Mendy worry for Pep
> News of injury to fullback overshadows Champions League win over Donetsk
MANCHESTER CITY manager Pep Guardiola fears French fullback Benjamin Mendy faces months on the sidelines with injury and compared his situation to Ilkay Gundogan’s nine-month lay-off.
Mendy, signed for £50 million (RM275m) from Monaco in the summer, injured his knee during City’s weekend win over Crystal Palace and will fly to Barcelona to see Guardiola’s personal medical team for tests today.
City are still not certain the full extent of the knee injury but Guardiola nodded when asked if his absence would be measured in months.
“He is travelling to Barcelona and we are going to see what he has,” said Guardiola after City had continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk yesterday.
“Our first impression is that it will it be a little long, longer than we expected which is unfortunate. Wait but I am pretty sure it will be longer than we would like.
“The way we want to play, we will miss him a lot. He is a unique player... I think it is a major setback.”
Guardiola, who spent £130 million (RM715m) on three fullbacks in a 10day period over the summer, also conceded that the injury could force his club into the transfer market in January for a replacement.
“We will see in January,” he said. “We thought next summer we would look for another leftback but we will see what we will do.”
City’s victory, their eighth in nine unbeaten games this season, featured goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling.
But Sergio Aguero missed a penalty which would have seen him equal Eric Brook’s club record of 177 goals which dates back to the 1930s.
Guardiola said: “It doesn’t matter that he missed a penalty. The next time he will score.”
City have now compiled an astonishing 29-3 goal difference in their nine games this season and, as they prepare for Saturday’s visit to defending champions Chelsea, their manager admits he does not know his best attacking formation.
“No. I have a lot of confidence in five or six players. When playing with Sergio or Gabriel (Jesus) we have a lot of confidence,” he said.
“Bernardo (Silva) is an extraordinarily good player. A perfect player. I have a lot of confidence in them all. I sleep well in that respect.” – AFP