before looking to secure the Treble with FA Cup and Champions League final dates with Manchester United and Inter Milan respectively.
“He’s getting better,” Guardiola said of Ake’s fitness in his pre-Brighton press conference on Tuesday. “He’s at the latter stage. We have to be careful after being injured for the second time, in case we need him for United or Inter.
“He’s getting better, I don’t know if he will arrive tomorrow or Brentford but the latter stages.”
Other than Ake, Guardiola admitted that City have a few other minor injury issues to contend with ahead of facing Brighton and Brentford, with the Spaniard hoping to keep his squad fresh for the huge finals that await.
Guardiola made sweeping changes to his starting lineup for Sunday’s 1-0 win over Chelsea, which was followed by epic title celebrations at the Etihad.
“We have some players with some niggles,” Guardiola said. “To play our best football we have to be completely focused on these two games because they are really good teams.”
Predicted Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Lewis, Gundogan, Rodri, Silva, De Bruyne, Grealish, Haaland
