Chelsea v Manchester City: David Silva a major doubt for FA Cup semi-final

Spanish midfielder was forced off during the Manchester derby

Andy Hampson
Wednesday 10 April 2013 11:57 BST
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David Silva with Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford
David Silva with Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford

Manchester City playmaker David Silva is due to undergo tests to determine the seriousness of his hamstring injury ahead of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

Manager Roberto Mancini fears the Spaniard will miss the trip to Wembley after being forced off in the latter stages of Monday's derby victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

But City have given the injury a day to settle down and the 27-year-old is hopeful he may yet be given the all-clear.

Silva said: "I felt it at the end and I am still feeling it now but we will have to wait and see what the tests show.

"Hopefully I will be able to recover for Sunday.

"If I can't there are always team-mates that can play but it would be a big blow for me. It is a game every player wants to play."

The FA Cup represents City's most realistic hope of silverware but Chelsea, still rivals for second spot in the Barclays Premier League, will provide tough opposition.

International team-mate Juan Mata is just one player Silva knows will need to be contained.

"Mata is a great player and I know him very well but it is not just Juan Mata we need to worry about," said Silva, speaking at a promotional event for Anfi, a luxury holiday company based on his native Gran Canaria.

"Chelsea have a great team but in one match anything can happen so let's just play the game and see what that brings."

Winning the cup for a second time in three seasons would be a good consolation for City after their failure to mount a stern defence of their Premier League title.

Despite their deserved 2-1 defeat of United, City remain 12 points behind their rivals with just seven games remaining.

Several reasons have been put forward for City's under-achievement but Silva feels a lot of it has been down to bad luck.

He said: "What really reflects what has happened this season - for example the game against United at home when we played well but in the last moment we conceded a goal.

"The season has been a little bit like that. Moments where we have needed a little bit of luck, it has not been there."

Mancini has made clear his determination to reclaim the title next season and securing Yaya Toure on a new contract last week was one statement of ambition.

Silva himself signed a new deal earlier in the season and feels the future is positive at Eastlands.

He said: "Yaya is a great player. For the present and future it is very important we have players like him and we keep them with us.

"I feel we are growing every year as a club. I am confident ahead of next year."

Greater Manchester Police are studying television footage of a post-match interview after last night's Manchester derby following claims that Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany was racially abused.

The comments under investigation could be heard while Kompany and City midfielder James Milner were being interviewed on Sky Sports following their 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.

PA

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