Man City feels the strain as injuries mount
Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho are unlikely to be back in time for the home leg of City’s last-16 Champions League tie against Germany’s Schalke
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has been left to count the cost of a hard-fought League Cup final shootout victory over Chelsea on Sunday when he lost two key players to injury with crucial domestic and European matches approaching. Defender Aymeric Laporte and midfielder Fernandinho were substituted and Guardiola said they are unlikely to be back in time for the home leg of City’s last-16 Champions League tie on March 12 against Germany’s Schalke, which his side lead 3-2. The Spaniard added that City, who beat Chelsea 4-3 on penalties after Sunday’s showpiece finished on 0-0 following extra time, will be tired when they resume the chase of Premier League leaders Liverpool at home to West Ham United on Wednesday. He said other clubs challenging for the Champions League are not competing in two domestic cup competitions and the strain is starting to show on his players. “I am impressed how they [City’s players] can play games and games and games and not have injuries, but in the ...
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