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
-
Why Ghana must maintain the NPA’s price floor in the petroleum market
34 minutes -
Serwaa Amihere apologises to PRESEC community over ‘homosexual breeding ground’ comment
2 hours -
Dr Arthur Kennedy slams NPP’s “dubious” plot to expel Prof Frimpong-Boateng
2 hours -
The role of foreign elements in the radicalisation of recent protests in the Islamic Republic of Iran
3 hours -
NPP discipline must extend to Akufo-Addo over poor governance – Arthur K
3 hours -
Bryan Acheampong warns of permanent NPP split if Bawumia or Ken wins 2028 ticket
3 hours -
PRESEC condemns ‘homosexual breeding ground’ comment by Serwaa Amihere; distances school from LGBTQI label
3 hours -
NPP race: Bryan Acheampong chides Kennedy Agyapong over support for eventual winner
4 hours -
Choose candidates who can win power in 2028—Wontumi to NPP
4 hours -
NRSA: Speeding, drink-driving behind 18.5% surge in road fatalities
5 hours -
GPL 2025/26: Asante Kotoko draw with GoldStars to extend winless run
7 hours -
Fire guts temporary wooden structures at Afful Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region
8 hours -
Haruna Iddrisu didn’t approve gender identity content – Education Ministry
9 hours -
‘We are not for sale’: Thousands rally in Greenland and Denmark against Trump’s annexation threat
9 hours -
Deputy Education Minister directs GES to act on video of SHS students displaying charms
9 hours
