'It cannot happen!' - Pep Guardiola lets rip at England after Kyle Walker becomes latest Man City star to get injured on Three Lions duty with Kevin De Bruyne also set to miss Champions League clash vs Sparta Prague

Walker missed City's 2-1 win at Wolves on Sunday after returning from the Three Lions' UEFA Nations League games with a knee problem. The defender will miss City's Champions League clash against Sparta Prague on Wednesday along with Kevin De Bruyne, who has been missing for a month. Rodri and Oscar Bobb remain out with long-term injuries.

Guardiola said "it is what it is" when asked about Walker's injury but he revealed he was not so pragmatic when the defender and John Stones picked up knocks while playing in England friendlies last March against Brazil and Belgium, putting their availability at risk for the Premier League title run-in and City's Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid.

Guardiola told a press conference: "I was never as angry like that moment. Never ever before I was so disappointed. It was a friendly game. And we were playing Champions League quarter-finals against Madrid, and the Premier League to win it, and from friendly games for two players to come back injured. I didn't like it, at all. We are well-paid here, the club pays us, not the national teams. So you have to respect the club. In friendly games, you cannot get injured, it cannot happen. You can play, absolutely. But you cannot come back injured."

De Bruyne has not played since picking up an injury last month in the goalless draw with Inter and Guardiola said the Belgian needs to be careful about returning too soon. "No, it's not a big issue. But he doesn't feel completely fine and Kevin is not 22-years-old anymore, he has to be fit for his football. He has to be completely, completely fit and he doesn't feel comfortable at all. So if you don't feel good, take your time."

City, who have not lost a Champions League game in 90 minutes since May 2022, will be looking for their first home win of the league phase against Sparta in their first-ever match against the Czechs. Their next Premier League game is against winless Southampton on Saturday.