Manchester City Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne left Tuesday's match against Everton due to a knee injury, according to the Score. The 24-year-old left the pitch on a stretcher after an awkward challenge from Everton's Ramiro Funes Mori in the 89th minute.

De Bruyne was a force throughout the 3-1 win against Everton, as the Belgium international came off the bench to provide a goal and an assist on Sergio Aguero's decisive third goal eventually putting City up 4-3 on aggregate.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini highlighted the role De Bruyne has played for his club throughout the season, in an interview with ESPN. "I always said Kevin is a very important player in the whole season. He didn't start because we have to play nine games in 27 days," Pellegrini said.

"I think it is important to have a very good rotation of the squad. The minutes he played he did very well." Pellegrini added

De Bruyne joined Manchester City from German club Wolfsburg in August and has turned into a player that Pellegrini doesn't want to be without for an extended period of time.

"We'll see how it is but it's impossible to know before tomorrow," said Pellegrini, according to BBC. "I'm optimistic he won't be out for the rest of the season. We'll see how important the damage is. It's not the cruciate ligament, it's the medial we think."

Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles accused De Bruyne of milking the injury to waste time in the dying minute of the match. Robles later apologized on Twitter for accusing De Bruyne of wasting time.

"I would like to apologise to Kevin De Bruyne for my reaction to his injury. In the heat of the moment I didn't realise he was badly hurt. .. " Robles said on Twitter. "I wish him all the best and a speedy recovery"

With the win, Manchester City clinched a birth in the Capital One Cup final and will face off against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on Feb. 28.

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