Pep Guardiola outlines Aymeric Laporte fitness plan following Man City injury scare
Manchester City will continue to limit Aymeric Laporte’s playing time, as Pep Guardiola acknowledges he is still not at full fitness due to his injury problems this season.
After undergoing surgery in the summer, Laporte missed the first two months of the season.
He has since started two Champions League games and appeared off the bench in the Manchester derby.
He started his first Premier League game of the season at home against Brighton, but City’s medical staff may have been concerned after he received a nasty kick late in the 3-1 victory.
Laporte remained on the ground for a time, but was able to play the final minutes of injury time despite appearing in pain and requesting that players not pass him the ball.
Nonetheless, Guardiola stated after the game that Laporte can be ‘exuberant’ when receiving such kicks, and that the Spaniard was walking normally in the locker room.
xplaining how City must continue to manage Laporte’s fitness, Guardiola said: “I didn’t speak with him but he came in the locker room quite well, walked normally. Aymer when he gets a kick is a little exuberant.
“Important is he has a big injury a long way, we want to control the minutes. Always every game at the end he suffers muscular issues. Today was really difficult for everyone, every player. Aymer has the ball, a man [is there], everyone has a man, in that position he has to jump a little bit more the first steps, and playing more direct that we are not used.
“That’s why we struggle a little bit but a part of that is the quality of the opponent. There are teams when they have the ball they throw it, long balls, you can imagine, and try again. Against this team is completely the opposite. They demand you do something unusual, they are man to man and when they have the ball say come to us and we will run behind you.”
When asked if Laporte’s distribution helped City in their difficult match against Brighton, Guardiola provided an unusual explanation for the Seagulls’ success.
“How do you make distribution when you go to the toilet and have a man?” he asked.
“No space. Wherever you go, they come. The solution is more difficult. The only player who can go to the toilet is Pederson. The only one not being followed. Eddy has to save the ball, he can make passes but not all the time. That’s why it’s difficult.
“You have to play more to Erling, can be more direct to Riyad or Jack. You play here with Gross you have a man. I have a feeling, Mac Allister is really good as well. Every time you lose the ball, counter-attack. That’s why they play a type of game you are not used to.
“I give a lot of credit for the victory, we have the outstanding action with Kevin. Otherwise 93 minutes we are like this. Because they have a lot of balls when they arrive there with Gross, Trossard, Mac Allister, March, Lamptey. They are really good, aggressive with Dunk. How many teams play Dunk vs Haaland man-to-man?
“Big space behind. Which teams can do it? They can do it. Because another man with Haaland and another man behind after we can play. But it didn’t happen. That’s why it’s so difficult. I’m very satisfied for the performance of my team.”
Pep Guardiola outlines Aymeric Laporte fitness plan following Man City injury scare
