Aguero faces two more months out in new City blow
Striker could miss at least 12 matches with knee problem Ake may come in for Laporte to make debut against Wolves
Pep Guardiola fears Manchester City could be without Sergio
Aguero for a further two months in an early blow to the club’s hopes of wresting back the Premier League title from Liverpool this season.
Aguero, 32, has not played since injuring his left knee in a 5-0 win over Burnley on June 22 and Guardiola has warned City may not see the striker back until late November. “We knew that the injury was difficult,” the City manager said. “He is doing the [recovery] job. In maybe one month or two months, he will be ready. He still hasn’t had one training session with us.”
A two-month layoff would rule Aguero out of at least 12 matches, including City’s Premier League opener at Wolves on Monday, when Guardiola also expects to be without his best defender, Aymeric Laporte, who only returned to training yesterday after recently testing positive for coronavirus.
There is also the problem of Aguero usually taking considerable time to get back up to speed after a lengthy layoff, something Guardiola acknowledged. “He has to come back on the pitch and regain the physical condition,” Guardiola said. “Sergio was out for a long time and Sergio is not a guy who regains the physical condition quickly, so I think in one month or two months he will be ready.”
With Premier League matches against Leicester, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham over the next two months, in addition to three Champions League group stage fixtures, the absence of Aguero – who scored 23 goals in 32 appearances last season – would be a bitter blow for Guardiola and increase the pressure on Gabriel Jesus.
Laporte’s absence is also a concern for City going into the game against Wolves, who beat Guardiola’s side home and away in the league last season, and could necessitate an early debut for new £41 million signing Nathan Ake from Bournemouth, with the club still to sign the second central defender the manager wants.
Forward Riyad Mahrez is expected to be available after returning to training sooner than Laporte, despite also testing positive for Covid-19. “Riyad came back three or four days ago, he’s training,” Guardiola said. “Today is the first day for Laporte. Riyad will be available, but Laporte not yet.”
This is the first time Guardiola has been manager of the same club for a fifth season but, while the Catalan said there was no news on his contract, which expires next summer, he has vowed to work harder than ever to put City back on top.
“It’s the same position, I work harder or better every day than the previous seasons, and do the best football as possible to win games and make our people proud of our team, that’s my job.”
In addition to Ake, City have signed Spain winger Ferran Torres, but their hopes of bringing in Lionel Messi were thwarted when the Argentina forward decided to stay at Barcelona and they have yet to land the second centre-half Guardiola wants.
Asked if there would be a chance of signing Messi – who is out of contract next summer – in the future, Guardiola said: “I don’t know. It’s a question for Leo Messi. I cannot talk about the intentions for other people. I think I don’t have to explain anything. I think Leo explained quite well his feelings, and I don’t have anything to add. He’s a player for Barcelona, the club I love, and there is nothing more to say.
“I’m more than satisfied with what I’ve had and I know the club does everything to do their best not just for me, for the team. If we have to stay with the players, I’ll be happy. I’ve never before or in the future will I complain, I’m lucky to have these players and that’s all.”