Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 6y

Manchester City's Leroy Sane out for 'six or seven weeks' - Pep Guardiola

MANCHESTER -- Leroy Sane has been ruled out for "six or seven weeks" with the ankle injury suffered in the FA Cup victory over Cardiff City on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola initially hoped the winger would only be out for around a month after he was hurt following a challenge from Cardiff defender Joe Bennett, but the club has confirmed that he suffered ligament damage and Guardiola has now said he will be out for longer -- missing the Carabao Cup final and facing a race to be fit for the Champions League quarterfinals should City qualify.

The City boss was asked about the comments from Cardiff boss Neil Warnock, who initially said they should expect tough tackling in England, although he has since said he didn't realise how poor the challenge was.

"Sane is injured, six or seven weeks out," Guardiola told a news conference ahead of City's clash with West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday.

"[Warnock] has more experience than me by far about the English football. When he says that, what can I say?

"I was here 18 months and I think English football was not like this. My feeling is English football is not like this. But again Neil has more experience than me. He has spent all his career in England and that is why his opinions are his opinions."

City remain interested in Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred but Guardiola insisted that he is "95 percent" certain that City are finished with their incomings.

The club-record signing of Aymeric Laporte means that homegrown defender Tosin Adarabioyo could go out on loan but Guardiola insists that Eliaquim Mangala will stay.

"Since the summer-time Tosin needs to play. He played two or three in the Carabao Cup and was really good, especially Leicester away, controlling the striker in the last minute," Guardiola added.

"He hasn't had the minutes maybe he needs to play. We are looking for the right solution. He is an amazing guy. It is important for him to see if he can play regularly.

"It is the same case [with Mangala]. Tomorrow the transfer window finishes. Mangala helped us a lot in the season.

"I don't have doubts about his qualities. Defensively he a top, top, top player. When we decided to go for Laporte it is because he adds something on the ball, but we cannot forget how important Mangala was helps us a lot, particularly when Vincent was out and John Stones."

Guardiola defended his spending on defenders with Laporte's club record deal coming after expensive outlays on Stones, Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker.

"Some clubs spend £300-400m on two players, we spend it on six players," he added.

"We had a problem last summer with six players out of contract. When you want to compete at the highest level, you need to spend.

"Maybe one day this clubs will spend £100m or £130m on one player but we decide not to do it.

"We understand the inflation of the market. It is what it is. We accept criticism but what matters is our signings perform well and fit in at this club."

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