Striker Khadija Shaw was able to miss both legs of the quarterfinals of the Champions League of Manchester City against Chelsea due to a muscle injury, unveiled interim boss Nick Cushing on Tuesday.
Shaw is absolutely excluded from the first stage on Wednesday in the Joie Stadium with Cushing, which also suggests that the attacker is a doubt for the return match in London next week.
City's top scorer was injured in the defeat against Chelsea in the Women's League Cup final on Saturday, while Japan International Aoba Fujino, who started and scored in that match, will also be missing.
“Two important players,” said Cushing. “But for us, these moments offer opportunities to other players.
“Both are muscle injuries … the problem with these kinds of injuries, it will take a few days to even diagnose how long the problem is. I think they are important.”
Pushed on the chances that both players are available for the second stage on March 27, Cushing added: “If you have muscle injuries and you cannot diagnose the time frame, there will be none that you can quickly turn around.”
The final of the League Cup was the first of four games between Chelsea and City in a remarkable wingspan of 12 days. In addition to the quarterfinals of the two-leg Champions League, they meet in a WSL meeting on Sunday.
Kelly -Discharge begins to be felt
Sky Sports' Anton Toloui:
This is the reason that Manchester City was reluctant to see Chloe Kelly leave in January.
The wing player of England would be the like-for-like replacement for the wounded Fujino and her creativity, experience and target threat would alleviate the burden on the other attacks in the absence of Shaw.
City is still blessed with talent, with Jess Park and Kerolin Nicoli available to perform from the Bank and Vivianne Miedema who may be the starting No. 9.
But Cushing, who described the game of Wednesday as “bigger” than the Subway Cup final on Saturday, knows that he needs as many attacking options as possible to perhaps break down the best defense in Europe.
Every team in the world would miss a player who is as talented as Shaw. The effectiveness of Cushing's plan B will play an important role for the success of Man City in this intriguing confrontation with Champions League.
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