David Silva is likely to miss Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Sunday after going off injured in their 2-1 derby win at Old Trafford.
The Spain international sustained a hamstring problem in the closing minutes against Manchester United and was replaced by Joleon Lescott. And City manager Roberto Mancini said: “Maybe it is not so bad, but I don’t think he will be ready for Chelsea.”
Rafael Benitez is considering leaving David Luiz out of Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Sunday to protect him from earning a two-game ban.
Luiz has become Chelsea’s first choice centre-half under Benitez but the interim manager is worried at the prospect of him picking up another yellow card at Wembley. The Brazil international has been booked nine times already this season and needs just one more to be handed an automatic two-game suspension.
The punishment for reaching double figures actually expires after this weekend’s games, meaning Luiz won’t be at risk following the semi-final. It is one of the reasons why Benitez has rotated the 25-year-old in recent weeks even though he has gone on record to say he feels fresh enough to play in every match.
Benitez has also been protecting fellow Brazilian Ramires, who is on eight yellow cards, for the same reason, but he is now safe with just one domestic game left before the deadline expires. Should Luiz play against City and earn a yellow card, he will be ruled out of the crucial away matches in the Premier League against Fulham and Liverpool the following week.
Chelsea are already short of defensive options due to Gary Cahill suffering a knee injury while captain John Terry is considered only fit enough to play every other match.
Chelsea will play Manchester City on Saturday (April 14th) for a spot in the 2013 FA Cup Final. The winner of Chelsea-City will play Millwall or Wigan in the Final. Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 in last years FA Cup Final. Chelsea
Thats good to hear about David Silva not being available. With Luiz play him in the game against Kazan then rest him for the City game, in the City game I do believe we will need Terry’s leadership along with Lamps
Lamps is now useless!
Quite true. I have to agreee with Adam. I really like Lamps. But he hasn’t been good in the pivot role. He seems to be more of a record-breaker now. Ramires does a much better job, which is what we need. That’s why Mikel can hold the ball nicely and provide cover, while Ramires makes his bursting runs and well-timed tackles. When Lamps play alongside either 1 of them, Ramires/Mikel ends up doing 2 men’s job which is extremely difficult and pressuring…
Terry and Ivanovic to play as CB’s for the City game then! KTBFFH 😀
ivanovic terry to play as our cbs tht day and hope thy will do agood job…… All the best blues
[…] Silva and David Luiz likely to miss FA Cup semi-final […]