« I think he’s almost there, » Guardiola said at his press conference ahead of Tuesday night’s semi-final first leg of city rivals Manchester United in the League Cup. « I spoke to him two days ago and he told me that he is currently training on his own with the ball. He is incredibly well, his knee looks really good. So I don’t think he needs much more time to practice with us again. He can come back in the next few weeks. » In mid-December Guardiola had already reported that the healing is going « perfectly » and there have been « no setbacks » so far.
Sané had torn his cruciate ligament in the Community Shield against Liverpool FC last August and had to take a five-month break. At the time, the winger had been strongly associated with a move to FC Bayern Munich, but the injury thwarted a possible summer transfer.
Laporte also on the brink of return for City
With Aymeric Laporte, another long-term injured person is about to return to City, the defender is already training with the team again. The loss of the Frenchman, who has been out of action since a knee operation in September, had been even more painful for the champion, as he could not really be replaced in defence.
And that is one of the main reasons why the third successive Premier League championship title is already a long way off. As third in the standings, the Skyblues are already 14 points behind leaders Liverpool FC, who have even gone one game short. The semi-finals of the League Cup will be fought against ManUnited on Tuesday evening and 29 January, with City meeting Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League (26 February-17 March).
