Pep Guardiola says Manchester City "don't have many players" for Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United due to Covid-19.
Guardiola was without six players for the Premier League game at Chelsea on Sunday and although his side ran out convincing 3-1 winners, the Spaniard fears City's busy schedule will take its toll.
"We don't have many players," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "To play one, two games is okay but if sustained for a long time - and you can use just 14 or 15 players - it will be more difficult.
"But like everyone in the world, we have to adjust in our lives and our profession as much as possible. We don't have an alternative.
"The important thing is the guys who have Covid recover well and the others try to avoid it as much as possible."
More to follow...
Five subs allowed for remainder of Carabao Cup
Manchester City and the other three teams contesting the Carabao Cup semi-finals and final will be allowed to make five substitutions per game, the English Football League has confirmed.
Up until the last-four stage, regulations had been kept in line with the Premier League, with the substitution limit at three.
As was the case during the resumption of the 2019/20 Premier League season, coaches will be limited to three opportunities to use their five substitutions during the 90 minutes.
However, if a Carabao Cup match were to go into extra-time, one additional opportunity to use up the five changes would be permitted.
Tottenham host Championship side Brentford on Tuesday, before Manchester United take on Manchester City on Wednesday, with both games live on Sky Sports.
The Carabao Cup semi-finals have been reduced from two legs to one this season, with a more congested fixture schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic taken into account.