Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho will be out for weeks after both picking up injuries as Manchester City won the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, according to manager Pep Guardiola. Centre-back Laporte was replaced at half-time by Vincent Kompany, and Fernandinho limped off at Wembley Stadium just before the start of extra time. City eventually won their first trophy of the season, beating Chelsea 4-3 in a penalty shootout. Soccrates Images/Getty Images But the injuries they suffered on the day could yet have an impact on how the Sky Blues fare in the three other competitions they are still competing for. Guardiola bemoaned City's packed fixture list after the final, and compared his club's situation with that of Manchester United's after the Red Devils lost three players to injury in the first half of their 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Sunday, per Neil Leigh on ManCity.com: "The only bad thing is that we will miss players in the next weeks. We had extra time, lost two important players who will be out for a while and now those guys can help us and they will help us. But this is normal a lot of games and this sort of thing happens. Look at United today—they lost three players in the first half so it’s not just exclusive to us. "There are too many games, sometimes the pitches are not good, the ball is not perfect, and, in the end, people fall down. I am impressed how they can play so many games and not get injured but sometimes it just catches up with you. "In other countries they have less games, fewer competitions but now we have to face Schalke with important players missing. But I trust our squad and the guys who maybe didn't play too much are going to step forward and help us. Videos you might like "In the last action of the first half, Laporte felt something, and Ferna also felt something muscular so I think they well be weeks out." City are back in action in the Premier League on Wednesday when they host West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium. The defending champions dropped to second as a result of Liverpool picking up a point at Old Trafford: The Reds host Watford on Wednesday, so City will likely have to beat West Ham to keep pace with Jurgen Klopp's side in the title race. TF-Images/Getty Images They have cover for Laporte in the shape of Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi, but with John Stones also sidelined Guardiola will be desperate to avoid any more injury problems in defence. Meanwhile, Fernandinho is arguably the player in the City squad who is the hardest to replace: When the Brazilian midfielder had a thigh injury back in December, City lost back-to-back games against Leicester City and Crystal Palace. Guardiola will need to come up with a solution to avoid City enduring another such slump or they may lose ground in the Premier League title race.<doc-sep>Get the biggest City stories, analysis and transfer updates delivered straight to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been handed a considerable injury blow in the race for the Premier League title after Aymeric Laporte was forced off in the Blues'Carabao Cup final against Chelsea with a reported hamstring injury. The 24-year-old, who a signed two-year contract extension last week to prolong his Etihad stay until 2025, was replaced by club captain Vincent Kompany at centre-back for the second-half at Wembley. Laporte, who was a £57m acquisition in January 2018, has been a mainstay in City's defence this season, scoring four goals in 36 appearances across all competitions. The Athletic Bilbao academy product has featured in each of City's 27 Premier League games this season after asserting himself at the top of the pecking order among Guardiola's options at centre-back. The improved deal handed to Laporte by City last week only served to emphasise how highly-rated the centre-back is at the Etihad and Laporte, who has still to be capped at senior international level by France, was delighted to extend his City stay. "I could not be happier to commit my long-term future to Manchester City," he said. "Since the day I arrived here, I have been made to feel welcome by Pep and all the players. "This Club offers me everything I need to improve my game. I’ve already made great strides and I want to continue getting better and better. "Obviously, I want to win silverware and I feel City is the best place for to fulfil all my ambitions." City were leapfrogged by Liverpool into the Premier League's top spot after Jurgen Klopp's side drew against Manchester United in their game in hand on Sunday afternoon. Guardiola's side hold a 10-goal swing on goal difference, however, ahead of a run-in whose most difficult tests come against Tottenham on April 20 before the rearranged trip to Old Trafford to face United on April 24. Today's top Manchester City stories<doc-sep>Last updated on .From the section Football Fernandinho, 33, has played 35 times for City this season Pep Guardiola had mixed feelings after his side's Carabao Cup win, saying that Manchester City "will miss a lot of important players for a few weeks". City picked up their first trophy of the season with a penalty shootout win over Chelsea but lost Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho during the game. "Being in four competitions is so demanding, so tough, we don't know where we're going to arrive," he said. "Fernandinho and Laporte will be some weeks out." France defender Laporte was replaced at half-time by club captain Vincent Kompany, while Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho limped off just before the start of extra time to be replaced by Danilo. City's manic March 27 February: West Ham (h, Premier League) 12 March: Schalke (h, Champions League) 2 March: Bournemouth (a, Premier League) 16 March: Swansea (a, FA Cup) 9 March: Watford (h, Premier League) 30 March: Fulham (a, Premier League) Centre-back John Stones and left-back Benjamin Mendy are still out, leaving City short of defensive cover. Fernandinho played at centre-back against Schalke midweek, while Laporte has also covered at left-back recently. City play West Ham on Wednesday, and to add to their troubles centre-back Nicolas Otamendi is suspended for the second leg against Schalke on 12 March. "Winning this game is good for the enthusiasm for the next games," Guardiola, who won 14 honours in four years at Barcelona, said. "But we are going to suffer for the next competitions, especially in the Champions League and Premier League, "But the win is important for the mood - 'OK, guys, we have two titles already in our basket, the Community Shield and today'. "Winning the game is important for the enthusiasm for the next game, but this competition is demanding a lot. "I'm not going to compare. What we did in Barcelona is unique. This is new players, new club. Now we will see how far we can go."<doc-sep>
Pep Guardiola expects Aymeric Laporte and Fernandinho to be "out for weeks" after being injured in Manchester City's Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea. Defender Laporte, who has played in all 27 of City's Premier League games this season, was replaced by Vincent Kompany at half-time after suffering a suspected hamstring injury. Midfielder Fernandinho limped off holding his groin just before the end of normal time. "In the last action of the first half Laporte felt something and Fernandinho felt something too so I think it will be weeks out," said City boss Guardiola. Guardiola had already made three substitutions before Fernandinho was injured, bringing on Kompany, Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane before the 90 minutes were up. Image: Laporte battles with Chelsea's Eden Hazard at Wembley However, City were permitted to make a fourth substitution at the beginning of extra-time and Danilo came on to replace Fernandinho. City went on to win 4-3 on penalties, as Raheem Sterling scored the decisive spot-kick. Guardiola was pleased afterwards to win back-to-back Carabao Cup titles, but admitted the injuries to Laporte and Fernandinho could prove costly as City seek to overhaul Liverpool's one-point lead in the Premier League, while also competing in the FA Cup and the Champions League. Image: Fernandinho has been a key player for City this season, starting 25 of their 27 Premier League games "The only problem is we will miss a lot of important players for the next [few] weeks," Guardiola told Sky Sports. "Staying in all competitions is so demanding and so tough. I don't how far we are going to go because Laporte, Fernandinho and other players are injured. 6:36 Highlights of the Carabao Cup final final between Chelsea and Manchester City. Guardiola added in his post-match news conference: "For the future, for the next competitions, it is so tough. So tough because today we saw it, extra-time and two important players will be out for a while "We have a lot of games and we demand a lot from our players and these kind of things happen. 1:59 Ilkay Gundogan gives his reaction to Sky Sports after Manchester City won the Carabao Cup final on penalties "Too many games in bad conditions, the pitches are not good, even the ball is not perfect. At the end people fall down. "Now we are going to play Schalke with important players not playing but I trust the squad and I am pretty sure the guys who haven't played too much lately are going to make a step forward. We are going to find a solution."