Phil Foden is frustrated at a lack of playing time at Manchester City this season and he doesn’t appear to be the only one. L’Equipe (h/t Sport Witness) say Aymeric Laporte is unhappy at being on the periphery under Pep Guardiola and has a ‘strained’ relationship with the City manager as a result.
Where will Manchester City finish this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
The 26-year-old would have been a regular alongside Ruben Dias, but he tested positive for Covid-19 at the start of the season and fell down the pecking order to John Stones weeks later. Laporte is now an unused substitute on a regular basis and may not get his place back for some time.
He’s made eight appearances in all competitions but hasn’t featured in the Premier League since mid-November. Guardiola has quite a juggling act with Laporte, Stones, Dias and Nathan Ake, but L’Equipe’s report suggests it’s not working with the uncapped Frenchman.
City have the best defensive record in the Premier League (12 goals conceded from 14 games) and have kept the second-highest amount of clean sheets (8), so Guardiola isn’t likely to change a partnership that is working so well. Laporte may have to be patient.