---
title: "Guardiola confirms Laporte injury ahead of Villa clash"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2020/02/27/guardiola-confirms-laporte-injury-ahead-of-villa-clash/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Abdullah Mulla"
section: "Features & Analysis"
published: "2020-02-27T12:00:00Z"
modified: "2026-09-03T11:40:58Z"
---

# Guardiola confirms Laporte injury ahead of Villa clash

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has [confirmed an injury blow](https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/pep-guardiola-real-madrid-live-63718351) for his side ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Aston Villa.

Last year’s League Cup winners were forced to replace centre-back Aymeric Laporte during the UEFA Champions League last 16 clash with Real Madrid in Spain.

Following the match, Guardiola confirmed Laporte’s injury woes had returned. As seen in his[press conference video on the official City website](https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/pep-guardiola-real-madrid-live-63718351), Guardiola said:

> He’s injured and it’s a problem after being out injured for four or five months and then coming back still mending.
>
> It’s a pity because we dream to be with him until the end but unfortunately, we have suffered a lot this season in this department.

### READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT

The news comes as a blow for City because Laporte is one of the team’s best defenders, proven by the fact that the team has not lost a league match in which the Frenchman has featured in this season ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aymeric-laporte/leistungsdaten/spieler/176553)).

On the other hand, the news could be considered as a boost for Villa because it significantly weakens City, as proven above.

Laporte’s absence could provide [January arrival](https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2020/01/20/samatta-signs-for-villa) Mbwana Samatta with the opportunity to bully the City defence, because either Fernandinho, who is naturally a midfielder, or John Stones will need to fill in.

Stones has played a limited amount of football recently, featuring for just 25 minutes in City’s last four league matches ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/john-stones/leistungsdaten/spieler/186590)), which suggests he could be a little rusty if he does come back into the team.