
Audio By Carbonatix
Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho and defender Aymeric Laporte face a spell on the sidelines and will not return before next month's FA Cup quarter-final at Swansea, manager Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday.
Fernandinho sustained an abductor muscle injury while Laporte picked up a hamstring injury as City defeated Chelsea 4-3 on penalties on Sunday to retain the League Cup.
The pair join striker Gabriel Jesus and defender John Stones who will miss Wednesday's Premier League clash against West Ham although they are progressing well from groin injuries.
"I don't know how long they (Fernandinho and Laporte) will be out... maybe in the Swansea game or after the international break. In the next weeks, they will be out but I think John and Gabriel will be back soon," Guardiola said.
Full back Benjamin Mendy has returned to training after a knee injury and could face West Ham.
Wednesday's game marks the first time West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini, who guided City to a league title and a League Cup triumph in 2014, returns to the Etihad Stadium, and Guardiola hailed the Chilean's contributions to the club.
"He did an incredible job. The league he won, the way he played. It was a good team," the Spaniard added.
"I have a lot of respect for the people who played and managed here, especially Manuel. He's an excellent person, polite and shows respect."
City are second in the league table with 65 points from 27 matches, one point behind leaders Liverpool, and Guardiola said the champions had to show their winning mentality to retain the title.
"In the last two months the mentality makes the difference," Guardiola added.
"We have a good squad, a good second team. I want to see the desire that we want to win the title. I don't care about the way we play. I want the smell that we can win.
"I don't want excuses about tiredness, fixtures, schedules, or how many games. When you have the illusion to fight until the end, to retain the title, the power and the energy to give you that, it's higher than any excuses you can find."
Latest Stories
-
Netherlands Fire Chief in Ghana to support fire safety reforms and market fire prevention efforts
3 hours -
Mason goes on remand for stealing
3 hours -
Gov’t cuts fuel taxes, deploys buses to curb impact of rising fuel prices
3 hours -
Interior Minister calls for intelligence-driven strategy as Ghana strengthens counter-terrorism efforts
3 hours -
Adenta Circuit Court remands Pastor William Gyimah over viral threats against Vice President
4 hours -
“We’ve implemented changes to prevent a repeat of the AFCON final” – CAF President Motsepe
4 hours -
Gov’t orders deployment of Metro Mass buses to cushion commuters amid fuel price hike
5 hours -
Key Indian state polls begin in test for Modi’s party
5 hours -
Playback: Gomoa Easter Carnival in photos
5 hours -
Gov’t orders removal of fuel taxes to ease pump price hikes
5 hours -
“Whatever the decision of CAS, we will respect it” – CAF President Motsepe after AFCON final meetings in Morocco
5 hours -
Emma Ankrah: When waiting becomes part of treatment – Reflections on hospital care
6 hours -
Ghana urges travellers to prepare for new EU border system roll-out
6 hours -
Mahama enforces fuel coupon ban for ministers as cabinet moves to slash fuel taxes
6 hours -
Task force probes strange fish deaths in Tema
6 hours