“This, it must be stressed, is not a criticism of Laporte. He is terrific but he cannot do it all on his own.
“When he is not around, City look vulnerable and his absence, which Pep Guardiola has put down to hamstring damage, will be felt over the next month.
“Guardiola must hope that does not prove to be the case, particularly when Madrid arrive for the second leg in the middle of March.
“Keeping clean sheets in knockout games has been an issue since Guardiola has been at the club.”
