Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City feared illness could hamper their treble bid. (Image: Getty)
Manchester City were reportedly worried that an outbreak of food poisoning could derail the business end of their season after a trip to Spain to take on Real Madrid in the Champions League. Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne missed the first leg of the quarter-final, which ended 3-3, through an illness he picked up on the journey to the Bernabeu.
The Daily Star claim that the Belgian playmaker believes that his sickness and vomiting were caused by something he ate in the team hotel just a few hours before kick-off on Tuesday evening. That prompted concern in the City ranks as players and staff are often given the same meals on a matchday and follow a strict diet plan.
The club were worried that De Bruyne would not be the only player to pull out through food poisoning and with Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake already missing through injury, Pep Guardiola would have been fearing the worst just a few hours before taking on Real Madrid.
“Vomits,” Guardiola explained to TNT Sports before taking on Real Madrid. “He (De Bruyne) feels unwell. I don’t know (if he can play at all). We had a meeting and he was ready but when we arrive here at the locker room he started to vomit, vomit, he feels unwell.
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Kevin De Bruyne missed Manchester City’s Champions League tie through illness. (Image: Getty)
“He said: ‘I am not ready’. It is what it is. Other players are going to play and they are ready for 180 minutes or 90 minutes to play. Everyone is going to help.”
However, City will be relieved that De Bruyne’s illness was isolated, with none of his team-mates affected. The 32-year-old has returned to full training for Saturday’s visit of Luton in the Premier League.
Walker and Ake are likely to remain sidelined, though the England right-back is nearing a return after missing three weeks with a damaged hamstring he picked up on international duty.
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Phil Foden hobbled off in the dying embers of City’s draw in Madrid, however, after a heavy challenge from Eduardo Camavinga. He did reassure supporters that it was only the result of a “dead leg” that saw him taken off for Julian Alvarez.
But with a second leg just a few days after Saturday’s clash with Luton it remains to be seen whether Guardiola will take a risk. When asked if he was okay, Foden replied: “Yeah, I hope so. I’ve got a bit of a bad dead leg but I’ve got a bit of time now to recover, so hopefully I can.”
Influential midfielder Rodri has also pleaded with Guardiola to give him a rest after starting 22 of City’s previous 24 matches, but in the middle of another treble chase, the games continue to come thick and fast.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1887281/Man-City-food-poisoning-illness-news