Erling Haaland is still recovering from a groyne injury, and according to Pep Guardiola, a decision will be made about his readiness for this weekend later on Friday.
Haaland has had a sensational debut campaign with Manchester City, tallying 42 goals across all competitions, easily the most of any player in Europe’s top five leagues.
However, an injury that prevented the forward from joining up with Norway set him back going into the international break.
Despite Guardiola’s desire to take his time with that decision, City is hopeful that Haaland will be available for Saturday’s crucial match against Liverpool.
“Erling is recovering,” the manager said. “We have the last training session and we will see how he feels.”
Guardiola, who added Phil Foden would be out for “two or three weeks” following appendix surgery, was asked if he would risk Haaland if he was not convinced he was fully fit.
The City boss was happy to trust the 22-year-old’s judgement, but he is also confident his side would cope without their superstar striker.
In thePremier League, Haaland has scored 28 goals, making up 42 per cent of City’s total this term and earning 20 points. All three are high marks for a City player in a single season.
“The doctors and especially the players will decide,” Guardiola said. “How does he feel? Yesterday I spoke with him and he feels good. But we will see, we will see what happens.
“We have scored a lot of goals this season, and he’s scored an incredible amount of goals, but in the past we also scored a lot of goals.
“Since we were here, and with Roberto Mancini and [Manuel] Pellegrini, always Man City was a team that scored a lot of goals in the season – with different players, different strikers.
“They scored a lot of goals, which is what we will try to do until the end of the season.”
City have scored the second-most goals across Europe in all competitions this season, with their 109 trailing Bayern Munich’s 112. They are the only two teams to reach three figures.
The second leg of their matchup will take place at the Etihad Stadium on April 26.
The Gunners are eight points ahead of City, who have a game in hand.
At the Emirates Stadium, City prevailed 3-1 in the first leg.
Since Mikel Arteta served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant in Manchester for three years before leaving to take over at his old club, there is a unique connection between this year’s title race and Arteta.
Arteta received some assistance from his former coaching staff when he signed Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus and Ukrainian star Oleksandr Zinchenko for a combined £82 million in the summer, as reported by Caught Offside.
Arteta is copying Guardiola’s tactics
Jesus and Zinchenko have been pivotal for Arsenal.
While many fans have slammed Guardiola for selling them to a rival, Arteta revealed he has taken more from his former boss than two important players.
Zinchenko is a versatile player who can play as a full-back, midfielder, or winger.
Arteta has exploited this advantage at Arsenal by using him as a floating full-back in a move traced back to his compatriot.
“It started when I was in Barcelona; we used to play a 3-4-3 diamond and one of the full-backs used to play there.
But Pep did it at Bayern for the first time with Phillip Lahm and then that was developed at City with many different ways of doing it with different players,” Arteta told Mirror UK.
”So that is the great thing, that you can take all the time things from other sports, other coaches to make yourself better and that curiosity is necessary to evolve and be better,” he added.
De Bruyne’s message to Guardiola
Speaking of Guardiola, there are reports of dressing room rifts between him and some players including João Cancelo, who departed to Bayern on loan in January.
Sports Brief reported on Kevin De Bruyne sending a message to Guardiola to express his dissatisfaction over the reduced playing time given to him this season.
While KDB said he will do his best when called on, his manager believes the Belgium captain must return to the basics to regain his position on the first team.
Barcelona may have lost Pep Guardiola to greener pastures, but the team will always hold a special place in his heart. The manager of Manchester City is still a staunch supporter of the Catalan giants after having played for them and later coaching them.
In the audience before La Blaugrana’s match against Real Madrid in the El Clasico, Guardiola showed his support for the team.
The Spanish manager was spotted in the stands with Johann Cruyff’s wife before the game started. Widely considered as Barcelona’s greatest manager, Guardiola was no slouch as a player either.
As noted by the club’s website, he played 479 games for the side and scored 16 goals. He won six league titles as a player, four Spanish Super Cups, two Copa Del Rey trophies, two European Super Cups, and one European Cup.
Guardiola scouting Real Madrid?
Guardiola’s presence at Camp Nou may have been twofold. The former Barcelona manager could have also been there scouting Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid ahead of a potential clash.
Manchester City have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the quarter-final of the Champions League. The winner of that game will face the winner of Real Madrid and Chelsea in the semi-final of the competition.
Barca move 12 points clear Barcelona snatched a 2-1 win over Real Madrid with Franck Kessie’s late goal Sunday to move 12 points clear at the top of La Liga, Sports Brief reported.
The victory dents Los Blancos’ ambitions of retaining the title and leaves the Catalans that much closer to lifting the trophy for the first time since 2019. Carlo Ancelotti’s charges took the lead through a Ronald Araujo own goal, but Barca pulled level when Sergi Roberto tucked home just before half-time.
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has requested that Pep Guardiola refrain from promoting him as the next manager of Manchester City.
This is because he is still in the beginning phases of his coaching career.
In Saturday’s FA Cup quarterfinal match, City legend Kompany—who spent 11 years at the Etihad Stadium and earned 10 major awards during that time—will take on his former team.
In what is sure to be a touching reunion, Kompany will make his first trip back to the stadium, where a statue honoring his tenure at the club was unveiled in August 2021.
Kompany has enjoyed great success in his first season as manager of Burnley, who are cruising toward promotion from the Championship after two seasons as coach of Anderlecht.
Guardiola reiterated on the eve of the game that he fully expects the 36-year-old to manage City one day, but Kompany says that is an unrealistic view at this point.
“He has got to stop saying it,” Kompany said. “I’m a Championship manager. I don’t know what you want from me.
“I think [Guardiola] should stay for another 10 years at Manchester City first and foremost.
“City are competing to win the Champions League; we are competing to win the Championship – I don’t think these kinds of conversations make sense.
“They need to have the best manager in the world. I want to be extremely respectful to the club I manage as well. This club to me means everything. I want this club to get better.”
Among other compliments, Guardiola praised Kompany – whom he worked with for three seasons – for instilling an “exceptional” style of play at Burnley so quickly.
Asked if Guardiola’s comments are putting added pressure on his own managerial career, Kompany said: “Pressure is a thing of your own mind.
“I think if you play in big finals you are okay with pressure, but I try to be as rational as I can.
“I am in an environment where the people I work with are rational enough to not make my job dependent on whether we beat Manchester City.
“I came to Burnley because I chose it for the people. It is an environment where I have a chance to learn and get better.”
Burnley have not won away at City since the 1973 Charity Shield, drawing four and losing 12 of their 16 visits since then.
Although Pep Guardiola feels he will always be a “failure” in the Champions League, his biggest regret is related to Julia Roberts, a famous Hollywood actress.
After defeating RB Leipzig 8-1 on the road, including five goals from Erling Haaland in the 7-0 second-leg victory, Guardiola’s Manchester City advanced to the quarterfinals of Europe’s premier club competition for the sixth consecutive year.
Despite not having won the Champions League yet (losing in the final in 2021), Tuesday’s performance reaffirmed City as a contender.
Guardiola explained how missing out on a visit from Pretty Woman star Julia Roberts puts this disappointment in perspective, despite failing to win the European Cup with either Bayern Munich or City. Guardiola’s last European championship came as the coach of Barcelona.
“I’m a failure in the Champions League, I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m going to explain a secret. Whatever happens this year in the Champions League, even if we win this Champions League or win three in a row, I will be a failure.
“I have three idols in my life: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Julia Roberts. These are my three idols. For obvious reasons, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods deserve it, and Julia Roberts as well.
“Julia Roberts, years ago, came to Manchester. Not in the 1990s, when Alex Ferguson win titles, titles, titles and titles. She came in the period when we were better than United, these four or five years.
“And she went to visit Man United. She didn’t come to see us. So, even if I win the Champions League, it cannot compare to the fact Julia Roberts came to Manchester and did not come to see us. My idol.
“That’s why no matter what happens, even if I win theChampions League, it will not make up for the disappointment I had.”
Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola engaged in a sombre “argument” following his removal from the lineup during their decisive victory over RB Leipzig on March 14.
Haaland scored five of the seven goals Manchester City scored against their German opponents to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.
After an hour had passed, Haaland was taken off the field to a standing ovation from the fans at Etihad Stadium and his manager, who congratulated him. He joined Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano as the only players in Champions League history to score five goals in a single match.
But as the Norwegian later revealed, he questioned Guardiola as to why he had denied him the opportunity to complete a double hat-trick. Haaland was of the idea that had he been accorded a few
However, Guardiola downplayed the incident, revealing his satisfaction with his striker who has now broken the record for most goals for Man City in a single season. “If he achieved this milestone at 22, 23 years old, it will be boring, his life. Now he has a target.
That’s why I make the substitution,” Guardiola said as quoted by the Independent. The Spanish manager also admitted he had no idea about Messi’s record when he took the Norwegian off.
Sports Brief also reported on football fans on social media being unable to understand Guardiola’s decision to sub Haaland in Man City’s 7-0 thrashing of Leipzig on Tuesday.
The Norwegian scored five goals with only 30 touches with his hat-trick being completed before half-time, but the 22-year-old was keen on more goals when he was hooked off.
Haaland missed out on the chance to achieve another special milestone after his manager,Guardiola substituted him in the 64th minute in an act of mercy towards the Germans.
Pep Guardiola believes he will always be a “failure” in the Champions League, but his greatest regret is his relationship with Hollywood actress Julia Roberts.
Guardiola’s last European title was as Barcelona coach, coming up short with both Bayern Munich and City, yet he explained how missing out on a visit from Pretty Woman star Roberts puts this disappointment into perspective.
“I’m a failure in the Champions League, I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m going to explain a secret. Whatever happens this year in the Champions League, even if we win this Champions League or win three in a row, I will be a failure.
“I have three idols in my life: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Julia Roberts. These are my three idols. For obvious reasons, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods deserve it, and Julia Roberts as well.
“Julia Roberts, years ago, came to Manchester. Not in the 1990s, when Alex Ferguson win titles, titles, titles and titles. She came in the period when we were better than United, these four or five years.
“And she went to visit Man United. She didn’t come to see us. So, even if I win the Champions League, it cannot compare to the fact Julia Roberts came to Manchester and did not come to see us. My idol.
“That’s why no matter what happens, even if I win the Champions League, it will not make up for the disappointment I had.”
Manchester City have reached the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite club competition for the sixth consecutive season, thanks to an 8-1 aggregate win over RB Leipzig, which included five Erling Haaland goals in the 7-0 second-leg victory.
Tuesday’s performance re-establishes City as a title contender, despite the fact that they have yet to win the Champions League, having lost in the final in 2021.
As the second legs of theChampions League last 16 continue on Tuesday, there will be two closely contested matches.
Romelu Lukaku’s late goal gave Inter a slim 1-0 lead over Porto at San Siro going into the rematch in Portugal.
The Serie A giants, however, did not exactly practise well, falling to Estoril Praia 3-2 on the same day that Sergio Conceicao’s team defeated lowly Spezia 3-2 in a hard-fought victory.
Erling Haaland’s penalty helped Manchester City defeat Crystal Palace 1-0, and RB Leipzig, a Bundesliga team, moved up to third in the standings after defeating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-0.
After their 1-1 draw in the first leg in Germany, Pep Guardiola will be hoping that home advantage can keep the club’s dream alive of a first Champions League title.
We have picked out the standout Opta data to preview Tuesday’s games.
Having said that, Porto have lost four of their last six home matches in the knockout stages of the Champions League, conceding 13 goals across those four defeats.
They have, though, won each of their last four home matches in Europe against Italian clubs, beating Roma, Juventus, Milan and Lazio in succession. The last Italian side to defeat them away from home was Juventus in February 2017.
Inter have progressed from four of their five two-legged Champions League knockout ties when winning the first leg, only being eliminated from such a position in 2005-06 by Villarreal.
Porto have been eliminated from six of their seven two-legged Champions League knockout ties when losing the first leg, only progressing in 2018-19 against Roma.
Lukaku’s winning goal in the first leg meant he has scored eight goals in 12 appearances for Inter in the Champions League. His record of 111 minutes per goal is the best of any player to have scored five or more goals for the club in the European Cup/Champions League.
Manchester City v RB Leipzig
City are unbeaten across their last 23 home matches in the Champions League, winning 21. If they avoid defeat in this match, they will equal Arsenal’s record for the longest home unbeaten run by an English club in the competition (24 games between September 2004 and April 2009).
Leipzig are unbeaten in five matches in the Champions League (W4 D1), their longest unbeaten run in the competition since a seven-game stretch in 2019-20 when they reached the semi-final.
The last team to defeat City at the Etihad Stadium in a Champions League knockout stage match was Liverpool in the 2017-18 quarter-final second leg – visiting sides have avoided defeat just once in eight matches since.
Marco Rose has taken charge of three matches in the Champions League knockout stages, with all three coming against City, after his Monchengladbach side were eliminated by the club in the last 16 in 2020-21. The only previous instance of a head coach facing the same opponent in his first four Champions League knockout stage matches is Frank Rijkaard against Chelsea between 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Haaland has scored 17 goals in 11 home matches in the Champions League for Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and City, scoring at least two goals in seven of those games. The Norwegian has scored a goal every 49 minutes on average in these matches.
Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku has scored 10 goals across his last 12 starts in the Champions League, including a hat-trick against City at the Etihad Stadium in September 2021. Nkunku is one of two players to score a hat-trick against City in the competition, the other being Lionel Messi in October 2016.
No matter how many times his team wins thePremier League, Pep Guardiola acknowledges that the success in the Champions League will define his time as manager of Manchester City. Tuesday’s second leg of City’s Champions League last-16 tie against Bundesliga powerhouse Leipzig will be played with the goal of reaching the quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season.
Despite being held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Guardiola’s team is expected to advance in front of their home crowd at the Etihad Stadium.
The quest to end City’s wait to win the top club competition in Europe for the first time inspires and frustrates Guardiola at the same time.
The 52-year-old has won the Premier League four times, four League Cups, and FA Cup during his remarkably successful seven years in Manchester.
Yet for all his domestic glory with City, it is the Champions League that remains the holy grail. .
Guardiola won the Champions League twice as Barcelona boss, in 2009 and 2011, but failed to repeat that success in his three years with Bayern Munich.
City lost to Chelsea in the 2021 final but have also endured a series of agonising exits from the knockout stages, with last season’s astonishing late collapse against Real Madrid in the semi-finals an especially bitter blow.
Asked if his time at City would be judged solely on his European achievements, Guardiola told reporters: “Yes. It doesn’t mean I agree with that but absolutely we will be judged by this competition.” However, he believes City’s gradual progress from outsiders to established members of Europe’s elite under his leadership deserves more respect.
“Since day one when I arrived, sitting here for the first time, they (the media) asked me ‘Are you here to win the Champions League?’” he said. “I said ‘What? If you are manager of Real Madrid maybe I accept that.’
But I accept it here. It’s not going to change.” ‘Try again’ City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is adamant the Guardiola era should still be deemed a success despite the failure so far to land the Champions League title.
“Every year we have been close, quarters, semis, final. We just haven’t done the last bit. We are going to try again,” he said. “If you care about the noise then obviously it’s going to annoy you. I know we haven’t won it but we have done really well. “I know people only judge on if you win it, but there have been a lot of circumstances.
” With City trailing five points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League, the Champions League is even more important for Guardiola’s team this season.
For City to win the Premier League or Champions League, they will needErling Haaland at his best. Haaland scored the penalty winner at Crystal Palace on Saturday to reach 34 goals in all competitions this season.
There are still critics of Haaland’s lack of involvement in City’s build-up play and Guardiola believes the Norway striker can improve that side of his game. “I don’t like one player just to be in the box to score goals. Of course that is important, it is the main thing, but it is not all we need of him,” Guardiola said.
“When we are away from the opponent’s box he cannot score a goal. We need him to be involved and to be active. “He has improved a little bit but on this he can do better.”
Despite Crystal Palace’s loss on Saturday,Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on Jordan Ayew.
The reigning champions were welcomed to Selhurst Pack by the Eagles.
Up until the Citizens were given a penalty for Michael Olise’s late challenge on Ilkay Gundogan, Jordan kept up his impressive play for the home team.
The 28th goal of the year for Erling Haaland came from the penalty spot.
After the game, Guardiola praised Palace’s tenacity and praised Ayew and Zaha for their contributions despite the team’s loss at home.
“It is always tricky playing here [Selhurst Park],” told Sky Sports.
“We are always confident playing at home but I always have this belief that it is always tricky here.
“The way they play and run is just incredible. Jordan Ayew and Zaha are incredible players.
“They are always running and creating spaces for the team,” he added.
With the loss, Palace’s worrisome 10-match losing streak in league play is now the longest in the division, and Patrick Vieira’s team is now only four points above the relegation zone.
Jordan Ayew has been selected for the Black Stars team to play Angola in a doubleheader at the2023 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] later this month.
Manchester City defeated tenacious Bristol City 3-0 at Ashton Gate to go to the FA Cup quarterfinals.
In front of a large crowd in the West Country, Phil Foden scored twice, and Kevin De Bruyne added a late flourish as the six-time FA Cup champions halted Bristol City’s 12-game winning streak.
The final score was unfair to the hosts because they trailed after Foden’s goal in the seventh minute and remained competitive deep into the fourth quarter.
Yet 16 minutes from time, Foden’s deflected goal and a beautiful De Bruyne finish guaranteed the visitors’ spot in the round of eight.
De Bruyne, who had missed two games due to illness, made five changes to the Manchester City lineup from the team that defeated Bournemouth on Saturday.
England midfielder Kalvin Phillips made only his second start since leaving Leeds last summer as Ederson, Erling Haaland, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish and Rodri began the night on the bench.
Phillips was clearly determined to impress after his injury troubles and only 63 seconds had elapsed when he struck the crossbar from 25 yards.
In a frantic opening Manuel Akanji’s slip gave Sam Bell a shooting opportunity that ended up being deflected wide and the visitors were ahead soon after.
Riyad Mahrez worked a clever one-two with De Bruyne and the Algerian’s cross to the far post was swept high into the net by Foden, who scored for the second successive game.
Bristol City’s response was a loud penalty shout after Mark Sykes tangled with Rico Lewis. It appeared a legitimate appeal but referee Andre Marriner was unmoved and, with no VAR in operation, home fans were left frustrated.
Julian Alvarez miskicked in front of the home goal from Foden’s cross, but Bristol City were acquitting themselves well and getting a fair amount of joy down their left flank.
Alex Scott shot straight at Stefan Ortega and Bell fired over after Tomas Kalas caught De Bruyne in possession.
Manchester City’s threat was also evident as Mahrez saw his volley headed off the line by Kalas and Ruben Dias tested Max O’Leary with a header.
Mahrez was making his 400th appearance in English football and Robins boss Nigel Pearson, who signed him for Leicester in 2014 from French club Le Havre, could not resist having a word with the Algerian when he went to ground following a touchline challenge from Cameron Pring.
Ederson replaced Ortega at half-time and Manchester City took charge of the contest without working O’Leary until Alvarez forced him into a save low to his right.
Foden was caught late and took instant retribution on Sykes to earn a yellow card and a word from his manager Pep Guardiola to stay focused.
The temperature was rising both on and off the pitch as the contest became more balanced and Bristol City fans urged their players to seize the moment.
It almost arrived when Scott dispossessed Dias for Andreas Weimann to send over a cross which Bell headed just wide.
But it was all over when De Bruyne played a wonderful through ball to Nathan Ake before Alvarez helped it on to Foden, and the Belgium midfielder ensured he would have the last word from 20 yards.
In thePremier League title race, according to Pep Guardiola, “everyone is going to drop points” between now and the end of the season.
When they recently defeated rival Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Manchester City appeared to be taking the lead. However, after drawing with Nottingham Forest to give the Gunners the opportunity to reclaim first place, both teams won again the following weekend.
The race is expected to be close because third-place Manchester United is also closing in, but Guardiola is unconcerned by the ups and downs.
He made a sarcastic remark during a press conference prior to his team’s trip to Bristol City in the FA Cup fifth round: “After Nottingham we were not consistent, but now we are consistent because we won one game [against Bournemouth on Saturday].”
“In our game we are playing it is good, the results could be better in terms of winning at Spurs [1-0 away defeat] and Nottingham, but it is football, sometimes that happens. Of course, it is not exceptional, it is okay, it is good. No complaints for the way we are playing and fighting.
“After the last game I said the mood is exceptional and the guys are doing everything, that is enough for me.
“We are closing right to the last 10 games of the season, and that will define it.. I have the feeling in the Premier League many things are going to happen; everyone is going to drop points, but we cannot drop any; we want to fight until the end.”
27 – Erling Haaland's 27 Premier League goals this season is the most by a Manchester City player in a single top-flight campaign since Francis Lee's 33 in 1971-72. Bountiful. #BOUMCI
Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte were all absent from the 4-1 win at Bournemouth, though the Belgium midfielder was an unused substitute, and Guardiola updated to say: “[We] have training this afternoon. Kevin still has a little bit of illness but is much better.”
City’s trip to Bristol City on Tuesday will see them come up against a side who have not lost in 12 games (W6 D6) and sit 13th in the Championship.
“From my experience in this country when you go away from home in theFA Cup against a Championship side, always, always it is tough,” Guardiola said. “At home it would be a little bit different. Away, always it is tough in the FA Cup.
“That is why we are flying there tomorrow to do a good game and go through. It is a nice competition and we will do what we have to do.”
Manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, offered a novel solution to RB Leipzig’s struggles to score more after watching his team hold them to a second consecutive 1-1 draw, this time in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match.
“Maybe in the second leg I will be crazy and play with nine strikers,” he joked.
Even though Guardiola seemed upbeat following the match in Germany, and a draw on the road in a European knockout match is certainly not a result to be sniffed at, he will likely still be frustrated that his team has not converted their recent dominance into more goals.
The same thing happened at RB Leipzig as it did at the weekend, costing them two points in the Premier League title race after Manchester City’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Nottingham Forest’s equaliser.
Riyad Mahrez’s goal was the only result of City’s complete dominance in the first half.
“You expect us to come here and win 0-5? That is not a reality,” Guardiola told BT Sport after the game.
“This is a competition where, in the group stage, many important teams are out. It is difficult. We are a good team, and we do many, many good things. We continued to do this.
“People expect us to come here and win 4-0; I am sorry we are not able to do this.”
A quiet night for Haaland
City’s hopes of scoring more than one goal were not helped by a quiet display from Erling Haaland.
The striker, who missed a number of chances at Forest, had just seven touches of the ball in the first half and none of those were in the opposition penalty box.
Haaland, usually so deadly with the few chances he gets, had a real opportunity to add a second for City after the break but dragged his shot well wide.
The Norway international has five goals in five Champions League games for Guardiola’s side this season and has 32 overall, so of course the odd quiet game is allowed, but this was a particularly anonymous one.
By the end he had had 20 touches of the ball and just one shot on goal.
Mahrez, who scored his 20th goal in the Champions League, defended the work of his team-mate.
“He is a fast, powerful attacker and we know his qualities,” he said.
“It’s not up to him to win, to go get the ball. He’s not there to have 70 touches every game.”
Former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson, who was watching the game for BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “You can’t say he doesn’t do his job when you look at the numbers. I know he didn’t score tonight, but that’s his role; that’s how they play.
“His manager seems happy with it and he seems happy that he’s scoring loads of goals and going to be breaking records in terms of that.”
‘Trust the process’ as Guardiola opts not to turn to his bench
As the game wore on and a winner for City – who were unfortunate not to have been awarded a late penalty for handball – looked increasingly unlikely, it seemed unusual that Guardiola did not turn to his bench.
With a number of attacking options available to him including Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez, Guardiola had players who could make a difference, but he didn’t see the need to mix things up.
“I saw the team was good, especially in the middle,” he added. “In the end I decided to continue with what I had.”
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said on BT Sport: “You want to get on the pitch and play football, especially when you think you are the person who can affect this game, unlock this team.
“But at the same time you have to respect Pep. All of the players, especially in the attacking areas of the pitch, have these moments – so you have to be patient, trust the process.”
‘We will adjust some things to try and go through’
Pep Guardiola debriefed his players on the pitch at full time
Given City’s formidable record on home soil — they have won 17 of 19 games at the Etihad Stadium this season — they will rightly feel confident of getting the job done in the return leg on Tuesday, March 14.
At full-time on Wednesday, Guardiola gathered his players in a huddle to remind them they had plenty to be positive about.
“I said ‘why you have your heads down? Heads up, it was good’,” Guardiola said of that moment.
“Hopefully, in three weeks, we will arrive in good condition. We can do better. We have to adjust some things and find a way to go through.”
Pep Guardiola hits back at speculation thatManchester City would easily defeat RB Leipzig following a discouraging 1-1 draw in their Champions League last-16 match.
Wednesday at the Red Bull Arena, Riyad Mahrez gave City a 27th-minute lead after City had completely dominated the first half of the first leg in Germany.
Guardiola’s visitors had the upper hand, but Leipzig rallied after the break, and Josko Gvardiol secured a point for Leipzig ahead of the rematch on March 14 at Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola refuted Marco Rose’s claim that a convincing victory at Leipzig was always likely despite the fact that his team is currently fifth in the Bundesliga and had failed to score in three previous Champions League quarterfinal matches.
The City manager told BT Sport: “People expect we are going to win 5-0, that’s not a reality. It is past the group stage in a very competitive competition and many important teams around.
“It is difficult, we knew this, our fourth game in 10 days, the away games, the travels and the people expect [wins]…
“I know we are a good team, and we continue to do good things. But people expect we come here and win 4 or 5-0, we are not able to do this.”
The opening 45 minutes were in stark contrast for what was to follow, with City boasting 74 per cent possession and only conceding one shot on target in the first half – a timid Timo Werner effort at Ederson.
Guardiola’s side managed just a 49.2 percent share of the ball in the second half, facing six shots, as substitute Benjamin Henrichs spurned a pair of glorious opportunities.
RB Leipzig 1-1 Man City: Man City looked comfortable at half-time, but a poor second half means that this #UCL tie is level heading into the second leg at the Etihad Stadium next month. pic.twitter.com/QyINoab9tr
Former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss Guardiola insisted he was “happy” with the entire performance, however.
“They make a step forward, they pressed everyone high up, more problems in the build-up,” he said when asked about the second half.
“After the goal we conceded, we came back – we made a good last 15, 20 minutes. We had good chances, both sides in both halves, and now we go back to Manchester to decide it.”
Pressed on the drop in performance levels, a somewhat irked Guardiola added: “I’m happy for the whole game, not just the first half. What do you expect? We play a friendly game here?”
Despite Leipzig growing in confidence as the final whistle drew closer, Guardiola opted to make no substitutions throughout.
Gary Neville thinks Arsenal has regained momentum in the title race as a result ofManchester City’s shoddy finishing and weak defence.
Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions dropped two crucial points at Nottingham Forest three days after defeating the Gunners 3-1 at the Emirates last Wednesday, when they could only manage a 1-1 draw.
In the meantime, Mikel Arteta’s team recovered from that crushing defeat at home with a thrilling 4-2 victory at Aston Villa, propelling them back to the top of the standings.
And 48-year-old Neville, a legend of Manchester United, thinks the North Londoners will win the trophy in May.
Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, he said: “We’ve got an intriguing title race. Arsenal needed a good weekend. They’ve conceded 10 goals in the last six games.
“They need to stop conceding goals. One of the traits of a run-in is that if you’re conceding goals and teams feel they have a chance, it’s very difficult to win a league. They just need to watch that.
“They can go five points clear again if they win their game in hand. Thomas Partey not playing is a miss but they just need to think about getting back to clean sheets in this next period.
“But for City, they’re still giving Arsenal a big chance because they’re not playing at their best. They’re sloppy in front of goal and they still look vulnerable themselves at the back.
Gary Neville, pictured with fellow Sky Sports pundits Micah Richards and Roy Keane, is worried for Pep Guardiola’s men
“There is such a long way to go and it will twist back and forward.
“I watched the highlights of the City game against Forest and they missed chance after chance and were sloppy in front of goal.”
Neville has also questioned Guardiola’s decision to deploy playmaker Bernardo Silva as a makeshift defender.
He added: “I still can’t get my head around Silva in a left-back position.
“I think you’ll concede goals there potentially if that continues to happen and Guardiola is taking a risk if he has him there.
“When they went ahead against Arsenal and started to look comfortable was when they went to a proper back four.”
Manchester City needs a striker, and claims that Erling Haaland only scores “easy” goals are “a lie,” according to his teammate Ederson.
Since joining City from Borussia Dortmund last year, Haaland has scored 32 goals in 31 appearances across all competitions, which is more than any other player from one of the top five leagues in Europe.
In the Premier League, he has scored 26 goals, but the 22-year-old has recently come under fire as City struggles to overtake Arsenal and Manchester United in the race for the championship.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said Haaland “might have picked the wrong club,” while Arsenal great Thierry Henry speculated that Tottenham’s Harry Kane might have been a better fit for City.
However, Ederson believes Haaland is well-suited to City’s style, though he acknowledges Pep Guardiola’s men have had to adapt to his characteristics.
“When he arrived, we said he was going to score a lot—and that’s been happening.” “He is a brilliant goalscorer; he always looks to score and help the team,” Ederson told UEFA.com.
“He is the striker we needed because, in comparison to Gabriel [Jesus], they are different players.” Gabi likes to come in from out wide; he is stronger and more versatile. Haaland plays more centrally, looking to get into the box, he is a target in the area.
“That has been the major difference. When you get into the final third you have someone who will always be in the area.
“Many people say most of the goals he scores are easy—but that is a lie.” It’s his positioning—that’s his best ability. He doesn’t score easy goals, he positions himself very well.
City return to Champions League action when they visit RB Leipzig for the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday, and with Haaland netting 28 times in 23 appearances in the competition throughout his career, the club hope his finishing ability will help deliver their first European crown.
Ederson is in no doubt as to the importance of continental success to City, saying: “That’s our main objective, the main objective of the club.
“We’ve been trying [to win it] and will carry on trying. We haven’t won it yet, we reached the final [in 2021], and a few semi-finals, and we didn’t come out of it with a good result.
“But I think this year, we’re more than capable of getting to the final and challenging for the title.
“Now this title is what the club needs, it’s what we athletes need and it’s what Guardiola needs here at the club, too. This year, we’re going to try. We’re going after it.”
Joao Cancelo called claims that he and Pep Guardiola had a falling out a “lie” and claimed that both the Manchester City manager and the team “gave me everything.”
Brazilian fullback One of the more unexpected movements of the January transfer window had Cancelo joining Bayern Munich on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
At the Etihad Stadium,Cancelo was reported to have been kicked off the team after an altercation with Guardiola.
The former Juventus defender did, however, express his gratitude for what Guardiola has done for his professional career.
Speaking to Movistar after Bayern beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, Cancelo said: “People who say that I fought with Guardiola [it] is a lie.
“I didn’t feel important in the team in the last games. I spoke with the coach and he also agreed. And together with the club we decided that I had to leave, that it was the best for me.”
Cancelo’s contract at City runs until June 2027 and he conceded it remains a possibility he will play for the club again in the future.
“I like the new opportunities, it’s not against City,” he added.
“I think that at City he has taken the step to the level he wanted to reach, that’s where I became the player I am today.
“I am grateful to both Pep and the club because they gave me everything. My daughter was born in Manchester and it’s a club I’ll never forget.
“And who knows, in football you never know and at the end of the year I can return.”
Pep Guardiola was defiant in Friday’s press conference when asked about the financial charges handed to Manchester City earlier this week.
WHAT HAPPENED? City were charged with 101 breaches of financial regulations since the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, with the punishment a long way from being decided.
When Guardiola was inevitably questioned on the situation by reporters, he insisted that the club were “innocent until proven guilty”.
WHAT THEY SAID: “My thought is that we have already been condemned,” the City manager argued. “Since Monday it is like what happened with UEFA. The club proved that they were completely innocent, why should I think right now, with just charges of suggestions… You have to understand that the 19 teams of the Premier League are accusing us without opportunity to defend ourselves. You know exactly on what side I am.
“We are lucky we live in a society where everybody is innocent until proven guilty. We didn’t have this opportunity. (People say) we are already guilty. I think we have good lawyers but the Premier League – supported by 19 teams – are going to take good lawyers too.”
“If we are not innocent we will accept what the judge or Premier League decide, but what happens if it’s the same as UEFA and we are innocent? What happens to restore our damage?”
THE BIGGER PICTURE: After Guardiola had previously claimed he would walk if he found out the club had lied to him about their expenses, speculation had already begun regarding his successor.
However, the Catalan tactician committed his future to the club in the same press conference, while also blaming City’s charges on the actions of the other 19 Premier League clubs.
Erling Haaland’s recent scoring slump has been acknowledged by Pep Guardiola, who is eager to tackle the issue of putting both the striker and his Manchester City team back on track.
Haaland has gone three games without scoring, which is the longest scoring drought he has experienced since moving to City from Borussia Dortmund before the 2022–23 season.
He broke numerous records while scoring 27 goals in his first 21 games, but he was unable to register a shot against Chelsea, Southampton, or Manchester United.
Guardiola claims it is his responsibility to make sure the talented striker is being supported by his teammates rather than focusing on what Haaland is doing incorrectly all of a sudden.
“We have our game, we have our principles but the way we played in last two games didn’t help Erling to score,” Guardiola said.
“In the build-up you can be wider, but in the final third you have to have players in the middle. If Erling is not there, we are not going to score goals.
“In the past we have always had incredible movements in the final third, in the small spaces. Now, in the last two games, we haven’t had it.
“I would say it was my fault. I didn’t make them understand the way we have to attack. We need runners, not just Erling.
“If we had just Erling he would be controlled by two or three central defenders. We need more players in those positions, definitely. We have done it. We have to do it more often.”
In three years with Dortmund and City, Haaland has only ever gone more than three league games without scoring—a stretch of five games in March and April of last season.
The 22-year-small old’s decline in form has occurred at the same time as City has had a difficult stretch, losing two straight games before playing Tottenham in the Premier League on Thursday.
Arsenal is eight points ahead of City, who must win to avoid going three home league games without a victory for the first time since December 2016.
“I prefer to be eight points in front but I like to handle this situation, I love it,” Guardiola added. “I have to find something to make the team better. I’m the man responsible.
“When the players don’t play good, if they don’t have the desire to do it, it is because something is wrong in my decisions. We have to find it.
“People don’t think about the memories, how good we were. When I die, people will talk about how good Pep was. That’s for sure.
“But since we are here, people expect us to perform well, win the games and try to find the way. Otherwise – Pep out.
“This is how our jobs work – and I want Pep in! I want to stay here, this is what I want, and for that we have to win games and be there in all the competitions.”
Despite exiting the EFL Cup to Southampton last week before letting a lead slip in their league loss at United, Guardiola insists his players are not struggling for motivation.
“The situation is that, by our standards, people believe and believe and oh… what’s happened? Why are City not on the top of league? But it can happen,” Guardiola said.
“The mentality – it’s not about that. You see the game against United or Chelsea, we play really well. The quality of the dressing room is exceptional. I don’t have doubts.”
On Saturday at Old Trafford, Manchester City will want to register a significant victory for Pep Guardiola by defeating Manchester United for the fourth time in a row.
In a remarkable career filled with trophies, Guardiola will manage his 500th match in the highly anticipated derby.
For the City manager, it will be more crucial that his team wins because it would reduce the gap between them and Premier League leaders Arsenal, who play in their own derby against Tottenham on Sunday, to only two points.
When the two teams played at the Etihad Stadium in October, the Red Devils were trounced 6-3 despite Guardiola’s team having defeated their arch rivals twice the season before.
Fourth-placed United are flying under Erik ten Hag, though, and a win over City – who suffered a shock EFL Cup defeat to Southampton on Wednesday – would leave them only a point behind their neighbours.
Stats Perform has used Opta data to preview a huge derby showdown.
Another huge milestone for Pep
Guardiola has long since established himself as one of the best managers in the world, achieving great success with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City.
He took charge of 152 LaLiga games during his Barca tenure, 102 in the Bundesliga with dominant Bayern and this will be his 246th Premier League match as City boss.
Guardiola has won 379 of the 499 top-flight encounters he has overseen, suffered 52 defeats and drawn 68 games.
With a win percentage rate of 76, he has the most victories and highest win rate – for managers who have taken charge of at least 100 games – of any boss in Europe’s big-five leagues since his first top-flight season in 2008-09.
Ten Hag has lifted the gloom and there is more of an air of optimism at Old Trafford, with United having won eight consecutive games in all competitions.
Since and including their win over Liverpool on August 22, no team has earned more Premier League points than United’s tally of 35, winning 11 of their 15 games during that time.
The Red Devils have won all three Premier League games since the World Cup without conceding a goal and reached the EFL Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic on Tuesday.
City to add insult to injury by breaking scoring record?
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-tricks as City put United to the sword just over three months ago.
Guardiola’s men could break their record for the number of goals scored against United in a season, which stands at eight established by 5-0 and 3-2 victories way back in the 1954-55 campaign.
The most goals the Red Devils have conceded against an opponent in a Premier League season is nine against Liverpool in 2021-22.
Rashford can do no wrong
Marcus Rashford can do no wrong at the minute, scoring in every game since the World Cup.
He came off the bench to help himself to a late double in the win over Charlton, making it seven goals in six matches since returning from England duty in Qatar.
Rashford, who found the back of the net twice for the Three Lions in the World Cup, has scored 15 times this season for United – who are certainly not missing Cristiano Ronaldo.
If Manchester City exhibits the same level of play that saw them knocked from the Carabao Cup, Pep Guardiola claims they “don’t have a chance” to defeat rival Manchester United this weekend.
For Wednesday’s quarterfinal match at Southampton, City started with players like Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Ederson among their replacements, and they paid the price with a 2-0 loss.
Sekou Mara gave the Saints the lead by beating Kyle Walker to a cross, and Moussa Djenepo added a second goal just before halftime by taking advantage of Stefan Ortega’s poor positioning.
De Bruyne and Haaland were substituted in during the break as part of a triple substitution, but City went the whole second half without a shot on goal for the first time this season.
Next up for City is a trip to in-form United in the league on Saturday, and Guardiola accepts a big improvement is needed from his side at Old Trafford.
“It’s a different competition, but of course if we perform in this way we don’t have a chance,” he said in his post-match press conference. “I know the momentum they have.
“For many years they’re looking forward to being in this position. We know exactly what to do to play better and we’re going to try to do it.”
Asked about his decision to leave out Haaland and De Bruyne for a second game running, Guardiola said: “Who knows if with Erling and Kevin it would have been different?
“But when you play for four competitions it’s important to use every player in the squad.”
For the third time in 30 games under Guardiola, who has won the EFL Cup four times in seven seasons, City was defeated before the end of the 90-minute mark.
The defeat, City’s fourth in 28 games this season, came just three days after an outstanding display that saw off Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup third round.
Guardiola acknowledges that his team’s two-goal loss at St. Mary’s Stadium could not be criticized.
“It was a bad night. I know them quite well. We didn’t get close to what we are,” he said. “Three days after facing Chelsea… I’ve nothing to say.
“They were better, we congratulate them and accept it. We have to be prepared every single game when you play for Manchester City. Today we were not.”
City defeated United 6-3 when the sides last met in October and are seeking a Premier League double over the Red Devils in a single season for the sixth time ever.
Ilkay Gundogan, who played the full 90 minutes against Southampton, is hoping the cup setback can spark some life into City heading into the derby.
“There’s no room for any mistakes [against United], or for any poor performances like today,” he told the club’s official website.
“Hopefully, if there is something good we can take out of this game today, it was something like a wake-up call at the right time.
“Even though it is sad and disappointing to be out of this cup, hopefully, at the end, in a few weeks we can at least look back and take something good out of this game.”
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, is certain that Phil Foden is capable of playing at the center of midfield.
Foden has frequently been compared to a future center midfielder despite playing primarily on the wing for both club and country.
He has occasionally filled the position for City, most recently in the 4-0 FA Cup thrashing of Chelsea on Sunday.
Foden looked crisp in a central role and completed an exquisite team move to give City a 3-0 lead. Three days previously, Foden struggled to get into the game while playing on the flank in City’s 1-0 Premier League victory at Stamford Bridge.
Guardiola believes Foden is learning the role, as he compared the 22-year-old’s ability to City great David Silva, who moved from the wing to midfield during his 10-year stint at the club.
“He can play inside, but inside you have more attributes to do more things and pay attention more because there are more people, it is not just ‘I am going to press and run’, it is when and where,” said Guardiola ahead of City’s EFL Cup tie with Southampton.
“The spaces are minor. Wider you have time but what is important is Phil has the quality to play in these small, small spaces, it is not easy to find.
“Bernardo [Silva] and David Silva can do it and Gundo goes close to the pockets of the central defenders – Phil has the quality and ability to do it.
“He is really good in small spaces, the goal he scored [against Chelsea], he is there. The action is good, the overlap from Kyle [Walker] and the right moment, the right tempo, the pass from Riyad [Mahrez], but in that moment he is there and to score a goal you have to be there.
“In that position, especially when they play five at the back it is important to have an extra player there. We maybe missed it a bit [in the draw] against Everton.
“Phil has these attributes. Of course he can play wider on both sides, he played top class in the last years playing wider but he can play in the middle.”
Foden had 45 touches against Chelsea, with 41 coming in open play.
That was the most he had managed in a City match since November 12, when he had 80 in a defeat to Brentford. Indeed, bar that game, the last time Foden had more touches was against Sevilla in the Champions League on November 2; he had 64 on that occasion, playing in central midfield.
Guardiola will want more creativity from the England international should he play in the role. Against Sevilla, Foden crafted three chances and had 10 touches in the opposition box – he only managed four in Sunday’s game, albeit one of those was that fine finish to put the game to bed, and did not create a goalscoring opportunity.
Foden attempted 34 passes, more than only Julian Alvarez (18) of City’s starters, completing 29 of those, while he won three of his six duels.
Real Madrid are confident they lead the race for the £100million-plus rated England midfielder’s signature, while Liverpool are also extremely keen.
But sources at the Etihad believe the opportunity to work with Guardiola will swing the Borussia Dortmund star’s decision in City’s favour.
Bellingham, 19, is also wanted by Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
Loan deals
Steve Parish admits Crystal Palace are more likely to make loan signings next month
Chairman Steve Parish hopes Crystal Palace will be able to freshen up their squad in January — but admits loan deals are the most likely option.
Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been linked with a temporary return to Selhurst Park, although Erik ten Hag has stressed the 25-year-old right-back remains part of his plans.
Speaking to Palace TV, Parish said: “The January window is hard. There are one or two things we would like to do, probably more loans than buys.
“We would really look to the summer to do anything major. We have a good squad. I think the players are very good and I think we have a good points tally.
“In January, it’s quite nice to freshen things up a bit if we can, look at some places we feel we can improve with the manager, so we are looking at situations there.”
Arguments in favor of Peleor Diego Maradona, according to Pep Guardiola, are “sentimental,” and Lionel Messi is unquestionably the greatest player to ever play the game.
Although many people still rank Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo behind Pele and Maradona even though neither of them has ever won the World Cup, Messi has long been regarded as one of the greatest players ever.
On Sunday, that all changed as Messi led Argentina to victory at Qatar 2022, matching Maradona’s feat from 1986.
There was never any question, though, in Guardiola’s mind. Guardiola was Messi’s Barcelona coach.
“Everyone has their opinion, but nobody can doubt he’s there with the greatest of all time,” Guardiola said. “For me, I’ve said many times: he’s the best.
“It’s difficult to understand how a player can complete what he’s done in the past 50 or 70 years.
“The people who saw Pele or [Alfredo] Di Stefano or Maradona, the people can say ‘my favourite’, but these opinions are sentimental.
“On the other side, if he wouldn’t have won the World Cup, the opinion about what he has done for the whole of football and my opinion of how he is as a player wouldn’t change absolutely anything.
“But it’s normal that it depends if you win [how] you are evaluated. Of course, for him, it’s the final cherries on his incredible career.”
Messi was joined in the Argentina side by City striker Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Otamendi, who spent five years at the Etihad Stadium between 2015 and 2020.
“We are incredibly happy for him [Alvarez] – congratulations,” Guardiola added. “For him, for Nico Otamendi, personally for Messi, for Argentina the country, for a well-deserved champion.
“For Julian, he is with us, and we are delighted. He played a lot, and his contribution was amazing to the team for the way we played. We have a world champion in our team.”
Guardiola confirmed Alvarez would now enjoy “a break”, but City’s other World Cup stars have started to return ahead of Thursday’s EFL Cup fourth-round tie against holders Liverpool.
“The players that were at the World Cup are in a better condition than the players who were here, that’s for sure,” Guardiola explained.
“Sergio [Gomez], Erling [Haaland], Riyad [Mahrez], Cole [Palmer]… the rhythm they miss a little bit compared, for example, to Manu Akanji and Rodri and Aymeric [Laporte] and Nathan [Ake].
“They came back and we saw them so good, perfectly. That’s normal. They compete, they train every day, while we had holidays.”
Pep Guardiola emphasized that the Champions League was not the primary reason he renewed his contract with Manchester City, although he acknowledges that the position would feel lacking without a successful European campaign.
Last month, Guardiola signed a contract extension with City, extending his stay with the team until the 2024–25 season.
The Premier League has been won by City four times in the last five seasons, thanks in large part to the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach.
But they’ve failed to win the Champions League. Both the final in 2021 and the semifinals of the previous season were lost to Real Madrid.
Guardiola knows it will be a blemish on his record if Citycannot end their bad luck in the competition before he leaves.
“I admit it’s the trophy that we want and of course it would not be complete – my period here – if we don’t win it,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of City’s EFL Cup clash with Liverpool.
“But it’s not the only reason I extended the contract, absolutely not. What does it mean if for the last 11 months we didn’t play in the Champions League?
“Of course, I will do everything in this time we are together, we are going to try, as we tried before. Of course it’s the trophy we don’t have and we will try to do it.”
City’s trophy count under Guardiola stands at 11, but the 51-year-old is immensely grateful for the faith shown in him by the club’s leadership.
“I said many times what I had here. Thank you so much for the confidence they have in me,” he said. “It would be difficult to repay what in these many years, the board, all the people have shown me.
“It’s difficult for me to reject them because of how they still want me and my staff, to try and do our best.
“I don’t have enough words to express the incredible gratitude for this club.”
After taking on Liverpool on Thursday, City restart their Premier League campaign against Leeds United on December 28.
Pep Guardiola considers arguments in favor of Pele or Diego Maradona to be “sentimental,” and believes that Lionel Messi is without a doubt the greatest player to ever play the game.
Even though Messi has long been regarded as one of the greatest players ever, some people still ranked him and Cristiano Ronaldo behind Pele and Maradona while neither had yet won the World Cup.
That changed on Sunday, when Messi led Argentina to glory at Qatar 2022, matching Maradona’s achievement from 1986.
However, in the eyes of Manchester City manager Guardiola, who coached Messi at Barcelona, there was never any doubt.
“Everyone has their opinion, but nobody can doubt he’s there with the greatest of all time,” Guardiola said. “For me, I’ve said many times: he’s the best.
“It’s difficult to understand how a player can complete what he’s done in the past 50 or 70 years.
“The people who saw Pele or [Alfredo] Di Stefano or Maradona, the people can say ‘my favourite’, but these opinions are sentimental.
“On the other side, if he wouldn’t have won the World Cup, the opinion about what he has done for the whole of football and my opinion of how he is as a player wouldn’t change absolutely anything.
“But it’s normal that it depends if you win [how] you are evaluated. Of course, for him, it’s the final cherries on his incredible career.”
Messi was joined in the Argentina side by City striker Julian Alvarez and Nicolas Otamendi, who spent five years at the Etihad Stadium between 2015 and 2020.
“We are incredibly happy for him [Alvarez] – congratulations,” Guardiola added. “For him, for Nico Otamendi, personally for Messi, for Argentina the country, for a well-deserved champion.
“For Julian, he is with us, and we are delighted. He played a lot, and his contribution was amazing to the team for the way we played. We have a world champion in our team.”
Guardiola confirmed Alvarez would now enjoy “a break”, but City’s other World Cup stars have started to return ahead of Thursday’s EFL Cup fourth-round tie against holders Liverpool.
“The players that were at the World Cup are in a better condition than the players who were here, that’s for sure,” Guardiola explained.
“Sergio [Gomez], Erling [Haaland], Riyad [Mahrez], Cole [Palmer]… the rhythm they miss a little bit compared, for example, to Manu Akanji and Rodri and Aymeric [Laporte] and Nathan [Ake].
“They came back and we saw them so good, perfectly. That’s normal. They compete, they train every day, while we had holidays.”
Ronaldo stated before Pep Guardiola renewed his contract with Manchester City, the Brazilian national team asked him to become their new coach.
The Selecao is getting ready for life without Tite, who led them to the World Cup quarterfinals before they lost to Croatia on Friday in a heartbreaking penalty shootout.
Regardless of how the five-time champions performed in Qatar, the 61-year-old stated in February that he would step down from his position.
Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich head coach Guardiola decided to prolong his tenure at the Etihad Stadium until 2025, according to legendary striker Ronaldo, who claims the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) had spoken with him.
“There was interest in Guardiola; it was discussed with Guardiola’s coaching staff, but he preferred to renew his contract with City,” the 2002 World Cup winner said on his YouTube channel.’
“Perhaps it would be difficult for the CBF to reach an agreement; he is the highest-paid coach in the world.”
Ronaldo believes the CBF should now turn their attention to the “Brazilian Guardiola” in Fernando Diniz – the Fluminense head coach renowned for his attractive possession-based style of play.
“Perhaps Diniz would be an attraction for the Brazilian national team,” he added. “He’s a guy who plays well, puts on a show.
“It is a very important decision for the next cycle. The sooner you present the name and start working on the philosophy of the coach, the better it will be. And we’ll see. I’m curious. I think big names are coming here.”
Pep Guardiola’s new contract with Manchester City will see him remain at the Etihad Stadium until 2025, when he will mark nine years at the club.
The Catalan coach has already remained in the Premier League for longer than he has at his previous roles with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, finding a home within English football and establishing a dominant force with his City side.
Throughout his six and a half years in charge so far, Guardiola has been in charge of numerous superstars and club legends, with an all-time squad that would be of envy for any manager in world football.
But how exactly do you break that down into a full XI? We have taken on the task and done exactly that.
Ederson
Guardiola made a bold choice upon his arrival in Manchester, swiftly making it clear England international Joe Hart, a two-time Premier League winner, would not fit into his plans moving forward. After a disappointing season with Claudio Bravo, Ederson arrived in 2017 and has been number one ever since.
All of Ederson’s 260 appearances across all competitions have come as a starter, higher than any other player under Guardiola, while he sits fifth in the list for total appearances under the Catalan boss.
Kyle Walker
Signed from Tottenham Hotspur in 2017, Kyle Walker has been a mainstay in the City side that has dominated domestic football over the course of the past five years, ranking fifth for the most starts under Guardiola in all competitions (207).
Walker’s versatility has been a key benefit for Guardiola and England, with his attacking play also fitting into City’s style of play well. Since arriving at City, Walker has contributed 17 assists across all competitions, behind only Joao Cancelo (20) among defenders.
Aymeric Laporte
Among defenders during Guardiola’s spell in charge, only John Stones and Walker have started more games than Laporte (155), with both players having joined the club in the seasons before Laporte’s arrival from Athletic Bilbao in January 2018.
A total of 163 appearances across all competitions puts him narrowly ahead of Nicolas Otamendi (161) for most games under Guardiola.
John Stones
Snapped up in 2016 as one of Guardiola’s first signings, Stones has had to contend with incredible competition for his spot at the heart of the defence, with the likes of Laporte, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake all drafted in.
Despite that, Stones continues to be an important player for City and has made 175 starts under Guardiola and 206 appearances overall, ranking second in both among defenders behind only Walker.
Joao Cancelo
The versatile Portuguese full-back moved to City in 2019 from Juventus and has excelled for City, tallying 149 total appearances and 135 starts in all competitions since joining the club, and provides a huge boost in the attacking third.
A total of 20 assists puts him above any defender during Guardiola’s spell in charge, even those who have been at the club far longer.
Kevin de Bruyne
Few players fit the Guardiola philosophy more than De Bruyne, who has hit new heights under the former Barcelona boss to stand among the finest players in world football – with a record in front of goal that many would envy.
De Bruyne has registered 117 assists under Guardiola, way ahead of second-place Raheem Sterling (66), while he has scored 73 goals – only behind Gabriel Jesus, Sterling and Sergio Aguero.
Ilkay Gundogan
With 205 starts under Guardiola, the midfielder has been an integral part of the City side since following the Catalan from Germany to Manchester, ranking only behind Walker, David Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne and Ederson in that regard.
Only six players have scored more goals under Guardiola than Gundogan (51), who ranks ninth for the most assists (33).
Fernandinho
The rock of City’s midfield for years, Fernandinho started 200 games under Guardiola and made a total of 244 appearances, the latter seeing him rank behind only Ederson, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne and Sterling.
A total of 12 goals and 16 assists in those matches represents a decent return for a player renowned more for his defensive strength.
Bernardo Silva
Slotting into the attack ahead of Phil Foden and David Silva, both of whom have a stellar record under Guardiola, Bernardo Silva narrowly gets the nod due to his own impressive numbers in the final third.
Silva has 104 direct goal contributions (50 goals, 54 assists) in 273 appearances, starting in 208 of those matches. Only Sterling and De Bruyne have more assists under Guardiola, while Silva is one of eight players to hit the half-century mark for goals.
Sergio Aguero
In the future, Aguero’s spot in the team is likely to be under significant threat from Erling Haaland following his blistering start to life at City, but the Argentine superstar retains the edge for the time being.
Aguero scored 124 goals under Guardiola, more than any other player, with Sterling the only other to have broken the century mark. Those goals came in just 183 appearances with Guardiola in charge, displaying his deadly ability in front of the net.
Raheem Sterling
An unsung hero of the Guardiola era, Sterling played 292 times under the Catalan boss, more than anyone else, while only Aguero scored more goals than Sterling (120).
Sterling also contributed 66 assists under Guardiola, sitting behind only De Bruyne, and is the only player to have scored over 100 goals and added over 50 assists under the Catalan boss.
Pep Guardiola has promised to bring more success to Manchester City after signing a two-year extension at the Etihad.
The Catalan tactician, 51, has been in charge at City since 2016 and has won nine major trophies during his reign so far, including four Premier League titles.
Guardiola’s deal was due to expire at the end of the current campaign but talks over fresh terms had been ongoing for some time.
Though his new contract will only run until 2025, the Spaniard is confident silverware will be the norm at City for a long time yet.
Guardiola said: “I am so pleased to be staying at Manchester City for another two years.
“I can’t say thank you enough to everyone at the club for trusting me. I am happy and comfortable here. I have everything I need to do my job as best as possible.
“I know the next chapter of this club will be amazing for the next decade. It happened over the last 10 years and it will happen in the next 10 years because this club is so stable.
“From day one I felt something special being here. I cannot be in a better place.
“I still have the feeling there is more we can achieve together and that is why I want to stay and continue fighting for trophies.”
City sit second in the Premier League table, five points behind leaders Arsenal, and will resume their title defence after the World Cup at Leeds on December 28.
Guardiola will also be eyeing success in the Champions League — the only major trophy he has failed to lift as City boss.
Already the club’s second longest-serving manager since the Second World War, the ex-Barcelona head coach has a 72.4% winning percentage and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak was thrilled to tie him down.
Al Mubarak said: “I am delighted that Pep’s journey will continue.
Pep Guardiola will want to win the Champions League for the first time as Manchester City boss before he leaves
“He has already contributed so much to the success and fabric of this organisation and it’s exciting to think what might be possible given the energy, hunger and ambition he clearly still has.
“Under his very special leadership our first team has accomplished so much, whilst continuously playing, and constantly evolving, a City style of football that is admired the world over.
“Like every City fan, I am looking forward to what lies ahead.”
Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain believes they face a difficult task in the last 16 of the Champions League after drawing RB Leipzig.
Pep Guardiola’s men will take on the Bundesliga side in the knockout stages next February, having faced them twice in the group stages last term.
On that occasion, City opened their European campaign with a 6-3 rout at the Etihad Stadium, before losing the reverse fixture 2-1 at the Red Bull Arena.
Having dodged heavyweight foes such as Paris Saint-Germain and Milan, City have theoretically one of the easier ties on paper, but Begiristain says they will not take their opponent lightly.
“Leipzig are not new ones in this competition – they are doing an unbelievable job,” he said. “They are in Europe, always, and they are fighting us in the last 16. They are growing as a club and growing as a project.
“This is German football – very open, box-to-box, which we don’t like too much, because we like to have the control. It’s going to be difficult, this kind of football.
“We are going to meet old friends – we played last season against them. They were very open games, and we can be sure they will be very attractive games.”
In comparison to their rivals, City have indeed been handed a kind draw, with Liverpool facing Real Madrid and Bayern Munich squaring up with Paris Saint-Germain.
With possibly two of the last four tournament winners set to miss out on the quarter-finals, Begiristain feels it shows the increased competition within the Champions League.
“Some big names and big clubs are already out – some of them are now not playing in Europe because they were last in the group,” he noted.
“It shows how difficult it is in this competition. Everyone has to respect their opponent in this competition and that is what we try to do.
“Liverpool and Real Madrid are two unbelievable clubs, and they were two of the candidates to win, but one will be out.
“But still the ones who are there in the quarter-finals are going to deserve to be there. We want to be one of them.”
Pep Guardiola says Erling Haaland will be a “genius” if he can break the Premier League scoring record, and hailed the impact of Borussia Dortmund on the striker’s development.
The Norway international has scored 17 top-flight goals in 11 outings since his move from Dortmund, managing a brace in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
Haaland also became the first City player to score in seven consecutive home games in all competitions since Sergio Aguero in the 2017-18 season.
Alan Shearer and Andy Cole both scored 34 goals in a single campaign, sharing the English top-flight record, with Guardiola expecting Haaland to surpass that mark if he can continue his impressive form.
“If he continues to score with this rhythm, he will be a genius, with the average every game, he’s going to break the record,” the City manager said.
“But football, maybe you score then a few days later you stop scoring, I don’t know.
“All the strikers I have ever seen, [Samuel] Eto’o, [Lionel] Messi, [Robert] Lewandowski, [Thomas] Muller, [Sergio] Aguero, their ambitions to score goals, goals and more goals is normal, it has to be like that.”
While the 22-year-old forward will eye breaking more Premier League records, Haaland’s attention must first turn to a reunion at Dortmund in the Champions League.
City have already qualified for the knockout stages of UEFA’s flagship club competition but will progress as Group G winners with victory at Signal Iduna Park.
Tuesday will mark a memorable return for Haaland, who scored 86 goals in 89 appearances during his two-and-a-half-year spell at BVB, and Guardiola credited the influence of the Bundesliga side on the striker’s progression.
“It will be good [the reception he gets]. Salzburg in Austria, then Dortmund, he scored a lot of goals as well,” the Spaniard added.
“At Dortmund, that period helped, the managers he had, the team-mates he had. In a few years, he will be a better player again from the [City] team-mates he plays with, definitely.”
With a goal against his former side, Haaland would become just the sixth player to score in five or more consecutive Champions League outings on as many as three separate occasions, joining Cristiano Ronaldo (5), Messi (3), Lewandowski (3), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (3) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (3).
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola wants more from Kevin De Bruyne who he says is not playing at his top level despite a stunning goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion.
The two-time Premier LeaguePlayer of the Season fired in City’s third goal with a curling right-foot shot from just beyond the box to seal the points in the 75th minute.
Since De Bruyne’s Premier League debut for City in September 2015, he has scored more goals from outside the box than any other player in the competition in this period (24).
The goal was the 31-year-old Belgian’s second of the Premier League season while he has also contributed nine assists, yet Guardiola is expecting more.
“He can be better. He’s not playing at his top level, not yet,” Guardiola told reporters.
“He made a fantastic goal but he’s not playing his best. He knows. I don’t have to tell him. His dynamic still is not perfect, he knows that. I spoke with him. The goal is outstanding.
“Thanks to him we didn’t suffer in the last 15, 20 minutes when the game was more open… Kevin made a masterclass action so we win the game.”
Erling Haaland continued his remarkable form with a first-half double, meaning he became the first City player to score in seven consecutive home games in all competitions since Sergio Aguero in February 2018.
The Norwegian showcased his pace and physicality to open the scoring in the 22nd minute, before emphatically converting a 43rd-minute penalty with a powerful strike.
“I would say that [Haaland]] has the quality in bigger spaces, he can do it and in smaller spaces he can do it,” Guardiola said. “This is the reality.
“He is fantastic. The numbers and everything, the way he kicked the penalty, the quality, he did it.”
Haaland’s goal which made it 2-0 was City’s 600th in the Premier League under Guardiola, making him the third manager to achieve that feat behind Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.
Pep Guardiola has apologised after Manchester City fans sang chants referencing football stadium tragedies against Liverpool, but he does not feel the rivalry between the clubs has become “toxic”.
City suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season at Anfield on Sunday, with Mohamed Salah’s second-half goal enough to secure a 1-0 win for the Reds.
However, the game was overshadowed by several off-pitch incidents.
Guardiola alleged home fans threw coins at him; police said they were investigating an apparent attack on City’s team bus; and Liverpool criticised the conduct of some away supporters.
The Reds accused City fans of singing “vile chants relating to football stadium tragedies” and vandalising the concourse with graffiti of a similar nature.
Liverpool FC has released a statement following today’s match against Manchester City at Anfield.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Brighton and Hove Albion, Guardiola said those responsible did not represent City and insisted the club’s recently established rivalry with Liverpool is not out of control.
Asked whether contests between Liverpool and City had become “toxic” on Friday, Guardiola said: “I don’t think so, [not] from our side, I’m pretty sure of that.
“I didn’t hear the chants. If it happened, I’m so sorry. It does not represent what we are as a team or as a club if this happened.
“We can behave perfectly and [correct] our mistakes, without a problem.”
Pep Guardiola was left confused by the decision to disallow Phil Foden’s goal in Manchester City’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Foden appeared to have put the Premier League champions ahead early in the second half on Sunday, having lashed home on the rebound following Alisson’s failure to keep hold of Kevin De Bruyne’s pass.
Yet Liverpool were infuriated by what they claimed was a foul on Fabinho from Erling Haaland in the build-up and, despite initially waving play on, referee Anthony Taylor changed his decision after consulting the pitchside monitor.
To compound City’s frustration, Mohamed Salah raced clear in the 76th minute and, having earlier seen a golden opportunity saved by Ederson, clipped a cute finish over City’s goalkeeper to seal the spoils.
Guardiola, though, believes referee Taylor – who let plenty of physical challenges go unpunished through the game – showed inconsistency in the decision to disallow Foden’s goal, with City’s manager seemingly suggesting the fact the match was at Anfield played into the official’s call.
He told Sky Sports: “The referee came to the coaches and said play on, play on. There were a million fouls.
“But after we scored a goal, he decided it is not play on. This is Anfield.”
Of his side’s display, Guardiola had few complaints.
“We had [enough] chances. We had some fantastic chances,” he added.
“All the game we were brave, we played the game we should play and I don’t have any complaints or regrets over how we have done it. We had chances but not enough to [win].”
Guardiola conceded the electric atmosphere at Anfield in the wake of Salah’s goal – a strike that moves the Egyptian ahead of Steven Gerrard into second place in Liverpool’s all-time list of Premier League scorers – made matters more difficult for City, though indicated his team had not found the occasion overwhelming prior to the deadlock being broken.
“After the goal, yeah, it’s Anfield,” Guardiola said. “Before the goal, it was OK.”
Jurgen Kloppadmitted he deserved to be sent off against Manchester City, but the Liverpool manager also aired his disappointment at the officiating during his team’s 1-0 win at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of a frenetic game on Sunday, latching onto a long pass from Alisson with 14 minutes remaining to finish past Ederson.
It was City’s first Premier League defeat of the season, but the visitors were left frustrated when Phil Foden’s second-half strike with the score at 0-0 was chalked off after referee Anthony Taylor was asked to look at the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee, which showed Erling Haaland pulling over Fabinho in the build-up.
City boss Pep Guardiola and Klopp both showed frustration at Taylor’s decisions through the game, with the latter shown a red card after objecting to a challenge on Salah with five minutes remaining going unpunished.
“Yeah, it’s about emotion of course… red card, my fault,” Klopp conceded at his post-match press conference.
“I went over the top in the moment, I don’t think I was disrespectful to anybody but when you look at the pictures back – I know myself for 55 years that the way I look in these moments is already worth a red card.
“I lost it in that moment and that is not OK, but I think a little bit as an excuse I would like to mention, how can you not whistle that foul [on Salah]? How on earth is it possible? And I wish I could get an explanation.
“I don’t know what Pep said now in here, probably not a lot, probably very disappointed or frustrated or whatever. But during the game we agreed completely that Anthony Taylor just let the things run. Why would you do that? Both teams, it was not one, but I heard now that people said it was Anfield that made the VAR decision [to disallow Foden’s goal].
“With a foul on Mo, Anfield had no chance to make any impact. It’s a foul on Fabinho, I think we agree on that. Is it not enough to pull somebody down?
“So there was already the first moment where Pep and I were pretty animated, both, but actually for the same reason to be 100 per cent honest. For the same reason, we were not arguing with each other, not at all.
“Then [the red card] situation, I just had the perfect view, and the linesman, and you can imagine we are 1-0 up and we have a free-kick there or a counter-attack there. That is pretty much a 100 per cent difference and that was when I snapped and again, I am not proud of that, but it happened.”
One negative for Klopp was seeing Diogo Jota injured late on. The Portugal international has only recently returned from injury, but his manager did not sound hopeful, saying: “Diogo, I wish I wouldn’t have to talk about it.
“When I saw he goes down and there was not a lot of contact, you can see a little bit that somebody kicks his foot and maybe the muscle got overstretched, [playing for] 96 minutes, that’s not good for the muscle. He felt it immediately and now we have to wait to see how bad it is.”
Klopp already had to make changes to his line-up due to injuries, with Ibrahima Konate missing out and James Milner starting at right-back, meaning Joe Gomez moved back into the middle of the defence.
The 25-year-old helped to keep Haaland and company quiet, and Klopp praised his “outstanding talent”, along with Milner’s efforts.
“It’s just great for Joey that he can show what a player he is,” he said. “Outstanding, outstanding talent, a great player and can play different positions, obviously.
“Today was sensational, a mature performance together with Virgil [van Dijk] and the two full-backs.
“I’d like to mention – and it’s fine, Joey deserves all the praise – but I am pretty sure before the game a lot of people thought, ‘Oh, James Milner against Phil Foden.’ The way James Milner played was absolutely unbelievable. Joey as well.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he is “not thinking one second” over a potential contract extension as his team prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Having joined City in 2016 and led them to four of the last five Premier League titles, Guardiola’s side once again look favourites to win the league.
They are the only remaining unbeaten team in the Premier League this season and are kept off the top spot by just Arsenal.
But with Guardiola’s current set to expire at the end of the 2022-23 season, there are fears he may depart in similar fashion to the sabbatical period he took when leaving Barcelona in 2012 if a new agreement is not made.
However, Guardiola says he is not even considering his contract situation yet.
“You know I am not thinking one second about that,” he said.
“We have two or three weeks until the World Cup and this is an important time. After that, we have plenty of time to talk about that.”
Sunday’s fixture sees City face their closest competitors over the past couple of years, with the Citizens and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool finishing as the top two in three of the past five campaigns.
After finishing as runners-up in both the Premier League and Champions League last term, Liverpool have struggled at the beginning of this season, winning just two of their eight league games and already finding themselves 13 points behind City and 14 behind leaders Arsenal.
Liverpool’s star forward Mohamed Salah has faced particular criticism for his poor start, but Guardiola believes the Egypt international will come good.
“These type of players always score goals in their career,” Guardiola added. “Sometimes they struggle a little bit, but the quality is there.
“They get chances, they convert it. We played many times against Liverpool. Just because Salah isn’t scoring goals now doesn’t mean he’s not going to score.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is looking forward to Sunday’s trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool, allowing some key players to rest during Tuesday’s 0-0 Champions League draw against FC Copenhagen.
City were bright early and had chances to take the lead, with a disallowed goal in the 11th minute and a saved penalty from Riyad Mahrez in the 25th, before Sergio Gomez was shown a straight red card that changed the game.
After controlling 66 per cent of the possession in a comfortable first half, that figure dipped to 46 per cent after the break as Copenhagen found a foothold into the game and fought hard for their point.
Speaking after the match, where star striker Erling Haaland was rested and starting midfielders Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were only used as late substitutes, Guardiola said the compressed schedule with multiple games per week had finally started to catch up to some players.
“Many players didn’t start today because they were really, really, exhausted, tired and fatigued and had some niggles,” he said.
“Erling [Haaland] didn’t feel very good after the game against Southampton, Phil [Foden] had some problems, Bernardo [Silva] was so tired yesterday, he told us.
“The players, they feel better and I of course, didn’t want to take a risk. Of course, it was so important, but when we have nine points already in our pocket, we need one more game to qualify mathematically, ok we took one point, we played for that and we started really well.
“We cannot deny how well we played for the first minutes, knowing that it’s difficult. Their defence is so deep and well-organised and after that, those situations, the goal disallowed, the penalty, the sending off, the game changed, especially playing almost for an hour 10 against 11.”
When asked if this is a perfect time to face Liverpool – coming off a loss to Arsenal and with one fewer day of rest after they play Rangers on Wednesday – Guardiola said form goes out the window in fixtures this big.
“It’s the scale of the fixture when you have to go to Anfield,” he said. “It’s not about how you arrive, good or bad, you have to perform every time.
“We have four days [to prepare] – we travel right now, tomorrow we have regeneration, one day off, clear our minds, because for one or two weeks we’ve not had a day off with a game every three days, and after that we’ll prepare the game against Liverpool.”
Pep Guardiola has denied claims Erling Haaland has a release clause in his Manchester City contract that would allow him to join Real Madrid on favourable terms.
Haaland has been outstanding since joining City from Borussia Dortmund at the start of the season, netting twice against Copenhagen on Wednesday to take his tally to an astonishing 19 in 12 games.
But before that game, Fernando Sanz – a former Madrid player and later the president of Malaga – had suggested Haaland’s deal had an “exit clause” with “very beneficial conditions” for Los Blancos.
Haaland joined City after they activated a clause in his Dortmund contract, but Guardiola insisted after the Copenhagen game there was no truth in the claim.
“It’s not true,” he told reporters. “He has not got a release clause for Real Madrid or any other team. It’s not true. That’s all I can say.
“Absolutely not [it is not annoying]. There are rumours and people talk, and you cannot control it. We always have to worry about what we can control.
“The important thing is he can adapt really well, I have the feeling he is happy here. We tried with him and all of them, the people who stayed here, and made them happy. This is the most important thing.
“At the end, what’s going to happen in the future? Who knows it? Nobody knows it.
“What’s important is he’s happy and settled perfectly and incredibly loved by everyone. This is the most important thing.”
Haaland was substituted at half-time in the 5-0 win at Copenhagen, missing the chance to score another hat-trick after three in his past three home Premier League games.
Guardiola said the change was not planned, as he explained: “He played a lot of minutes three days ago, the game was under control, and Cole Palmer [his replacement] is an excellent player, a top-class player.
“If the game was tight, Erling would continue to play. But it was better to rest and to think of Southampton, a team we were not able to beat last season. Hopefully this season we can do it.”
Guardiola added: “Erling Haaland, what does he want? The same as us; to win the game. He made the hat-tricks to win the games.”
Of the performance, in which an own goal, a Riyad Mahrez penalty and Julian Alvarez’s close-range finish added to Haaland’s double, Guardiola said: “Today we see the reason why these years were really, really successful at this club.
“After Man United, 6-3, a lot of compliments, a lot of nice things, we were able to be humble enough to respect the opponent like every team we play. This is the secret of this team.”
Copenhagen coach Jacob Neestrup said his team “have to improve” but accepted: “There was not anything we could do to City.
“There were of course things we could always do better, but we just need to accept we were playing against the best team in the world right now. They are several levels above us.”
Manchester City will be without John Stones for Sunday’s derby against Manchester United, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
The centre-back was taken off during England’s 3-3 draw with Germany on Monday with a hamstring issue.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Guardiola said Stones will likely be out for up to two weeks, meaning he will miss the clash with United as well as potentially another three games.
“He will be back when he will be ready,” he said, later clarifying: “I think it will not be four, five, six weeks, it will be less. I don’t know when he will come back but I think maybe 10 days, two weeks.”
There was better news for another City defender though, with Aymeric Laporte back in training.
“Training really well,” his manager said. “Training alone because everyone was with national teams, but yesterday and today he feels good.”
City welcome an in-form United to the Etihad Stadium, with Erik ten Hag’s men winning their last four Premier League games, leading to the Dutchman securing September’s manager of the month award.
“I always expect the best,” Guardiola said. “They come with good results against tough sides, with Southampton it’s not easy but especially Liverpool and Arsenal at home, and yeah, good momentum for them.”
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss also compared the Manchester derby to El Clasico and Der Klassiker, suggesting it has been easier to manage derbies in Germany and England since his time in LaLiga.
“In Spain, Barcelona and [Real] Madrid is more noisy the days before, more media, everything. The rest, in Germany, here, perfect. You can work, people expecting, enjoy to watch the derby, that’s all.
“It’s important, big rival in the city. We will try to figure out what we’re going to do and what we can do to beat them. No more than that.
“In these kind of games you don’t have to make extra emotion, everyone knows it. The stadium will be full… I’m looking forward to it.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has commended Jack Grealish for his efforts after returning from injury.
Grealish played an hour in his first game back from injury in Tuesday’s 4-0 Champions League win at Sevilla.
At a post-game press conference, Guardiola said “Jack arrived incredible in the pre-season,”
“In the first game against West Ham unfortunately he had a little injury. It’s important for him to have again this 53, 60 minutes. The pitch was uncomfortable for the players. He was so aggressive in the first half, more than aggressive than Phil [Foden] in terms of goal and making the movements in there,” he added.
According to him, the club’s needs Grealish this season.
“Jack will be so important. He played a really good game,” he said.
Due to Grealish’s injury, he did not play any game since City’s 4-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth on August 13
The pressure is on the 26-year-old England international, who underwhelmed in his first season at City after joining from Aston Villa in August last year for £100million.
Grealish played 38 times, scoring six goals in all competitions last season for City, but did not live up to the expectations of his hefty transfer fee, nor play with his typical freedom.
The midfielder started and played 62 minutes against Sevilla, and while he did not score or provide an assist, Guardiola was delighted with his return.
Guardiola was also rapt with the debut of deadline-day signing Manuel Akanji, who only joined team training earlier this week following his move from Borussia Dortmund.
“We are delighted, just training one day and a half with us,” Guardiola said.
“He showed in Dortmund his experience in Europe. A really, really good central defender that City bought to us.
“He played really well, his focus, attention. He has a quality quite similar to Aymer [Laporte], he can break the lines with a pass. He read the spaces really well. I am very pleased for him.”
Erling Haaland grabbed two of City’s four goals, taking his season tally to 12 since his move from Dortmund.
“I think his numbers in his career, not just here, in previous teams is quite similar,” Guardiola told BT Sport. “He has an incredible sense of goal.”
Haaland became the first City player to score on both his Premier League debut and Champions League debut for the club.
The 22-year-old is also the fastest player to 25 goals in Champions League history, coming across 20 games, bettering Ruud van Nistelrooy and Filippo Inzaghi’s mark of 30 games.
1 – Erling Haaland is the first Manchester City player to score on both his Premier League debut and UEFA Champions League debut for the club. Intent. pic.twitter.com/W0qAPGMi72
Pep Guardiola praised the “amazing” Lionesses of England, saying their victory at Euro 2022 has increased the pressure on Gareth Southgate’s team heading into the World Cup in Qatar.
With a 2-1 triumph over Germany in the Wembley final last month, Sarina Wiegman’s team ended 56 years of major tournament pain for England, outdoing the Three Lions’ performance in their Euro 2020 penalty shoot-out loss to Italy on the same field.
On home soil, the Lionesses shone throughout the competition, winning the title by scoring an incredible 22 goals in six games
According to Manchester City boss Guardiola, their achievements should serve not only as an inspiration to women across the country, but also as a marker for their male counterparts.
“I had the feeling every season, women’s football, the sport of women, is rising and getting better.
“It’s so nice for our daughters and for the next generations, what they have done. And thanks to all of you, because you pay more attention to what they do, and that’s why they get a final in their home country, at Wembley.
“[It was] a special moment, and I think it will put pressure on the men for the World Cup, and that is good, this is good.”
Guardiola’s praise comes in the same week as the retirements of two Lionesses legends, with the team’s record goalscorer Ellen White and second-most-capped player Jill Scott both hanging up their boots as European champions.
Southgate’s side will begin their World Cup campaign against Iran on November 21 before rounding off Group B by facing the United States and Wales.
Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola has made comments suggesting that the signing of major players is because his side is an elite club.
Man City in May signed Erling Haaland, who was also on the wish list of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
An amount of £51.2million (€60m) was spent to get the striker.
Guardiola told BBC’s Football Focus that Man City has been able to create a niche for themselves, hence contributed to the signing of the Norway international.
“Yeah, maybe it’s right. We cannot deny how incredible his numbers and talent are. From what I saw of him so far, he’s a huge competitor in every training session, he’s incredibly focused to do it, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“But we had a lot of legends here, whose contribution has been [important] to the way we are right now. Sergio, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart, David Silva, many of these,” Guardiola added.
Man City have lifted the Premier League trophy four times in the six full seasons in England, and according to Guardiola, that can now attract players who would previously have preferred huge European clubs such as Bayern, Madrid or Barcelona.
“You’re right, maybe we could not do it or they choose another club, because the charisma of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid was higher than us. In the highest [level] of Europe, we are new, just one decade, and they have long, long histories.
And maybe you’re right. We know the most followed strikers or players now come here, that is the proof that we have done really well. I remember in pre-season, in the [United] States five years or six years ago, there were few blue shirts in the stands. These last games against Bayern Munich and [Club] America [in July], there was a lot.
“People follow the winners and we won a lot in these last years, and people support us around the world, which is incredible. It’s a big honour,” he said.
Haaland has started brightly, scoring three goals in his first three league games.
The Norway international is just the third player to score on both of his first two away trips in the Premier League for City, after Emmanuel Adebayor and Emile Mpenza, having followed up his opening-game double at West Ham with a goal in a 3-3 draw with Newcastle United on Sunday.
City’s all-time record goalscorer Sergio Aguero, meanwhile, is the only other player to score twice on his Premier League debut for the club, having done so against Swansea City in August 2011.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola feels sadness at the recent exit of three star players but insists the club’s record transfer income this summer proves they are sustainable.
City sold Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal for £45m and £30m.
Raheem Sterling also departed for Chelsea for £50m as part of an overhaul at the Premier League champions.
The trio were part of all four title-winning campaigns under Guardiola since his arrival in Manchester in 2016.
Seven other players have been sold this summer, including goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and Romeo Lavia to Southampton.
“In part I’m a little bit sad that these important players have gone,” said Guardiola. “But it’s a business. To invest you have to sell players otherwise you can’t be sustainable.
“I know the image of the club is that always we buy, buy, buy. But we sell too. We sell important players for big money.
“All the clubs know today selling players is not easy. All clubs want to do it but not everyone can.”
In addition to the player departures already completed, there are decisions to be made over the short-term futures of striker Liam Delap and midfielder James McAtee, while City would also be due a substantial sell-on should Jack Harrison leave Leeds United.
The revenue generated by City this summer is already the most in a single transfer window by a Premier League side.
But there has been significant money spent on players coming into the club, including £45m on England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, £51.2m on Erling Haaland, £14.1m on Julian Alvarez and, potentially, upwards of £30m on Brighton defender Marc Cucurella, who has submitted a transfer request to force the move.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his side were “legends” after they secured their fourth Premier League title in five seasons.
City won the league by a point over challengers Liverpool with a stunning 3-2 comeback win against Aston Villa on the final day at Etihad Stadium.
It is Guardiola’s 11th trophy in six years since coming to England.
“We are legends. We will be remembered. This group of players are absolutely eternal in this club,” said Guardiola.
“What we achieved, it is so difficult to do it. Sir Alex Ferguson with Manchester United has done it years ago – two or three times – now I realise again the magnitude of doing this. Now we are part of this.”
City were 2-0 down to Villa with 15 minutes left before substitute Ilkay Gundogan scored twice, either side of midfielder Rodri’s goal, in a sensational five-minute comeback.
Had they not won, Liverpool would have been champions.
“The last game is always special – a lot of emotion,” Guardiola said. “Aston Villa gave everything but the first goal changed everything. We had to handle it.
“When you win the Premier League in this country four times in five seasons, it is because these guys are so, so special.
“Winning at home in front of our people is the best. The moment we equalised, we had the feeling we had the chance to score the third.
“It was the best atmosphere I have ever lived since I am here. Hopefully tomorrow we can celebrate together in Manchester’s streets with our cigars and beers. I will bring my cigars, don’t worry.”
Liverpool won 3-1 at home to Wolves but could do nothing to stop Manchester City defending their title.
The top two sides lost just five games between them in the league all season.
“The magnitude of the achievement is related to the magnitude of our rival and I have never seen a team like Liverpool in my life,” Guardiola added.
“Congratulations to Liverpool – they have made us better and better each week.”
Asked whether he planned to stay beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of next season, he added: “I don’t have the energy or desire to think about next season now.
“Every season is more difficult. I would not betray the club – they give me probably the most incredible moments in my life but I have to feel it, the players have to feel it and the club has to feel it.
“Now it is time to celebrate. We are champions again.”
Forward Jack Grealish joined City for a British record £100m in August from Aston Villa and he said he was “nearly crying” when he finally got his hands on the Premier League trophy.
It was the first time in 17 years that City had come from 2-0 down in a league game to win.
“I’ve had a few moments in my life and in football but this is certainly right up there. I’ve come here to win trophies and to do it is unbelievable,” Grealish told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Truthfully I didn’t think we were going to win, I just didn’t. Sometimes you have those bad feelings in your head and I just didn’t think we were going to do it.”
Forward Raheem Sterling, who spent three years at Liverpool, said Jurgen Klopp’s team had “pushed” City to achieve more success.
“Each year we come in and we know how difficult it will be with the teams we have,” he said.
“Liverpool are a great opponent and every year they push us to the wire and this is why we achieve stuff like this.”
Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who was named Premier League player of the year earlier this week, said his side fought until the end because they had nothing to lose.
“You just go for it – you’re losing anyway. You want to change the situation and that’s what we did,” he added.
‘Proud to bring this title to Ukraine’
Oleksandr Zinchenko was in tears at full-time as he wore the Ukrainian flag across his shoulders
He celebrated on the pitch afterwards with a Ukrainian flag draped across his shoulders, posing for photos, before wrapping it around the trophy.
“[These are] unforgettable emotions for me – for all Ukrainians who at the moment are starving, and surviving in my country because of Russian aggression,” he said.
“I am so proud to be Ukrainian and to bring this title to Ukraine, for all Ukrainian people, because they deserve it.
“It means everything for me – I would die for these people and their support. What people gave me and what they have done for me during this period – the toughest period of my life – I am so appreciative and I will never forget this, never in my life.”
‘You won’t get many better seasons’
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said it would have been a “travesty” if City had missed out on a trophy this season, with Liverpool having picked up the two domestic cups as well as setting up a Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Former England striker Alan Shearer added: “What a team, what a season and what a standard of football we’ve witnessed.
“It’s just unbelievable what Pep Guardiola’s got at Manchester City and what Jurgen Klopp has at Liverpool. It was a brilliant afternoon for the neutral.
“I was nervous and I don’t really care who wins it – so god knows what those supporters were going through, as that was one tense afternoon. Incredible.”
Liverpool boss Klopp said it was a “joy” to work with his players each week, but they needed “a bit more consistency in the first half of the season” to beat City to the title.
However, he described their achievements this season as “insane” and said they had pushed “the best team in the world” to the final day.
“[Finishing second] is the story of my life,” he said. “I’m still record-holder for not getting promoted in Germany with the highest points tally. You need to get more points than every other team, but we didn’t do that.
“You can’t do more than give your absolute best and that’s what the boys did again. We chased the best team in the world to the wire. That’s absolutely special. We’ll build a team again and go again.
“These boys played an insane season. This is not the end, just a result of the season.”
Kevin de Bruyne’s stunning four-goal haul helped Manchester City thump Wolves and restored their three-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola’s side now need only four points from their final two fixtures to ensure they will finish above Liverpool and win their fourth title in five seasons.
De Bruyne has played a central role in all of those previous triumphs but this was an individual display that must rank among the finest of his stellar collection in a City shirt.
The Belgian started the move that led to his side’s opener, and finished it too, running on to Bernardo Silva’s pass to slot home.
Wolves did not take long to respond, with a rapid counter-attack ending when Pedro Neto found Leander Dendoncker in space on the edge of the box to fire past Ederson.
This was De Bruyne’s stage, however, and he quickly put his side back in front. Again, he played a part in the build-up too, and was in the right place to smash in the rebound after Jose Sa beat Raheem Sterling to his pass.
His third goal – again with his so-called weaker left foot – was the pick of the bunch, and saw him drive towards the edge of the area and curl into the bottom corner.
De Bruyne’s hat-trick was his first for City and at 24 minutes was the third-quickest in Premier League history.
He celebrated in style by copying the meditation celebration of his soon-to-be team-mate Erling Haaland, who City reached an agreement to sign this week, but he was not finished yet.
City came out for the second half looking for more goals to improve their goal difference, which was already three better than Liverpool’s before kick-off.
Raheem Sterling thought he had extended their lead when he ran clear and beat Sa but an offside flag cut short his celebrations.
It was left to De Bruyne to make it 4-1, typically making no mistake when a Phil Foden cross was deflected into his path and finding the bottom corner with his first right-footed effort of the night.
More chances followed, with Foden hitting the post and Sterling missing an easy chance but eventually someone else did get in on the act, with Sterling tapping into an empty net after Sa denied Joao Cancelo.
This was still the De Bruyne show, however. City are not over the line yet, and their next test is an awkward trip to West Ham on Sunday, but on this evidence they will take some stopping.
Pep Guardiola has outstripped all of his peers past and present in the Premier League after racking up his latest victory at the helm of Manchester City.
With City in a festive mood following Monday’s decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the club’s suspension from the Champions League, Wednesday saw Bournemouth visiting the Etihad Stadium for the latest round of league fixtures.
Pep took the opportunity to rotate his team, resting the likes of Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez, but it made little difference to the overall result as City ran out 2-1 winners.
David Silva and Gabriel Jesus both netted in the first half, meaning David Brooks’ late strike was little more than consolation for the Cherries, who find themselves in serious danger of going down to the Championship.
Not only was it City’s third consecutive Premier League victory, but it also brought up Pep’s 150th match in the English top flight, a run in which he has surpassed all previous managers in terms of success.
Wednesday’s clash was his 111th win on the bench, marking an outstanding strike-rate of almost 64 per cent.
Pep guardiola is a famous and successful football manager ,he his respected among football managers ,he has won lot of trophies in his Carrier,he his the current coach of man chester city ,he has won two premier league title for man chester city and he is at the second spot in the premier league table this season , I post an article some days ago about Bruno Fernandes claiming that his international team mate Christian ronaldo is the best in the world ,some people accepted the fact but some did not , however this is what Pep Guardiola says about the two player.
Pep Gaurdiola says that there is no dabate when it comes to who his better between christian Ronaldo and leo Messi ,he also added that Christian ronaldo has a long way to go to match leo messi
Leo messi
Christian ronaldo
what is your opinion? Do you accept that Christian ronaldo still has a long way to go to match Leo Messi , please click on the like button, share and follow up for sport update thanks .
Pep Guardiola fears his Manchester City players are not ready for the gruelling demands of the Premier League restart.
Guardiola’s reigning champions will host Arsenal on Wednesday in the second game of the Premier League’s return to action following the coronavirus hiatus.
City play again on Monday when Burnley come to the Etihad Stadium and the pace does not drop until the planned end of the season in late July.
With Premier League chiefs determined to play the remaining 92 matches in less than six weeks and teams given only a short time to prepare, City manager Guardiola is concerned that his stars are not fully fit for such a hectic schedule.
“We are ready to play one game, but three days after another and four days after another, we are not ready,” Guardiola told reporters in a video press conference on Tuesday.
“We have to rotate and use all the players. You can play a game after three weeks on holiday but we spent two weeks on the sofa doing nothing much. That is why the players are not fully fit.
“The way we are right now, I think other clubs and teams as well, if you ask me how the team is, I don’t know.”
Guardiola said the game against Arsenal would show him what level of fitness his players had.
“What we are worried about over the three weeks is the lack of preparation, not like in Germany or Spain, where they worked five or six weeks,” he said. “We know it is not enough but it is what it is.”
– ‘Difficult time’ –
Since the Premier League went into lockdown in March, Guardiola’s mother Dolors Sala Carrio has died, aged 82, after contracting the coronavirus.
“All the people who lost family or friends, it’s a difficult time, but we have family to stay strong,” he said.
While the French and Dutch top-flight seasons were cancelled because of the pandemic, football has returned in Germany, Spain and Italy.
Now it is the Premier League’s turn to experience life during the virus, with matches played behind closed doors and twice-weekly testing for players among other new rules and regulations.
Guardiola did not sound especially enthusiastic about the Premier League’s decision to return, but he acknowledged the need to minimise the financial fallout from the pandemic.
“That is why we have to finish the season. We have to limit the economic damage to the clubs,” he said.
“It is what it is. Everyone suffered during this situation, personally and economically, and we have to adapt.
“The players are human. The health of the people is important but at the end, the Premier League, like in Spain, decided we have to play and we are going to play. ”
City, who resume 25 points behind leaders Liverpool, will welcome back Guardiola’s former assistant Mikel Arteta for the first time since he took charge of Arsenal in December.
“We are delighted he will come back, especially if he is happy there. We sent a message about an hour and a half ago,” Guardiola said.
“It was about the wine we are going to drink after the game if social distance allows.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes the protocols he and his players must follow for football to return are a small sacrifice compared to those risking their lives on the frontline of the coronavirus crisis.
Guardiola’s mother died at the age of 82 in April after contracting COVID-19.
“We follow the rules, the protocol. We have to. That’s the most important thing. We don’t do anything special,” Guardiola told the City website.
“The special ones are the doctors, nurses, scientists, cleaners – they put their own lives at risk to save ours.
“When it’s a special situation around the world, you have to adapt.”
Premier League players returned to training last week, whilst maintaining social distancing guidelines.
The UK government has now given the green light for contact training to resume, with clubs set to vote on the protocols on Wednesday.
Should the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League all be completed, City could face 17 games in little over two months once the action gets underway.
But Guardiola is pleased with the fitness of his players given they have not played competitively since March 8.
“I think they were looking forward to coming back and to train again and do what they like,” he added. “They came back perfectly.”
Even when football does return in England, matches are set to be behind closed doors for the forseeable future.
Fears have been raised over the possibility that fans could congregate around stadiums, but there has been little evidence of such problems in Germany since the return of the Bundesliga.
And Guardiola encouraged fans to continue adhering to the health and safety guidelines.
“We want to come back but now the priority is other things. It’s still stay safe, be careful and when everything is possible we will come back,” he said.
“The most important thing is to follow the instructions. If they say use a mask, stay at home, social distance, we have to do it. Because there are many, many people in the NHS (National Health Service) around the world who put their own lives at risk to save ours.
“It’s incredible what they have done, and we have to follow them. Now, we cannot do anything wrong.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s mother, Dolors Sala Carrio, has died aged 82 in Barcelona after contracting coronavirus.
“Everyone associated with the club sends their most heartfelt sympathy at this most distressing time to Pep, his family and all their friends,” said Manchester City on social media.
Monday’s increase of 637 coronavirus deaths means 13,055 have died in Spain.
Last month, Guardiola donated 1m euros (£920,000) to help fight the outbreak.
The money will be used to purchase medical equipment and protective material for staff involved in treating those admitted to hospital.
Barcelona is in Catalonia, which is one of the areas in Spain with the most concentrated number of cases.
Manchester United posted on social media to say the club was “saddened to hear this terrible news”, adding: “We send our heartfelt condolences to Pep and his family.”
Spaniard Guardiola, 49, has been in charge of Manchester City since July 2016 after spells as manager of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
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