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Tag: Guardiola

  • Guardiola tips Man City to retain Champions League

    Guardiola tips Man City to retain Champions League

    Manchester City’s bid to retain their Champions League title will be less difficult than their long endeavour to win Europe’s top club competition, manager Pep Guardiola said yesterday.

    City lifted their first Champions League crown with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul in June, bringing an end to years of disappointment and near misses in the competition.

    Asked about City’s chances of retaining the title ahead of their Group G opener at home to Red Star Belgrade, Guardiola told his Monday news conference: “It’ll be easier. The most difficult to win is the first one. It is incredible for us but it is just one.”

    However, Guardiola said his players should not feel at ease, adding: “Tomorrow is the first step. We will try and get the first three points.

    “It’s important the players don’t feel relaxed. For our club to win the Champions League is incredible but in perspective how many [clubs have] won one Champions League? A lot.

    “We haven’t done anything special with just one, but we are incredibly proud.”

    Guardiola said the injured trio of Jack Grealish, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic, who all missed City’s 3-1 win at West Ham United on Saturday, would still not be available today.

    “I think they are getting better, they are not for tomorrow,” Guardiola added.

    “Hopefully for Nottingham Forest [in the Premier League on Saturday] or coming games because we need it because we have not a big squad at that moment but it is what it is.

    “Look how we prove [ourselves] without them in the last games. Hopefully they’ll be back soon because we need the competition.”

    City also won the Premier League and FA Cup to seal a treble last season but despite that success England defender Kyle Walker said there was no shortage of motivation in the squad.

    “It’s our job [to be motivated]. We’re at a massive club for a reason,” he told reporters.

    “It comes from within that you have to keep going and be motivated. The manager wants to win more, he doesn’t settle for second and we need to follow in his footsteps.

    “What we’ve done is in the past now, it’s a new season. The manager drew a diagram and had us at the bottom of the mountain and we have to climb it again. Going again is what separates good teams from great teams.”

    Tuesday’s UCL fixtures

    GROUP E

    Feyenoord vs. Celtic

    Lazio vs. Atlético Madrid

    GROUP F

    Milan vs. Newcastle

    PSG vs. Dortmund

    GROUP G

    Young Boys vs. RB Leipzig

    Man City vs. Red Star

    GROUP H

    Barcelona vs. Royal Antwerp

    Shakhtar vs. Porto

  • We haven’t done anything special – Guardiola

    We haven’t done anything special – Guardiola

    Pep Guardiola says Manchester City “haven’t done anything special” having won just one Champions League.

    After winning the Premier League and FA Cup last season, City became just the second English team to complete the Treble when they defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final.

    City begin their Champions League title defence when they take on Red Star Belgrade at home on Tuesday.

    “It’ll be easier. The hardest to win is the first one,” Guardiola said.

    “For our club to win the Champions League is incredible, but in perspective, how many won one Champions League? A lot.

    “We haven’t done anything special with just one, but we are incredibly proud.”

    The City manager said he has not re-watched his side’s victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul, where Spain midfielder Rodri scored the only goal.

    “I didn’t watch the game, not at all,” he said.

    “I had the feeling they [Inter Milan] were a strong team. They proved it. It was a tight game, but they showed how strong they are and they are a candidate again.”

    Read Also: Surgery stops Guardiola from Man City’s games

    England defender Kyle Walker said City, who are top of the Premier League with five wins from five, will not dwell on last season’s Champions League success.

    “What we’ve done is in the past now, it’s a new season. The manager drew a diagram and had us at the bottom of the mountain and we have to climb it again,” said Walker, who signed a contract extension with City last week.

    “Going again is what separates good teams from great teams.”

    Along with Serbian side Red Star Belgrade, City are joined in Champions League Group G by German club RB Leipzig and Swiss side Young Boys.

  • Surgery stops Guardiola from Man City’s games

    Surgery stops Guardiola from Man City’s games

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will miss his side’s Premier League clashes against Sheffield United and Fulham after undergoing back surgery, the Premier League club said yesterday.

    Guardiola’s assistant Juanma Lillo will take charge of the team.

    Read Also: Guardiola to miss two Man City games after back surgery

    “The Manchester City boss has been suffering with severe back pain for some time lately, and flew out to Barcelona for emergency surgery,” City said in a statement. “The surgery was a success, and Pep will now recover and rehabilitate in Barcelona… He is expected to return after the forthcoming international break.”

    Champions City are second in the Premier League standings with six points from two games. They travel to promoted Sheffield United on Saturday before hosting Fulham on Sept. 2.

  • ‘Exceptional’ Foden, key to Man City future – Guardiola

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he expects 18-year-old Phil Foden to play key role in the side over the next decade, and will be more involved in the first team next season.

    The Stockport-born teenager, who has been with the club since eight years made his first Premier League start in City’s 2-0 win over Cardiff City on Wednesday.

    “I’m happy with the way he plays. He could have scored two goals, he’s exceptional,” Guardiola told reporters.

    Several highly-rated teenagers, frustrated at limited involvement, have moved on in search of regular first-team football.

    However, Foden signed a new City contract until 2024 in December and Guardiola said the midfielder would get his chance.

    “It’s not easy for him with (David) Silva, Bernardo (Silva), (Ilkay) Gundogan, (Kevin) De Bruyne, but he wants to be here, he’s delighted to be here,” he said.

    “I assure you, next year, he will play more minutes. That’s the process. For the next decade, he will be important.”

  • Guardiola: repeat of record-breaking season ‘impossible’

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has ruled out another record-breaking Premier League campaign, warning fans that a repeat of last season’s feats will be “impossible.”

    City’s dominance in England last season was underscored by a slew of records that were set as they romped to their first league title of the Guardiola era.

    City became the first ever team in the Premier League to win with 100 points as well as securing the biggest title-winning margin (19 points) by scoring the most goals (106), most wins (32), most consecutive wins (18) and best goal difference (+79).

    Guardiola’s men broke 11 records in all but the former Barcelona coach envisages a far more difficult campaign when the action kicks-off next month.

    “We are not going to break any more records in the Premier League, it is impossible… it is almost impossible,” Guardiola said Tuesday ahead of his team’s International Champions Cup friendly with Liverpool in New Jersey on Wednesday.

    “I have to see the faces of my players in the next two weeks when they are together because we are here without 15 players. When we come back we have four or five days to prepare for [the Community Shield] against Chelsea and we are going to see their faces.

    “The target is win the next game and how to prepare to win the game, that is the target. The records we took last season was a consequence of what we’ve done every single day. That is the point.

    “If we are going to compare November, December, January, comparing the position, we are going to lose all the comparisons with what we have done last season.”

    Guardiola meanwhile signed a new contract in May which ties him to Manchester City until 2021 – the longest commitment he’s ever made since becoming a manager in 2008.

    The Spaniard knows, however, that nothing is certain.

    “When we decided to extend the contract, first of all I am comfortable, the second one is the club trust what we are doing,” he said.

    “The people at the club … know it depends on results. We have three more years contract, but the results will dictate what will happen in the future.

    “If we are not able to be consistent and be there to win the title. That’s the most important thing to arrive in April and May and be there for the title.

    “Football trainers always we are in a dangerous position.”

    Guardiola meanwhile said he was unfazed by the lavish spending of City’s Premier League rivals.

    Wednesday’s opponents, Liverpool, have splashed out £250 million ($328 million) since January in a bid to build a team capable of challenging for the title.

    Guardiola has only brought in £60 million Riyad Mahrez from Leicester in the close season but remains happy with the nucleus of the squad which saw him dominate the Premier League last term.

    “Every club does what they believe, I understand completely,” said the City manager when asked about Liverpool’s activity in the transfer market.

    “They are contenders to win the title, Liverpool are always a contender because of the history they have.

    “I am not concerned what someone says one day. If Liverpool believe they need these players for this kind of money, that’s fine. If they think it’s best for them, that’s perfect for them.

    “All the contenders, United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham will be stronger.”

  • EPL: Sterling stunner keeps City clear, as chasing pack gets wins too

    EPL: Sterling stunner keeps City clear, as chasing pack gets wins too

    Just when the chasing pack thought the Manchester City juggernaut was suffering a misfire Raheem Sterling scored a stunning stoppage-time winner to give the English Premier League leaders a lift.

    They earned a 2-1 victory over Southampton on Wednesday to move to 40 points.

    With Manchester United having cut the gap to five points and Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool winning, any City stutter would have been cause for celebration.

    But Pep Guardiola’s side thundered on with a club record 12th successive league victory.

    Former Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu had cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne’s opener in the 75th minute.

    But six minutes into stoppage time Sterling, for the third match running, snatched City’s winner, this time with a sublime curling shot.

    Manager Antonio Conte was sent to the stands after a verbal meltdown at Stamford Bridge as his Chelsea side laboured to a 1-0 defeat of struggling Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.

    Antonio Rudiger’s first Premier League goal sealed victory.

    “I have apologised because I did the wrong thing,” Conte said of his angry reaction to a fourth official when his side were denied a corner kick in the first half.

    “I have been in to see them after the game. It’s right to speak and apologise with them.”

    Arsenal struck three goals in four second-half minutes as they thrashed Huddersfield Town 5-0 with Mesut Ozil scoring one and supplying assists for Olivier Giroud, who scored a brace, and Alexis Sanchez.

    Alexandre Lacazette’s early goal had separated the sides before the interval although the French striker went off with a suspected groin injury.

    He will probably miss Saturday’s home clash against Manchester United.

    Arsenal have won 12 consecutive home matches.

    Liverpool moved into fifth place with Mohamed Salah taking his tally for the season to a chart-topping 12, thanks to a double in a 3-0 victory at Stoke City.

    After 14 games City have 40 points, with United on 32, Chelsea 29, Arsenal 28 and Liverpool 26.

    Burnley are now sixth, ahead of a sliding Tottenham Hotspur, as Chris Wood and Robbie Brady scored in a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth — their fourth win in five league games.

    “Where we are in the league, everyone will be surprised by that,” Burnley boss Sean Dyche said.

    Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick, the third with a wonder goal from inside his own half, as Everton thrashed West Ham United 4-0.

    It was a horrible return to Goodison Park for David Moyes whose West Ham side remained in the bottom three.

    Sam Allardyce, who will be named shortly as Everton’s new manager, watched on from the stands as caretaker boss David Unsworth signed off with a victory that lifted Everton to 13th.

    Whatever happens below them, City are looking unstoppable and with 40 points from 14 games and a goal difference of 35 they have recorded the best start in Premier League history.

    They were not at their fluent best and Southampton came closest to scoring before the break with Wesley Hoedt striking the woodwork for the visitors.

    But Sterling’s effort sparked wild celebrations at the Etihad as the former Liverpool player struck yet another late goal to take his tally for the season to 13.

    He has now earned City nine extra points this season with his timely interventions and his latest effort was arguably his best, picking out the top corner with an unstoppable effort.

    “Raheem is a match-winner, I am so happy for him. He is special, it was an amazing goal. It is more than important, it is beautiful,” Guardiola, whose side have dropped only two points this season, said.

    City are now two wins away from matching Arsenal’s record 14-match winning run in the Premier League.

    NAN

  • Victor Valdes to drop Middlesbrough

    Victor Valdes to drop Middlesbrough

     

     

    The ex-Barcelona and Manchester United goalkeeper will depart after his contract was terminated by mutual consent

    Middlesbrough have announced Victor Valdes will leave the club at the end of June following their relegation to the Championship.

    The 35-year-old joined Middlesbrough on a free transfer at the start of the season after being released by Manchester United, but could not prevent them from dropping down after just one year of Premier League football.

    Valdes’ existing deal ran until 2017, but both parties have now agreed the former Barcelona goalkeeper will leave next month.

    “Goalkeeper Victor Valdes will officially leave the club at the end of June,” a statement on the club’s official website read.

    “The 35-year-old made 28 appearances for the club, following his arrival last summer before sitting out the final seven games of the Premier League season due to a rib injury.”

    City are expected to explore the goalkeeper market once again this summer, though it is unknown whether Guardiola will go back in for Valdes.

  • Guardiola eyes Man City’s Dele-Bashiru

    Guardiola eyes Man City’s Dele-Bashiru

    MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola has hinted that Nigerian wonder kid Tom Dele-Bashiru and other outstanding academy players will be promoted to the first team in the future.

    Dele-Bashiru is one of the top talents in City’s Football Academy and helped the U18s advance to the quarterfinals of the FA Youth Cup after producing another five-star performance against Southampton on Thursday.

    “We have followed them from the beginning. There are three, four, five players who have huge talent for that age and I think will be able to play for this club in the future, ” said Guardiola.

    “They play good and we are delighted. Brian Marwood and everyone in the Academy have worked for a long time and do really well. They have worked for a long time with the same idea.”

  • Guardiola salutes Aguero after 4-0 rout of West Brom

    Guardiola salutes Aguero after 4-0 rout of West Brom

    THE City manager has heaped praise on his star striker after his double helped the Blues to victory

    Pep Guardiola says there is much more to come from striker Sergio Aguero after the Argentine’s two goals helped City to a 4-0 win over West Brom – a result that sees them move back to the top of the Premier League table.

    Aguero’s first was a clinical close-range finish after great work from Ilkay Gundogan; his second was a quite brilliant effort from outside the area that few into the top corner and gave Ben Foster no chance.

    He has now leapfrogged Francis Lee and moved into sixth on the club’s all-time leading goal scorers list.

    But Guardiola, ever the perfectionist, believes there’s much more to come.

    “We need Sergio,” he said. “We know how important he is for us.

    “He is part of the history of this club and will be forever but I would like to help him. He can still write the most brilliant pages in his career in this club. All of us we are there to help him and of course the first goal is really good and the second as well.”

    Aguero’s double took his tally for the season to 13 in 13 games.

    He looked sharp after going six games without a goal, with West Brom struggling to contain him – and afterwards Guardiola said he is one of the best strikers he’s ever worked with.

    “He’s one of the best, yeah, absolutely. But I want to help him be much, much better.

    “That is my target. Just to see how many goals he’s scored here in the Premier League and how difficult it is, and that’s why I’m so, so happy for him because he is one of the nicest people I have ever met.

    “I love working with nice guys, nice people – and Sergio is one of them.”

    Despite the comfortable score line, Guardiola said the game offered him further evidence of just how tough the Premier League is.

    The result ended a run of six without a win for City, something Guardiola believes will give his side confidence ahead of Tuesday’s game at home to Barcelona.

    “The Premier League, my friends, is tough!” he said. “You are winning 2-0 and West Brom start to play their best football. They start to put in crosses and win second balls. The first hour we had controlled these kinds of things, and after that we cannot because the opponents are really good.

  • Iheanacho to Guardiola: Play me with Aguero

    Iheanacho to Guardiola: Play me with Aguero

    Super Eagles striker, Kelechi Iheanacho has sent a compassionate plea to Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola to play him upfront alongside Sergio Aguero  for their game against Swansea City today.

    The Argentine has served his ban for elbowing West Ham’s Winston Reid before the last international break and is expected to return to the starting line-up for the trip to the Swans, despite the form the Nigerian forward who deputised for him.

    No striker had a better goal-to-minute ratio than Iheanacho in the top flight last year and Guardiola’s trust in the player during Aguero’s suspension has paid off handsomely.

    The 19-year-old, who got a goal and an assist in the Manchester derby, followed by another goal in City’s Champions League win over Borussia Moechengladbach, believes there can be room for both of them in City’s starting line-up for their return to the Liberty Stadium following Wednesday’s 2-1 EFL Cup win.

    “Of course we can play together. We did it last season and linked up and it was very good, and a good experience for me. I will be happy if I can play alongside him again this season,” Iheanacho said.

    “Of course Sergio is back and he is a great player, so the manager has to choose the team that is going to start. It has been a good opportunity for me, I am happy, I am going to keep working hard to help the team get where they want.

    “The goals are going to come and I need to keep working hard. I am happy with my scoring record. Whenever you get a chance to play you have to take it, because you don’t know when the next one will come,”he said.