Pep Guardiola played down worries within Aymeric Laporte’s absence after Norwich took full benefit of defensive frailties to beat Manchester City 3-2 in Carrow Road.??
Without the wounded Laporte, who’s out until the new year following knee surgery, the City back-line were not up to scratch as the Canaries conducted out jolt winners, live on Saturday Night Football.
Until Sergio Aguero pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time Aims from Todd Cantwell along with Kenny McLean had the newly-promoted side deservedly.
However, with Kevin De Bruyne surprisingly just called a substitute, the much-anticipated comeback never materialised since Teemu Pukki inserted a third after dreadful protecting from Nicolas Otamendi.
A late attack from Rodri was little consolation for the visitors, who suffered their first defeat of the season to give Liverpool a five-point lead in the summit.
John Stones and Otamendi just began three occasions but Guardiola dismissed suggestions his side now have a glaring weakness.
The Catalan told Sky Sports:“It’s a venture which has played a lot. We have got Fernandinho and Rodri who will perform there in other circumstances and it’s not a worry. Things occur.
„We did not expect the injury and in more than three decades together John and Nicolas have played and thanks to those we have won.
„Laporte is wounded and Kompany is currently in Anderlecht, so we can’t simply analyse it off one match. We need to improve on this and hopefully we can do better“
Having hauled back the shortage, Stones and Otamendi lived one mix-up since Pukki raced onto a ball, simply to skew his shot wide – but seconds made amends.
Stones gathered the ball to Otamendi and since the dallied, Emiliano Buendia nipped in to steal ownership and lay about the sixth goal of the effort of Pukki.
Guardiola slumped to his knees following the blow off, but bullishly added:“I know what we have been as a group, I understand what we’ve achieved and I know what we can do .
„I love my gamers, it’s a pleasure and an honor to be together, but it is a struggle at the maximum level. We cannot expect to win every single time and to reach within 90 points.
„We are likely to have to recuperate, we visit Europe now, and then we will come back.
„We knew the quality of Norwich and we have had a great deal of days to work with it. Conceding goals is part of soccer, and in the end we pushed a great deal, but I have to congratulate Norwich.“
Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports:“The Laporte absence is your story right now, make no mistake about it. I believed that in the summer, they needed to recruit after losing Vincent Kompany.
„Matthijs De Ligt went to Juventus and that he had the profile of what City like to buy, Harry Maguire went to Man Utd and it was unusual for them because their recruiting is usually spot on.
„You can not foresee an accident just like Laporte’s when he is out for six months, but you need to be prepared for every eventuality. At this time, it’s looking like it might cost them“
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