Manchester City vs Chelsea LIVE: FA Cup semi-final team news ...

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.”

With 25 goals and 13 assists in all competitions this season, Palmer has the most goal contributions in Europe this season among players aged 23 or younger.

That includes Erling Haaland, by the way.

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

By Richard Jolly

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.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on BBC One, with coverage on the channel from 4.45pm. A live stream will be available via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

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Jack Grealish does seem the sort to suffer from a crisis of confidence. The Brummie’s bubby persona can endear him, as well as making him the antidote to the some of the blander figures around. He has a relish for life, his enjoyment of playing football apparently only topped by the fun he evidently had celebrating Manchester City’s treble.

But if Grealish’s frankness can form part of his appeal, and made it unsurprising that he readily admitted he had found this season tough, the revelation he had lost belief in himself felt more of a shock. If it has been reflected in some subdued displays, they illustrated the England international’s state of mind.

“I just think sometimes if you’re not playing and probably not up to it in training, in your own head you just don’t feel confident,” he said.

A stop-start season saw him lose form, except for a spell in November and December and a recent resurgence. “It’s been difficult,” he added.

It’s already been a historic day for Chelsea Football Club. A stunning victory for Emma Hayes’s side, who became the first team in five years to beat Barcelona away from home, means they will take a 1-0 lead back to Stamford Bridge in next week’s Women’s Champions League semi-final second leg.

Over to Mauricio Pochettino and his players now to see if they can also secure a big semi-final win for the Blues.

Raheem Sterling is on the Chelsea bench as Enzo Fernandez returns from the 6-0 win over Everton. Cole Palmer starts, of course, with Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson completing the front three.

Axel Disasi returns to the Chelsea bench but Trevoh Chalobah is preferred.

There is no Erling Haaland in the Man City squad as Pep Guardiola makes four changes from his team that played Real Madrid, with Stefan Ortega, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Julian Alvarez come in. Kevin De Bruyne makes it.

Man City XI: Ortega, Walker, Stones, Akanji, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Alvarez

Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Palmer, Jackson

Erling Haaland is a doubt after the striker was unable to continue against Real Madrid, but Kevin De Bruyne is fit after also asking to come off before extra time. Manchester City are not thought to have any major new injury concerns, though workload management will be key after the Real Madrid second leg stretched beyond extra time. Kyle Walker was able to complete the entire game after his hamstring issue, but may be given a chance to recover here.

For Chelsea, 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.