Pep Guardiola played down concerns over Aymeric Laporte’s lack after Norwich took full benefit of defensive frailties to overcome Manchester City 3-2 in Carrow Road.??
Without the injured Laporte, who’s out before the new year following knee operation, the City back-line weren’t up to scratch as the Canaries conducted out shock winners, dwell on Saturday Night Football.
Aims from Todd Cantwell along with Kenny McLean had the newly-promoted side deservedly before Sergio Aguero pulled a goal back.
However, with Kevin De Bruyne surprisingly only named as a substitute, the much-anticipated comeback never materialised since Teemu Pukki added a third after dreadful defending from Nicolas Otamendi.
A late strike from Rodri was small consolation for the visitors, who suffered their first defeat of the season to give a lead at the summit to Liverpool.
Guardiola dismissed suggestions his side finally have a weakness, although john Stones and Otamendi just began three times in the Premier League last season.
The Catalan told Sky Sports:“It’s a partnership which has played a lot. We have got Fernandinho and Rodri who will play there in different situations and it is not a concern. Things happen.
„We didn’t anticipate the harm and in over three decades together John and Nicolas have performed and thanks to them we’ve won.
„Laporte is wounded and Kompany is currently in Anderlecht, so we cannot just analyse it off one match. We will need to improve on that and hopefully we could do better.“
Having hauled the deficit back, Stones and Otamendi lived one mix-up since Pukki raced onto a ball, simply to skew his shot wide – however moments later the striker made amends.
Stones gathered the ball as the dallied to the border of the box and Otamendi, Emiliano Buendia nipped in to steal possession and lay on the sixth goal of the campaign of Pukki.
Guardiola slumped to his knees after the blow off, but bullishly added:“I understand that which we have been as a team, I know what we’ve done and that I know what we will do again.
„I really like my players, it is a joy and an honor to be together, but it’s a struggle at the maximum level. We cannot anticipate to reach 90 points within and to win every single time.
„We’re likely to need to recover, we visit Europe today, and then we will return.
„We understood the caliber of Norwich and we have had a lot of times to work with it. Conceding goals is part of football, and in the long run we pushed a great deal, but I have to congratulate Norwich.“
Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports:“The Laporte lack is the story at the moment, make no mistake about it. I believed that in the summer, after dropping Vincent Kompany they needed to recruit.
„Matthijs De Ligt moved to Juventus and he had the profile of everything Town like to buy, Harry Maguire went to Man Utd and it was odd for them since their recruiting is usually spot on.
„You can not foresee an injury just such as Laporte’s when he is out for six weeks, but you have to be prepared for every eventuality. At the moment, it is looking as though it could cost them.“
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