Pep Guardiola: 'Leroy Sane out for a while'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Leroy Sane will be "out for a while" after being withdrawn at half time of his side's FA Cup fourth-round victory over Cardiff City this afternoon.

Sane was on the end of a high and dangerous challenge from Joe Bennett in first-half stoppage time of Man City's eventual 2-0 win in South Wales and did not emerge for the second half as Sergio Aguero took his place.

Bennett escaped with only a yellow card, but was eventually given his marching orders in stoppage time of the second half for another poor challenge on Brahim Diaz, and Guardiola called on the referees to do more to protect players.

"[Sane] will be out for a while - minimum two weeks, three weeks, one month, we will see tomorrow exactly. I said many times the only thing they (referees) have to do is protect the players," Guardiola told reporters at his post-match press conference.

"I can accept our disallowed goal, I don't know why but I accept. But please protect the players. Not the Man City players, all players. The only thing they can do is that - to protect the players - because it would not happen again.

"It happened once with Leroy, then it happened with Brahim again at the end. So for the football in general, and for the players who are the artists, they must do that. That's why we are all here."

Sane has been directly involved in seven goals from his seven appearances for City so far in 2018.