Aymeric Laporte analyses why Manchester City have failed to keep pace with Liverpool

Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte has analysed why the Blues have failed to succeed in rush for the Premier League title with Liverpool this season. Laporte's absence has hugely affected the club's recent results. The player was out of the game, suffering knee ligament injury since August. The 25-year-old has returned to the training and already managed to play in the Blues' 1 - 0 win over Sheffield United on Tuesday. He is likely to be fit for FA Cup 4th round tie against Fulham and Carabao Cup semi-final second leg versus Manchester United. As Laporte had to watch the Citizens struggling for the past four months, he has analysed why the champions have failed to keep pace with the Reds. Speaking on the case, he said: "It’s been tough watching from the stands, but it’s never easy. The last two years were very, very tough but this year other teams have improved, have made some transfers. Others have improved, and they have studied us, too. It gets more difficult every year so we have to stay focussed, work a lot and concentrate, and be more like we have in the last two years, and try to win every single game." On his first appearance after a long term injury, he added: "Normally it would have been later but I tried today, and I spoke with the manager and he told me he wanted me to play today. I’m happy to back as soon as possible, and get some minutes earlier than it was. I don’t know if I’ll be ready for 90 against United - you’d have to ask the manager, but I will be there with the team. It’s for the manager to decide everything."

Source: MEN

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