City manager Pep Guardiola said the Chile goalkeeper, who completed his move from Barcelona for £13.75 million ($18.2 million) on Thursday, will not play against West Ham in the league on Sunday.
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The Spaniard signed 33-year-old goalkeeper Claudio Bravo from his old club Barcelona this week as a replacement for Joe Hart, whom Guardiola says will be helped in his search for a new club, but will be treated like a normal player if the transfer window closes before the England worldwide leaves.
Guardiola said: “We’re going to speak about the situation in the last days”.
Key Player: Sergio Aguero – The City goal machine has scored 37 goals in 47 Premier League games against London teams. “His experience, to anticipate situations not in the box and in front of the box, being good in the build-up plays and quick under the posts – he is a good player for us”. “He’s a good player for us”. I know the people there, most of the players are still there.
Guardiola has made no secret of the fact he does not intend to include the England worldwide in his first team plans – a revelation that has caused a great deal of unrest among City fans.
Kelechi Iheanacho limped off in the second half against Steaua with a suspected hamstring injury but Guardiola confirmed it was nothing serious. We’re going to decide the best for Joe but for Willy and Angus as well.
West Ham have been without both of their key creative fulcrums for the start of the season and, further shorn of captain Mark Noble, thoroughly lacked incision and guile as they lost 1-0 to Astra Giurgiu, ending their participation in the Europa League.
Last September West Ham claimed a memorable victory at the Etihad, Victor Moses and Diafra Sakho striking as Bilic saw his side claim the scalp of a third major power inside the opening six league games of the season.
“It was our plan for a long time now to get a top-quality striker and there were a few of them on our list, and Zaza was always mentioned there”.
West Ham have eight injury concerns heading into this tie as Aaron Cresswell, Diafra Sakho, André Ayew and Andy Carroll are all expected to be out, while Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini, Sofiane Feghouli and Håvard Nordtveit are all doubts. It has happened this year and if I continue to train in the high level and we arrive in the Champions League, it is going to happen more times. They are going to be in rotation, part of that. “Until now, he is here and a player for us”.
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“Of course if there is no risk, of course we would pick them, but there is a big question-mark”.
