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Manchester City have confirmed that flying German winger Leroy Sane has damaged his ankle ligaments after a horror tackle in the FA Cup.

The former Schalke man was taken off at half-time following a challenge from Cardiff defender Joe Bennett in a tasty fourth-round battle.

Sane has undergone scans that confirm the 22-year-old is set for a spell on the sidelines - although no timeline has yet been set for his return.

Yesterday Pep Guardiola pleaded for referees to protect football’s ‘artists’ after Cardiff’s brutal treatment of Sane — and even the German FA joined in.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

After the match officials said Sane could miss the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Basel and the Carabao Cup final clash with Arsenal.

Guardiola said: “The only thing they have to do is protect the players. Not [just] the Manchester City players - the players.

“Protect the players. Or it will happen again.

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“So please. For football in general. The players, they are the artists. You have to take care of them. That’s why you are here and why I’m here.

“Do I fear a player will be seriously injured? Of course. Not my players, the players in general.

“Every team can play how they want. If they decide to play in that way, perfect. But there is one man, in black, he has to decide what is correct and incorrect.”

The German FA’s official Twitter account posted: “Hey, @CardiffCityFC. Just letting you know, we have a really important tournament in the summer. Please don’t hurt our players. Thanks, #DieMannschaft #inSane.”

(Image: Getty)

Sane has scored 11 goals and produced 14 assists in all competitions this season

Kevin de Bruyne netted an early free-kick before Raheem Sterling headed home his 19th goal of the season to keep Man City’s Quadruple bid alive as the Premier League leaders won through to Monday's last-16 draw.

But Guardiola added: “When you say, ‘Why don’t you win the four titles?’ I need the players to win the four titles. It is impossible for that to happen. When I said the Invincibles, that is not going to happen. The same.

“It is an illusion to think we can win all four. With this schedule it’s impossible.”

Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock hit back over the tackles and told the Catalan manager he should expect such tactics in English football - and claimed the visitors were guilty of a few “naughty” ones of their own.

(Image: PA Wire)

“They dished out a bit as well,” Warnock said.

“I think they had one or two naughty tackles. He’s in England, isn’t he? What do you expect? I suppose when you’re like that you want everything to be nice and pretty but you don’t get that in England. You get different challenges, don’t you?”

Bennett scythed down Sane just before half-time and received only a booking from Lee Mason.

He was eventually dismissed in second-half stoppage-time for another foul on sub Brahim Diaz.

(Image: Getty)

Warnock added: “They’re so quick, that’s the problem — their movement and everything else. You think you’re there then all of a sudden it’s gone.

“I was disappointed he got sent off in the end — he obviously didn’t want to go to Leeds next week. That’s the only thing I can think of, because it’s absolutely pathetic, the tackle.

“When you’re on a booking, to do something like that I think it’s disrespectful to your team-mates, really.

“He will be training morning, noon and night, I can tell you that.”