Chelsea set to be hit in pocket

for violent conduct this season and Fernandinho will serve a three-match suspension.

City manager Pep Guardiola said: “It’s a pity what happened in the last minute. We are going to accept the bans from the FA [for Aguero and Fernandinho] and we are going to work with other players for the next games.”

Both clubs have until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the charge. If found guilty, they will be heavily fined, with Chelsea likely to be hit with the bigger punishment after being found guilty of ‘failing to control’ their players on several occasions recently.

In May, the club were fined a record £290,000 after a bust-up in the game against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge – the fifth time they had been charged with the same offence since 2014. City have had six red cards already this season and goalkeeper Willy Caballero admits the absence of leading scorer Aguero – who has already served a threegame ban for elbowing Winston Reid – is a huge blow.

“It’s a shame for us as we’re going to lose a great player for a lot of matches. But we have to turn the page and focus on the next game.”

Guardiola has been beset by disciplinary and defensive problems but insists his team are still on course for glory.

“I’m happy and satisfied,” he said. “After the games at Crystal Palace and Burnley I was a bit worried. I thought if we play like this, we are not going to go anywhere.

“But the performance on Saturday was much better. When I was at home an hour after the Chelsea game, I thought, ‘This season is going to be good’.”