Man City’s Gabriel Jesus could return to action soon – Guardiola

Gabriel Jesus could be in contention to play in the FA Cup final if Manchester City get there, coach Pep Guardiola has said.

Gabriel has been out of action since breaking a metatarsal in his right foot at Bournemouth on Feb. 13.

The Brazil international had an operation soon afterwards and Guardiola said that, if his recovery continues to go well, he could feature in the final games of the season.

“The crutches are gone,” the City boss told a news conference. “He has started to walk, and hopefully he can come back to the pitches and start to run.

“Hopefully he can help us in the last games of the season and come back for us in the preseason.”

City face Arsenal in the FA Cup semifinals on April 23 and the sides meet at the Emirates in the Premier League on Sunday.

Gabriel and long-term absentee Ilkay Gundogan are the only players unavailable for the trip with Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna all fit after minor injuries in the international break.

A victory for City would see them move 10 points clear of Arsenal and heap more pressure on Gunners manager Arsene Wenger.

But Guardiola has praised Wenger and said he believes he can turn the club around, adding: “When he goes back to winning, the fans will be happy again I promise you — 100 percent.

“The Premier League is not easy to win, but I’m pretty sure the fans respect a lot what Arsene Wenger has done and is doing.

“People should understand how difficult football is today — all the teams are more prepared.

“When the bosses decide, or Arsene decides, to stay and keep going, he believes it is the best solution and the best for Arsenal.

“I’m not here to judge what they have to do and what is going to happen. The players judge what they see every day in the training sessions.

“Some of them are happy, some of them are unhappy, especially the players who don’t play. But for the fans it depends on results, not something else.”

Guardiola was also asked about how Brexit might affect football after the United Kingdom triggered Article 50 to begin the process of leaving the European Union.

The former Barcelona coach said: “What happens in two years is a new situation and you have to adapt.

“The work and the rules have to be the same for everybody. Why would football be exceptions to lawyers or architects who are not able to work but football players yes? Why?

“I think it has to be but, again, you are able to vote and not all the places can do that.”