Manchester City will be without Aymeric Laporte for the Community Shield clash with Liverpool and for the first month of the season as the Spaniard recovers from knee surgery.
The centre-back underwent the surgery at the end of last season, after helping his side to a fourth Premier League title in five years, and is yet to return despite looking ‘really well’, with Pep Guardiola explaining that he is likely to give him until September before he looks to the Spaniard for any first team action.
“He’s looking really well but we have to be careful because it was a knee. He needs time. I think he will be out for August and then maybe he will start to be with us in September”, the City boss explained.
Liverpool themselves will be without Alisson and Diogo Jota for the clash, due to take place on Saturday afternoon, as both are suffering from injuries of their own.
📰 Table Of Contents
Surprising new signing
In Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips, Manchester City have secured world-class options in their positions, while Julian Alvarez is a brilliant talent.
However, it is Stefan Ortega that has impressed Pep Guardiola the most, the Spanish coach admitted.
“Hopefully not, as soon they settle the better”, he said. “In my feeling they won’t take time. Stefan surprises us a lot in all aspects on the ball and build-up, Kalvin knows the PL perfectly. The way they settle in the few games we play, I think they will settle.”
There could yet be more arrivals, with Marc Cucurella having handed in a transfer request at Brighton as he looks to force through a move to the Etihad this summer and break the standoff that his current side and Manchester City have over a fee.
