Tag: Manchester City

24Nov By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Kyle Walker backs Manchester City to recapture their ‘mojo’ despite slump

Kyle Walker and Erling Haaland of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England. Kyle Walker insists Manchester City have not lost confidence despite Saturday’s fifth consecutive defeat to Tottenham, with the captain insisting beating Feyenoord on Tuesday will recapture the champions “mojo”. City were routed 4-0 by Ange Postecoglou’s side at the Etihad Stadium, a third league reverse of the losing sequence. They remain on 23 points, five behind Liverpool, who can extend their advantage to 11 if Arne Slot’s side win at Southampton on Sunday and beat City at Anfield on Sunday-week. Pep Guardiola’s team next face Feyenoord in the Champions League. Walker said: “We’re going t...

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10Nov By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool go five points clear as Man City lose again

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Aston Villa FC at Anfield on November 9, 2024 in Liverpool, England. Liverpool opened a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 home defeat of Aston Villa after Manchester City slumped to a fourth successive defeat as Brighton & Hove Albion hit back to beat champions 2-1 at home on Saturday. Arne Slot’s side made it nine wins from their opening 11 league games with a Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah scoring the goals in a deadly demonstration of counter-attacking. City took the lead with Erling Haaland scoring his 12th league goal of the campaign but late goals by Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley stunned Pep Guardiola’s side who enter the international break with much to ponder. Liver...

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1Nov By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Pep Guardiola reveals the reason behind his departure from Barcelona

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) FC Barcelona has had the privilege of being able to count on several extraordinary managers throughout the club’s history. This included the likes of Johan Cruyff and now includes German head coach Hansi Flick as well. However, for almost every Barcelona fan and even for neutrals, the most successful coach at the club is a rather obvious name.Pep Guardiola, the current head coach of a dominant Manchester City side over in the Premier League, was formerly the head coach of FC Barcelona. However, while that may have been ...

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31Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Guardiola admits Man City are ‘in difficulty’ as injuries mount up

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 30, 2024 in London, England. Pep Guardiola claimed Manchester City were in trouble after they suffered further injuries in a 2-1 loss at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup to leave them with only 13 first-team players available. Already without Kyle Walker, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish for the fourth-round tie, Manuel Akanji was withdrawn ahead of kick-off before Savinho left on a stretcher in the second half. Guardiola was measured after first-half goals by Timo Werner – his first in 18 matches – and Pape Sarr inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on City, but he acknowledged p...

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29Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Manchester City’s Rodri wins Men’s Ballon D’Or award as Real Madrid boycott ceremony

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodri receives the Ballon d'Or award during the 2024 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28, 2024. Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri was awarded the men's Ballon d'Or on Monday after winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and Euro 2024, but Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony. The decision to award the prize for the world's best player to the deep-lying midfielder came as a surprise, with Real Madrid's Liga and Champions League double winner Vinicius Junior widely seen as the pre-ceremony favorite. Hours before the festivities in Paris, the Spanish club announced its delegation would not attend the ceremony at Chatelet Theatre because of what it perceived as a snub of Vinicius. R...

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28Oct By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

TRANSFERS

Manchester City, PSG plot raid on Barcelona for €30 million-rated star

Inaki Pena of FC Barcelona with the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly keen on signing 25-year-old Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena. According to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are hoping to sign 25-year-old goalkeeper Inaki Pena from La Liga outfit Barcelona, and they would have to pay €30 million for him. There is no doubt that both clubs have the financial muscle to get the deal done, and it will be interesting to see if they follow up on their interest with an official offer to sign the Spanish goalkeeper. Inalki Pena is not a key player for Barcelona, and he won’t be a regular sta...

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27Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Pep Guardiola issues Man City reality check despite Liverpool vs Arsenal title race bonus

Manchester City's Manager Josep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Manchester, England. Pep Guardiola will settle down on Sunday afternoon to watch Liverpool take on Arsenal knowing his Manchester City side are top of the Premier League. City beat Southampton on Saturday to leapfrog Liverpool at the top of the Premier League ahead of the leaders travelling to third-placed Arsenal on Sunday. Elsewhere on Saturday, Aston Villa and Brighton moved up places in the top five but were both held and Guardiola says the results so far this season prove that nothing can be taken for granted - especially after seeing City given two tough contests against the bottom two sides in the last week. "I will watch...

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25Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Pep Guardiola: Manchester City missing key quartet for Southampton game

  Pep Guardiola has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku all remain unavailable for Saturday’s home Premier League game against Southampton. Guardiola, who named only 15 outfield players in his squad for this week’s Champions League win against Sparta Prague, also admitted he had no idea when De Bruyne would return to contention. When asked if De Bruyne and Walker were available, Guardiola said: “No, not yet.” And when pressed on whether De Bruyne’s extended absence due to a thigh injury was a concern, Guardiola added: “Yes of course. I’d prefer to have all the squad (fit) with the amount of games, but it is what it is. “Hopefully he can come back soon. I don’t know (when) yet. I would like to tell you, but I don’t know.” Playmaker De Bruyne has been out si...

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15Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City target Rúben Amorim as next manager if Pep Guardiola leaves

Manchester City are strongly considering the Sporting Lisbon head coach Rúben Amorim as their next manager if Pep Guardiola leaves when his contract expires at the end of the season. Guardiola said last weekend that “anything can happen” in terms of his future. The importance of City having a succession plan is clear and the link with Amorim, regarded as one of the best young managers in Europe, is understandable. The 39-year-old is a close ally of Hugo Viana, who will take over from Txiki Begiristain as City’s director of football next summer. The desire for a smooth transition means Viana, who has been at Sporting since 2018, will collaborate with Begiristain before the 60-year-old retires at the end of the season. There is the prospect of an immediate recruitment challenge given that G...

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6Oct By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

TRANSFERS

Man City working to sign Serie A midfielder

Premier League champions Manchester City came from behind to beat Fulham 3-2 on Saturday afternoon. Andreas Pereira had given the Cottagers a surprise lead at The Etihad, before a Mateo Kovacic brace put the hosts in front. Jeremy Doku then added a third for the Citizens, before Rodrigo Muniz pulled another back for Marco Silva’s side. Fulham were unable to find an equaliser, though, and the victory puts City second in the table, behind leaders Liverpool. Kovacic is likely to be used regularly by manager Pep Guardiola with Rodri set to be sidelined for the remainder of the season, but in the meantime it appears City are attempting to sign a Serie A midfielder. As reported by Football Insider, City are laying the foundations to make a move for Atalanta’s Ederson. The Brazilian – who has bee...

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5Oct By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Kovacic at the double as Man City edge Fulham

Mateo Kovacic staked his claim to fill the void left by Rodri with two goals as Manchester City came from behind to beat Fulham 3-2.   The champions were stunned as Andreas Pereira fired Fulham ahead after 26 minutes of Saturday's Premier League encounter at the Etihad Stadium and the visitors should have had more. Past tormentor Adama Traore, scorer of three goals when Wolves did the double over City five seasons ago, was the guilty party, spurning a hatful of gilt-edged chances. Kovacic, filling in for the injured Rodri, made them pay with a double either side of half-time and substitute Jeremy Doku secured victory with a stunning strike before a Rodrigo Muniz consolation. Questions have been asked over how City will cope without the influential Rodri in midfiel...

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1Oct By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

Champions League

Manchester City stroll past Slovan Bratislava for first Champions League win

TOPSHOT - Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (2L) and team mates vie for the ball with Slovan Bratislava's players during the UEFA Champions League football match between SK Slovan Bratislava and Manchester City in Bratislava, Slovakia on October 1, 2024. (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP) (Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images) Manchester City eased to their first victory of this season’s Champions League as they brushed Slovan Bratislava aside 4-0 in Slovakia on Tuesday. Early goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden put them in command before Erling Haaland’s 42nd goal in 41 appearances in the competition and another from substitute James McAtee added the gloss. City also hit the woodwork three times in a dominant performance that added impetus to their campaign after...

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28Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City Draws to Newcastle United, Drops Points in Consecutive Games

Manchester City was held to a 1–1 draw against Newcastle United at St. James' Park after an Ederson challenge resulted in an Anthony Gordon penalty. Saturday marks the first time since Dec. 2023 that City has dropped points in consecutive Premier League games. NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Josko Gvardiol of Manchester City scores his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Manchester City FC at St James' Park on September 28, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images) Pep Guardiola's side last dropped points in back-to-back outings when it side drew to Tottenham Hotspur and lost to Aston Villa last season. City nearly lost to Arsenal last weekend at the Etihad Stadium if not for a John...

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28Sep By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

TRANSFERS

Man City ‘planning move’ for Barcelona star as Catalan outfit ‘reach agreement’

Manchester City are reportedly planning to move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong next year, with a deal during the January transfer window not being ruled out. Frenkie de Jong is presenting the 2024-25 FC Barcelona squad at the Luis Companys Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on August 12, 2024. (Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport /NurPhoto via Getty Images) The Citizens are expected to enter the winter market for a new central midfielder, having been hit with the news that Rodri will be out for the remainder of the campaign with a serious knee injury. Torino's Samuele Ricci has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, but according to Fichajes, De Jong is also firmly on the Manchester club's radar. The 27-year-old's contract at Camp Nou is due to expire in June 2026, ...

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25Sep By Silver Emmanuel1 Comment

PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City issue Rodri injury statement as Pep Guardiola faces ‘problem’

Manchester City have revealed Rodri has suffered ligament damage to his right knee - although the full extent of the injury remains unclear. The midfielder has been in Spain this week consulting specialists after limping off during the first half of City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday. A statement on mancity.com read: "Manchester City can confirm that Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee. The injury was sustained during the first half of this weekend's 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League. "The midfielder travelled to Spain to seek specialist consultation this week, following initial tests in Manchester. Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis. Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery and mancity.com ...

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23Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Rodri out for the season with ACL injury sustained in Man City’s draw against Arsenal

Rodri will miss the rest of Manchester City's season with an ACL injury he suffered against Arsenal, talkSPORT understands. The midfielder was substituted in the 21st minute of the 2-2 draw on Sunday after planting his foot in an awkward position on the pitch. He was able to hobble off the pitch but the Spaniard is said to have torn cruciate ligaments as per initial tests. It means it's very likely that this will spell the end of his season in what is a huge blow to City after initial optimism he wouldn't be out for a lengthy period. The extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed by City, who are bidding for an unprecedented fifth straight Premier League title. Speaking after the match, City boss Pep Guardiola revealed he didn't know how bad the 28-year-old's injury was. Guardiola said: "...

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23Sep By Silver Emmanuel3 Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester City rise above Arsenal’s tactics to salvage a point

Manchester City and Arsenal played out an entertaining 2-all draw at the Etihad yesterday. The Premier League encounter between the two teams had no shortage of talking points across the 90 minutes. But come the final whistle City had risen above Arsenal’s tactics to salvage a point from the match. But in doing so they showed the mettle that has served them so well in previous seasons to claim the past four Premier League titles. One talking point to come out of the game was the tactical approach employed by Mikel Arteta and his team. Arsenal were determined to frustrate Manchester City across the full 90 minutes. Even when the game was 11 versus 11 Arsenal employed tactics that were designed to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side. When they could Arsenal would disrupt the rhythm of...

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21Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Blow for Pep: “Unique” Man City star now in danger of missing Arsenal game after injury news

As Manchester City gear up for a game that could prove to make all the difference in the Premier League title race, they could be forced to fight for three points without one of their most influential players. Man City injury news Ask any previous title winner and they'll say that injury luck certainly plays its part where the silverware ends up come the end of the campaign. It is a lesson centred around squad depth that so many sides have learned in the past and one Manchester City took on board the last time they missed out on Premier League glory in the 2019/20 season. Unlike that campaign four years ago, Manchester City have so far not skipped a beat in pursuit of a fifth Premier League title win in a row to extend an unprecedented record and further cement themselves among the very b...

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19Sep By Silver Emmanuel2 Comments

Champions League

Man City blunted by ‘giant performance’ Inter in Champions League stalemate

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi praised his team's "giant performance" after holding Manchester City to a 0-0 draw in their Champions League opener. The expanded tournament format, designed to pit Europe’s top clubs against each other more frequently, saw both sides start their campaigns with a hard-fought stalemate. Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi said the Italian champions produced a "giant performance" to leave Manchester City frustrated in a 0-0 draw to begin their Champions League campaign on Wednesday. One of the selling points of the new expanded Champions League format was to bring together the continent's elite teams more often before the knockout stage. A repeat of the 2023 final, won 1-0 by City, did little to set the pulses racing, but Inter will feel they should have inflict...

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17Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Jorginho: Arsenal unfazed by Haaland’s form

Arsenal players are unfazed by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland's goal-scoring rampage, midfielder Jorginho said vouching for the north London side's confidence ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with City. City have had a perfect campaign in the league so far, while Arsenal secured three wins and a draw. Fresh off nine goals in four league games, including two hat tricks, Haaland has scored 99 goals from 103 appearances for City across all competitions. The Norway striker will aim for his century in Wednesday's Champions League clash against Inter Milan, while Arsenal begin their European campaign at Atalanta on Thursday and prepare to meet City at the Etihad on the Sunday. "Erling scoring again ... it is starting to make us laugh," the 32-year-old Italian said. "We look because...

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