Aymeric Laporte will miss “three weeks to a month” according to his manager, Pep Guardiola. Laporte sustained a hamstring problem in Manchester City’s 2-1 away victory over Real Madrid on Wednesday night. He is due to miss key games for City, including the Carabao Cup final and the return leg of the Champions League tie.
Aymeric Laporte Out for Up to a Month
A Season Mired With Injury
The French defender has not long since returned from a knee injury, which ruled him out for much of the beginning of the season. He suffered knee cartilage damage in August, leaving him out for five months. This latest issue will cause Pep Guardiola a defensive headache, with important games coming thick and fast.
Speaking to the media today, Guardiola said: “It’s a hamstring injury, normally it’s three weeks, more or less.
“We try to avoid it but it has happened. Sometimes it happens after four or five months out.”
Laporte was visibly upset when leaving the field at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night when his side came from behind to take a lead into the second leg. City lack other ball-playing defenders, so his absence will be a big miss in the return leg. His composure and defensive stability instil confidence in his teammates.
Laporte will be hoping to return and finish the season strongly in a bid to earn a place in the French squad for Euro 2020. He is yet to represent his country at senior level but wants to impress Didier Deschamps this time around. He was called up to the qualifiers squad in August 2019, but could not play due to the knee injury. France have a very competitive squad, especially at centre-back, meaning Laporte may miss out due to his fitness issues.
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