Man City are missing Laporte

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hopes that Aymeric Laporte can play again soon. Guardiola insists that City need Laporte in the defensive line to continue their good form.

The 25-year-old was hit by a knee injury when The Citizens won 4-0 over Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend. He was subbed out in the 34th minute after colliding with Adam Webster.

After undergoing the examination, Aymeric Laporte was diagnosed with injuries in the cartilage and lateral meniscus of his right knee.

Without Aymeric Laporte, Man City are in a crisis because they did not bring in a replacement for Vincent Kompany who left the club last year.

Pep Guardiola was thinking about deploying Fernandinho and Rodri as centre-backs. Both players are actually positioned as defensive midfielders in normal circumstances.

However, Fernandinho could not play due to the red card he got in a match against Aston Villa while Rodri is still recovering from injury. Luckily, John Stones will be able to play again after being absent for 35 days.

"I wish we had Laporte and everyone else come back," Guardiola said.

"I hate one word which is 'complain'. Normally when I say something not nice it is always after a victory, never have I said it after a defeat. We were punished in some defeats and I shut my mouth. I would prefer to be all together."