Manchester City vs Chelsea LIVE: FA Cup semi-final team news, line-ups and more today

Haaland is City’s top scorer this season and regular penalty taker, while De Bruyne, who scored City’s equaliser, would have also been among City’s top options ahead of the shootout after 14-time champions Madrid held on for a 1-1 draw after extra time.

“It’s normal, with the amount of games we’ve played this season and in the previous seasons,” Guardiola said whe asked about his players being tired. “There’s not much time for recovery, we played extra-time and the intensity we play. We are not machines, the fatigue is there.”

In another world, Cole Palmer might have been lining up for Manchester City against Chelsea today. But Pep Guardiola said the City forward “was asking to leave for two seasons” prior to his £40m to Stamford Bridge last summer.

“He’s an exceptional player, we knew when he was here. I’ve said many times, I didn’t give the minutes that maybe he deserved and now he has at Chelsea. I understand completely.

“He’s a shy guy with a lot of potential. It is what it is. He’s playing fantastically well.

“But he was asking for two seasons to leave. I said ‘no, stay’. But he still said ‘no, I want to leave’. What could we do? I said stay because Riyad [Mahrez] has gone but for two seasons he wanted to leave.”

Cole Palmer took his Chelsea tally to 20 goals in the Premier League with another hat-trick on Monday night, scoring four at Stamford Bridge.

“He has been sensational and there is an argument he could be Player of the Year – that’s how good he has been,” said former Chelsea star Joe Cole, who said Palmer simply has to be in England’s Euros squad this summer.

“You have to bring a player of that quality. The technicians are what are going to win us the tournament. They all have to go and they all have to have time on the pitch.

“Palmer is a top player. I have watched him play and he is a top, top player.

“Cole Palmer is an absolute genius.”

What Chelsea must prove as they return to scene of biggest humiliation

Since losing the League Cup final to Manchester City on penalties, Chelsea have lost six finals in a row at Wembley – although they have won all three of their FA Cup semi-finals during that time.

2020: 3-1 vs Manchester United

2021: 1-0 vs Manchester City

2022: 2-0 vs Crystal Palace

Pep Guardiola’s side lost three FA Cup semi-finals in a row between 2020 and 2022 – but they won the FA Cup on both occasions they reahed the final under Guardiola (2019 and 2023).

2023: 3-0 vs Sheffield United

Manchester City and Chelsea both have unwanted records that they’ll want to improve today.

Man City have won just two of their last six FA Cup semi-finals, while Chelsea have just have lost their last six finals at Wembley. Even though today is a semi-final, there is talk of a Wembley curse among the Blues…

Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea on Saturday has taken on greater significance in their campaign following Wednesday’s Champions League exit (5.15pm, BBC One).

The Cityzens’ defence of their European crown ended abruptly in a 4-3 defeat on penalties to Real Madrid, the two sides having played out a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their quarter-final showdown at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side had been favourites to lift the trophy for a second straight year, but now those hopes are over, there’s a greater emphasis on their Premier League and FA Cup quests.

Manchester City XI: Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Ake; Rodri; Foden, Silva, De Bruyne, Doku; Alvarez.

Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Chilwell; Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling.

Raheem Sterling, Enzo Fernandez and Axel Disasi are available after missing the 6-0 win over Everton, while Christopher Nkunku is back in “partial training”. Chelsea remain without Levi Colwill, Reece James and Wesley Fofana.