The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Manchester City

  • Biggest test perhaps for Sarri, as Chelsea host Manchester City

    It has taken less than two weeks for the optimism generated by a 12-match unbeaten start to Maurizio Sarri’s reign at Stamford Bridge to fizzle out.

    This weekend the Italian faces his biggest test to date when Manchester City visit.

    In fairness to the former Napoli manager, he stressed throughout the heady days of early Autumn that Chelsea were not equipped to challenge Manchester City for the title.

    Now, ahead of Saturday’s clash between the sides, a 10-point gap has opened up.

    On Tuesday, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City maintained a searing pace at the top with a 2-1 win against Watford.

    Twenty four hours later, Chelsea went down 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers — their second defeat in three English Premier League games.

    Sarri said his side had only played well for 55 minutes at Wolves.

    He added that he knows they will have to be at full tilt for 90 minutes on Saturday if they are to have any chance of halting the Manchester City juggernaut.

    He said he expects a “big reaction” on Saturday.

    But he already appears to have settled for a top-four scrap along with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, rather than chasing down Liverpool and champions Manchester City.

    “Manchester City are in another category. We have to play and to fight to be in the top four,” Sarri said after the setback at Wolves.

    “City are the best team in Europe, maybe the best in the world. They can win the UEFA Champions League.”

    Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool, who like Manchester City are unbeaten, started without Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at Burnley on Wednesday but still won 3-1.

    With a huge `must-win’ UEFA Champions League game coming up next week against Napoli, Klopp may well gamble on squad rotation as they travel to seventh-placed Bournemouth for Saturday’s early kick-off.

    Victory for Liverpool would take them top, at least until Manchester City’s later clash with Chelsea.

    Third-placed Tottenham Hotspur will also have a massive UEFA Champions League night on their minds when they travel to Leicester City on Saturday evening.

    Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be less than pleased that his side kickoff at 1945 GMT with a trip to FC Barcelona following on Tuesday.

    It was a game Tottenham will almost certainly have to win to reach the last 16 of the tournament.

    Fifth-placed Arsenal have no such concerns as they host Huddersfield Town on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 21 matches.

    Manchester United, who are 18 points behind leaders Manchester City and eight adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea after three successive draws, are at home to bottom club Fulham.

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has made 46 changes to his starting line-up already this season and all eyes will be on his selection again.

    He comes face to face with the original “tinkerman” Claudio Ranieri, now at the helm at Fulham.

    Mourinho left record signing Paul Pogba on the bench for Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal and also started without Romelu Lukaku.

    But goalscorer Anthony Martial picked up an injury against Arsenal and is a major doubt to face Fulham.

    Also on Saturday, Burnley host Brighton and Hove Albion while new Southampton boss manager Ralph Hasenhuttl will be in the dugout for the first time.

    His side take on fellow strugglers Cardiff City.

    West Ham United will be seeking a third consecutive win when they host Crystal Palace in a London derby.

    Match Day 16 Fixtures

    Bournemouth vs Liverpool

    Arsenal vs Huddersfield

    Burnley vs Brighton

    Cardiff vs Southampton

    Manchester United vs Fulham

    West Ham vs Crystal Palace

    Chelsea vs Manchester City

    Leicester vs Tottenham

    Newcastle United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

    Everton vs Watford

  • Sigurdsson: in-form Everton are confident of good show

    Everton’s ability to grind out results has boosted their confidence ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Liverpool in the English Premier League, midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson said on Thursday.

    Iceland international Sigurdsson scored the winning goal as Everton overcame promoted Cardiff City 1-0 last Saturday.

    The victory helped them to extend their unbeaten league run to three games and climb to sixth in the table on 22 points.

    “I think all the boys have been looking forward to the derby since the start of the season and that feeling has grown with the performances we have been putting together over the past couple of months,” Sigurdsson told the club’s website.

    Read Also: Everton must prepare to win ugly, Sigurdsson says

    “The team is playing really well and getting results and we are grinding out wins when we’re not playing our best football.”

    Victory over Cardiff followed a determined display at Stamford Bridge, where Everton held title contenders Chelsea to a goalless draw earlier this month.

    “We can take confidence from the way we played at Chelsea. That was a good result,” Sigurdsson, who has scored six goals this season, added.

    Liverpool come into the 232nd meeting with their city rivals on the back of a 2-1 defeat by French side Paris St Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

    Juergen Klopp’s side are unbeaten in the league, however, and sit second on 33 points, two behind leaders Manchester City.

    They go into the match having not lost to Everton at Anfield since 1999.

    “Sunday is another big game for us, we want to make it a good one and we’ll be ready for the challenge,” Sigurdsson said.

  • English Premier League has made me stronger – Guardiola

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes the competitive nature and sheer unpredictability of the English Premier League has presented him with the biggest challenge of his career.

    Prior to his move to Manchester, Guardiola collected three Spanish La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies with FC Barcelona.

    He then led Bayern Munich to three consecutive Bundesliga crowns in competitions dominated by very few teams.

    However, the Spaniard said it felt like he needed to learn a whole new set of skills after arriving in England in 2016.

    He was forced to cope with heavy fixture congestion and a title challenge from five other contenders.

    “I am a better manager than I was in Germany, and I am a better manager now than I was at FC Barcelona by far, just for the fact of being there,” he said at the Peers Annual Lecture at Liverpool University.

    “Now, I feel being here I am a better manager too, because I learned to handle this incredible league in many circumstances.

    Read Also: Guardiola: repeat of record-breaking season ‘impossible’

    “It is the toughest one, for the amount of games, for the weather and the referees saying: `play (on), play (on), play (on)’ and the competitors, there are many.

    “It is the only country that five or six (teams) can win the Premier League.”

    Guardiola led Manchester City to the English Premier League title in record-breaking fashion last season, finishing on 100 points and 106 goals in 38 matches.

    Manchester City also lifted the League Cup and Community Shield this year to take Guardiola’s tally to 24 major trophies.

    And the Spaniard has admitted that transferring his skills to the international stage could one day come to fruition.

    “Sooner or later, it will happen because every three days I would like to be involved, but a little bit more calm, play more golf,” he added.

    “If I have a chance and some international team wants to come `knock, knock’. We will see.”

     

    NAN

  • Mourinho in focus again as English Premier League returns

    When Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho returns on Saturday to Stamford Bridge to face former club Chelsea, much would not have changed about him regarding his recent comments.

    He had said “it’s not about me” after his team’s thrilling comeback win over Newcastle United, but this is unlikely to be heeded this time.

    Mourinho’s words, spoken after united fans chanted his name in appreciation of the 3-2 victory, may have reflected weariness at the constant focus on his position at Old Trafford.

    But the spotlight will unavoidably be on the Portuguese again.

    The manner of United’s win, with three goals in the final 20 minutes of all-out attacking football, has raised the question of whether he will change.

    The change is for him to embrace a more positive style of play.

    Nothing in Mourinho’s history suggests that is likely and the prospect of facing Maurizio Sarri’s in-form team at Stamford Bridge is a strong deterrent against a cavalier approach.

    Second-placed Chelsea are unbeaten, level on points with champions Manchester City and challengers Liverpool and with their Belgian forward Eden Hazard in scintillating form they will start as clear favourites.

    Manchester United is already seven points behind the leading trio, having lost to Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham United on the road and Tottenham Hotspur at home.

    Read Also: Mourinho deserves respect for being ‘real’ – Lukaku

    Surely, Mourinho will be keen to ensure they avoid defeat in west London.

    Chelsea has not lost at home to United since October 2012, losing just two of the 16 meetings between the two since then.

    Mourinho has suffered four defeats in six games against his former club since taking over at United.

    But, as he reminded the media in his recent demand for more “respect”, Mourinho won three Premier League titles in his two spells as Chelsea manager.

    The former Porto and Real Madrid boss has never been afraid to play defensively when visiting top rivals.

    So, for all the hope that he might try to replicate the ‘gung-ho’ second half display against Newcastle United, it would be no surprise if he were to revert to type on Saturday.

    Manchester City will expect to pick up three points at home to a Burnley side that will feature former City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

    City has not lost at home to the Clarets since 1963 and has lost once in their last 19 meetings in all competitions.

    Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp will also be expecting maximum points when he faces off with close friend David Wagner as the Reds travel to Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

    Huddersfield is 18th in the table, have yet to win during this campaign and have managed to score only four goals.

    Fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur visit London rivals West Ham on Saturday while in-form Arsenal host Leicester on Monday looking for a 10th successive victory in all competitions.

    Sunday’s game features Everton at home to Crystal Palace.

  • Generous Kompany identifies with the HOMELESS

    MANCHESTER CITY captain Vincent Kompany has pledged to donate all the profits from his testimonial match to the city’s homeless.

    The 32-year-old defender has entered into his 10th year the club, a spell that will be celebrated with a testimonial match next August.

    The Belgian has also teamed up with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to set up ‘Tackle4MCR’ in a bid to inspire social change in the region.

    “I’ve received much from Manchester,’ said Kompany at a launch at Manchester House on Wednesday night.

    “Over the past decade, I’ve been lucky to have witnessed and played a part in Manchester City’s rise as a club and a brand. This has also run parallel alongside the rise of a whole region.

    “However, with this spectacular rise, comes a very visible downside: more and more people are left out of and have no access to the benefits of the rapid development, often leaving them no choice but to end up on the streets.”

    All profits raised from the match – which will take place at the Etihad Stadium prior to the 2019/20 Premier League campaign – will be donated to Burnham’s Homelessness Fund, which aims to bring an end to homelessness in Manchester by 2020.

    Tackle4MCR will also be raising money throughout the season through several fundraising initiatives, with the hope of ensuring every rough sleeper in the city has a bed every night of the upcoming winter.

    “What inspired me so much about this region, about this city, is the positivity of the people that live in it,’ said Kompany, who says he was ‘made’ in Manchester.

  • Impressive Liverpool seek Wembley redemption

    Liverpool will not have happy memories of their last visit to Wembley Stadium and will head south with a point to prove against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

    Eleven months ago Juergen Klopp’s side were swept aside 4-1 by a rampant Tottenham leading to a bout of navel-gazing that, as it transpired, helped transform Liverpool’s season.

    The defensive lapses that undermined them that day were soon eradicated, the goals began to flow and with the addition of central defender Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in January, Liverpool became a force to be reckoned with.

    The damage had already been done though and, just like every other contender, they never got anywhere near a Manchester City side that strolled to the English Premier League title.

    They did reach the Champions League final and have continued the momentum into the new campaign, topping the table with four wins from four, scoring nine goals and conceding one.

    Tottenham began with three wins but slipped up in their last game before the international break, losing 2-1 at Watford who are surprise joint-leaders.

    Early in the season it may be, but the lunchtime clash will offer a pointer as to which club can push on and make a credible challenge to a City side who host Fulham.

    Read Also: Milner, Mane secure victory for Liverpool at Palace

    Tottenham’s starting line-up will be similar to the one that started last year’s fixture after the London club bucked the trend by spending nothing in the transfer window.

    Liverpool, on the other hand, splashed out in the region of 160 million pounds on the likes of Naby Keita, versatile Brazilian Fabinho, Brazil keeper Alisson and Swiss playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri from relegated Stoke City.

    The Merseysiders have lost only one of their last 11 Premier League meetings against Tottenham but were also frustrated by them in a 2-2 draw at Anfield last season when Harry Kane scored a last-gasp penalty equaliser.

    There is an edge between the clubs and Klopp knows three points on Saturday would send out a message of intent.

    Defeat for Tottenham in a fixture that was supposed to be the christening of their new stadium will lead to further scrutiny of the decision to trust the same players that have achieved three successive top-three finishes but no silverware.

    Watford’s best-ever start to a top-flight season will be put to the test as they take on a Manchester United side without striker Marcus Rashford, who was sent off in their morale-boosting win against Burnley.

    Chelsea, who have quietly gone about their business under new manager Maurizio Sarri, are also 100 percent after four games and will relish a home clash against Cardiff City.

    While Liverpool’s outlay on new players has, so far, proved beneficial, the same cannot be said of West Ham United.

    The London club bolstered their squad with nearly 100 million pounds worth of new signings for incoming manager Manuel Pellegrini, but are pointless after four games.

    Things do not get any easier either with West Ham away to Everton on Sunday.

  • Tebas: 90 percent chance Girona against Barcelona in U.S

    La Liga Chief Javier Tebas has said there is a 90 per cent chance the first Spanish top flight game in the U.S. will be Girona’s ‘home’ match against Barcelona in January.

    He revealed the league will earn 200 million euros ($232.80 million) for playing games in North America.

    Tebas added that Girona’s joint majority shareholders Manchester City had encouraged the Catalan side to get involved in the initiative.

    Part of a 15-year deal the league signed with U.S. entertainment company Relevent last month, while stating that no club was obliged to play games in the U.S.

    “Girona-Barcelona will 90 percent be played in the United States, but the agreement is not about just one game.
    “It’s about a process which is much bigger,” “We held a bidding process and various companies got involved.

    “There’s no obligation for teams to play one game a year in the United States, only the clubs who volunteer to go will go.

    “But this is much more than a game, it’s about strategy and sponsorship,” Tebas said in an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero broadcast on Friday.

    Read Also: El Classico, a global spectacle

    The game will deprive Girona of a home fixture with Tebas confirming reports that the club’s fans will be offered free flights to the game set to take place at the Miami Dolphins’ 65,000-capacity Hard Rock Stadium in Florida.

    The News men was awaiting a response from Manchester City and Girona after Tebas confirmed the Premier League champions had encouraged the club to get involved in the first U.S. match.
    “The game is designed to help teams that don’t have a very big fan base.

    “Girona are partly owned by City and together with (Miami Dolphins owner) Stephen Ross, they told us Girona were interested in playing this game.

    “Now several teams with a similar profile to Girona have shown interest because they see it as an opportunity.

    “Season ticket holders will be compensated and there is an opportunity to travel to Miami. Relevent will pay the costs,” Tebas added.

    Girona, who were promoted to the top flight for the first time in 2017, said they had received the offer to play the game against Barcelona but it had yet to be officially confirmed.

    “The club has accepted this offer, understanding that it is a great possibility to expand and grow, not only for the club but also for our city and our territory.

    “Three years ago, the club was fighting against going out of business and now our objective is to consolidate ourselves in La Liga.

    “This action would be another step in competing in football’s elite after all the efforts we have made and which has led to us being promoted to the top flight,” a statement on the official Girona website said.

  • Wolves will be match for anyone, says Kompany

    The Manchester City Football Club Captain Vincent Kompany says Wolverhampton Wanderers played like a well-established Premier League team against Manchester City and should be able to take points off any side in the English top flight.

    Wolves, which finished top of the championship last season to earn promotion, drew 1-1 with the champions on Saturday.

    The club drew with Everton and was beaten by Leicester City in the other two league games to start the season.

    “They don’t behave or play like a championship team that has just been promoted. I’m confident that they will take points off our competitors,” Kompany told British media.

    Read Also: NFF Presidency: No Supreme Court order stopping Pinnick, says Keyamo

    “They’re the typical type of team who is geared up to get big scalps because they have enough quality to play themselves out of situations when they are under pressure ….

    “Their key players work hard and that’s always a good mix.”

    Wolves’ next league game is on Saturday at West Ham United, which have lost all three of their matches so far.

  • FT: Arsenal 0-2 Man City

    • FT: Arsenal 0-2 Man City
    • Superb Sterling opener (14)
    • Silva makes it two (64)
    • Renault Super Sunday clash

    GOAL! ARSENAL 0-2 MAN CITY (Silva, 64)

    And just like that, it’s 2-0!

    Mendy races down the field before playing in Sterling over on the left. The left-back then receives the ball back on the overlap and cuts back for Silva inside the area.

    It’s then a superb, sweeping finish from the Portuguese midfielder and despite Arsenal’s recent dominance, Man City are the ones to add to their lead.

     

    GOAL! ARSENAL 0-1 MAN CITY (Sterling, 14)

    It was a wonderful goal from Sterling and Man City are on the scoresheet 14 minutes into their title defence. 

    He picked up the ball on the top left corner before trotting across the top of the area, beating Bellering, and striking, sending the ball flying past Cech in the goal.

    Arsenal host champions Man City at the Emirates.

    It is a baptism of fire for Unai Emery, who takes charge of his first league game, while Pep Guardiola’s side have already got off to a winning start after lifting the Community Shield last weekend.

    MAN CITY TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Arsenal: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy, Silva, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling.

    Subs: Bravo, Kompany, De Bruyne, Sane, Otamendi, Jesus, Foden.

    ARSENAL TEAM NEWS

    Team to play Man City: Cech, Bellerin, Sokratis, Mustafi, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Ozil, Aubameyang.

    Subs: Leno, Elneny, Lacazette, Torreira, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Iwobi.

    As Arsenal start at home for the seventh year running, the Emirates might be the best place to be on Premier League opening weekend for a third season in a row.

    Last year the Gunners beat Leicester City 4-3, while in 2016 they lost by the same score to Liverpool… and now it’s another opener that promises goals.

    Arsenal should get plenty as the season goes on – in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette they have two of the top seven favourites to be the league’s top scorer -but keeping goals out is Unai Emery’s priority.

    That’s an almost impossible task against City, who set out to defend their title the same as last season – plus Riyad Mahrez. Frightening.

  • Sane misses out, Neuer makes Germany World Cup squad

    Leroy Sane was a surprise omission from Joachim Loew’s final Germany squad for the World Cup finals on Monday as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was named among the 23 players heading to Russia.

    Neuer made the squad despite playing in just one official game, a friendly against Austria on Friday, since breaking a bone in his foot in September but talented 22-year-old Sane was the biggest name to miss out.

    The Manchester City midfielder, goalkeeper Bernd Leno, forward Nils Petersen and defender Jonathan Tah were the four players that failed to make the cut.

    Germany captain Neuer, who won the World Cup four years ago, will also be their first choice keeper for the tournament, ahead of designated number two Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Kevin Trapp.

    Loew announced his squad at the end of a training camp at the Italian Alps.

    The Germans play their last warm-up game against Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen on Friday before the start of the tournament on June 14.

    Germany is in Group F along with Sweden, Mexico and South Korea.

    Squad: Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St Germain).

    Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Ruediger (Chelsea), Niklas Suele (Bayern Munich).

    Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St Germain), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal).