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Tag: Pep Guardiola

  • City need reinforcements  in January Transfers, says Guardiola

    City need reinforcements  in January Transfers, says Guardiola

    Manchester City need to invest during the January transfer window due to injury problems and a faltering Premier League campaign, manager Pep Guardiola said, but there was no update on Kyle Walker’s future at the club.

    City’s title defence looks all but over after six league defeats left them sixth in the standings and 12 points behind leaders Liverpool who have played a game less.

    Guardiola’s side have missed midfielder Rodri, who ruptured knee ligaments in September, and have suffered injuries to defenders John Stones and Ruben Dias.

    The manager could not confirm whether a deal has been done to bring in Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

    “The club didn’t announce anything. I don’t know,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s league game at Brentford.

    “Rodri is impossible but the other ones I want back. If it would’ve happened I wouldn’t be going to the transfer window this season. Absolutely not.

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    “We would not be in the position that we are but we struggle all season. It’s not just Rodri, we have a lot of problems in the back four. That is the reason why the club is thinking we might do this transfer.”

    After City’s 8-0 FA Cup win over Salford City on Saturday, Guardiola revealed that Walker had asked to leave the club, but the manager had no update on the situation and the defender could be in the squad at Brentford.

    “No news. I’m not going to add anything, no more news. I only have Brentford on my mind,” Guardiola said.

    “We will decide this afternoon after training.”

    That cup win was a third consecutive victory for City, a welcome return to form after Guardiola’s side had previously won only once in 13 matches in all competitions.

    “We won three games. Before it was impossible to win one,” Guardiola said.

    “Now we won three, and that helps us. But, the reality is we won against a team in the last game for the difference of the Premier League and League Two, the badges of both teams, and many reasons we should win.

    “We have to wait to see if we are who we are. The mood is better. Tomorrow we have an enormously difficult game.”

    Brentford are 11th in the standings, seven points of City.

  • FA Cup: Guardiola keeps Salford guessing over Haaland

    FA Cup: Guardiola keeps Salford guessing over Haaland

    Pep Guardiola will keep Salford guessing over whether Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will line up against the League Two side in the FA Cup. City’s formidable Norwegian forward has played more minutes than any of his team-mates so far this season.

    Guardiola will consider making changes for today’s third-round tie against their fourth-tier neighbours but he has not decided if Haaland – who has netted 21 times this season in 2,386 minutes on the field – should have a rest.

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     “You will see tomorrow,” said the City manager at a press conference. “But he feels good.

     “He’s had some niggles but we’ve had seven days from West Ham to Salford and he’s recovered well. With the situation that we have, we need everyone ready.

  • More misery for Man City as Aston Villa beat champions 2-1

    More misery for Man City as Aston Villa beat champions 2-1

    By any measure another calamitous afternoon for Pep Guardiola whose side now have just four points from the last available 24 and look without confidence in the system that has served them so well, for so long.

    It was the nature of this defeat that will be so troubling for the Manchester City manager, his ninth in the last 12 games across all competitions. City looked stunned. They lost to an Aston Villa team which has been unreliable in its own form of late but knew exactly what it was going on this occasion. Villa blocked the central positions and forced City wide. They counterattacked at a rapid pace and even then they by no means took all their chances.

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    Phil Foden’s goal in the third minute of time added on, when Lucas Digne slipped on the ball in his own area, changed the nature of the last moments – but City would have been nowhere near it but for that mistake.

  • Guardiola defends Rodri’s Ballon d’Or choice

    Guardiola defends Rodri’s Ballon d’Or choice

    Pep Guardiola insisted that Rodri was a worthy winner of the Ballon d’Or, insisting no “elite group” had decided the Manchester City midfielder should be crowned the world’s best footballer.

    Real Madrid’s Liga and Champions League double winner Vinicius Junior had been the favourite to collect the trophy.

    But hours before Monday’s awards ceremony in Paris, the Spanish giants announced its delegation would not attend because of what it perceived as a snub of Vinicius.

    Rodri, 28 received the trophy after helping City win a fourth consecutive Premier League title and also starring in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.

    City manager Guardiola, speaking Tuesday at a press conference before his side’s League Cup tie against Tottenham, was delighted by Rodri’s success.

    “What can I say?” said the Spaniard. “First, to congratulate him and all his family and their friends, it’s incredible news for him and for all of us.”

    Rodri suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in September, ruling him out for the season.

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    Guardiola added: “Us at Manchester City are so proud of him. We are so proud to share it with him and hopefully, it can give him energy to recover well for next season.”

    As for Real’s decision to boycott the awards ceremony, even though they were named men’s team of the year, Guardiola said: “It’s up to them. If they want to congratulate, that’s fine. If not, that’s fine. Last season, Erling (Haaland) won the treble, more than 50 goals.

    “I said to him just being there he should be so, so happy and I said the same to Rodri.

    “Last season, Erling should win, yes. Should (eventual winner Lionel) Messi have won? Yes. It doesn’t matter.

    “Should it be Vinicius? Maybe. It’s not an elite group, it’s journalists who vote.

    “In the last decade, Spanish football has made such a difference, won a World Cup, Euros, and (Spanish players) weren’t able to win this award,” added the former Barcelona player and manager.

    The men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or winners are chosen from the shortlist by an international jury of 100 specialist journalists.

    The organisers, the Amaury group which owns the L’Equipe sports daily and France Football magazine, insisted that “no player or club” knew in advance who had won.

  • Rodri out of the season, Guardiola confirms

    Rodri out of the season, Guardiola confirms

    Pep Guardiola confirmed that Manchester City will be without Rodri for the entire season after suffering ligament damage last weekend.

    In a major blow to City’s hopes in the title race, the central midfielder had surgery in Madrid on Friday morning.

    Guardiola suggested that Rodri suffered injuries to his anterior cruciate and meniscus and warned City must be careful with his recovery to thwart further issues down the line.

    City had taken two opinions from experts in the UK and Spain, hoping that initial fears around an ACL were unfounded.

    ‘His season is over,’ Guardiola said. ‘Unfortunately he got the worst [outcome]. But it is what it is. Unfortunately at this level, it happens. We are there to support him, and he will recover step by step and move forward.

    ‘When you have an ACL injury, it’s nine months and then you have muscle injuries the season after. We have magnificent players and will find the solution.

    ‘A lot of months without an important player for us, everybody knows it.’

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    The Spaniard sustained serious ligament damage during the first half of City’s dramatic 2-2 draw with title rivals Arsenal last Sunday.

    Following deliberation with the club, Rodri chose to take to the operating table, with renowned sports surgeon Dr Manuel Leyes performing the surgery, according to Spanish media outlet Relevo.

    The Spaniard is a highly regarded orthopedic surgeon within the Spanish football community and City have decided to stand by Rodri’s decision to be treated by him.

    Real Madrid stars Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, and Arda Guler all underwent successful knee surgeries executed by the Spanish doctor.

    The injury is a major blow to the champions with Rodri becoming a pivotal part in their recent successes.

    Last season, four of City’s five losses in all competition came when Rodri was missing through either suspension or injury.

    However, speaking following a 2-1 win over Watford in the Carabao Cup, Guardiola was keen to not use Rodri’s extended absence as an excuse in their attempts to defend the Premier League title once more.

    ‘We don’t want [Rodri’s injury], but we will still have a good season,’ said Guardiola. ‘I trust a lot in my players. I have a duty to find a solution.

    ‘Rodri is irreplaceable and the team won’t play with the best midfielder in the world for a long, long time. Of course it’s a big, big blow for us.

    ‘It’s football, it’s happened, and my duty is to find a solution, to be competitive like we have been for many years.

    ‘Rodri is not here, it’s a problem. But complain? I feel sorry for him. Recover best as possible, we wait for you, and go for it. This is the challenge. Go to Newcastle, try to win, do what we have done for many years. Simple as that.’

  • Man. City had no money for centre-back – Guardiola

    Manchester City could not afford to sign a centre-back this summer, according to Pep Guardiola.

    The Premier League champions spent more than £120 million in the summer to add Rodri, Joao Cancelo and Angelino to the squad but are facing a defensive crisis if Aymeric Laporte is ruled out with a knee injury.

    City tried to replace Vincent Kompany with Harry Maguire but were out-bid for the Leicester defender by Manchester United and Guardiola says the money was not available to add a centre-back to his summer shopping list.

    “We could not buy like the opponents,” said Guardiola. “The club works incredibly well in all departments and sometimes we cannot afford it like other teams afford it and that is all.

    “We pay a lot of money for a lot of players, that is why we have a depth of squad with huge quality but we cannot do, the club tell me, you have a limit, you cannot go forward.

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    “Maybe in the future but not now, you cannot do it. I say, ok, you cannot do it so we cannot do it so we are going with what we have.”

    Laporte was sent to hospital after being stretchered off during the 4-0 win over Brighton on Saturday. Guardiola is hopeful John Stones will be available after the international break after missing three games with a muscle injury but the Spaniard says he also has the option of deploying Fernandinho or Kyle Walkerat centre-back.

    “[Fernandinho] needs some processes defensively but he is intelligent and has a lot of experience and we will see,” said Guardiola.

    “We will work — unfortunately now we cannot because it is the international break but we are going to work on it.

    “During the season it happens and the other guys is going to make a step forward and one day needs to put Kyle Walker like a central defender, he is going to play central defender so we are going to find solutions.”

    ESPN

  • Man City have set a new standard – Solskjaer

    Manchester United Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made no attempt to disguise the gulf in quality between his team and Manchester City, describing Pep Guardiola’s side as “the best team in the country” after they won 2-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the match.

    “They have set the standard in the last two seasons and I don’t know how many points they’ve taken.

    “What Pep Guardiola has done with his players is remarkable and we are so close to it, in the vicinity so we feel it every day,” said the Norwegian.

    Solskjaer had demanded his players react to their 4-0 loss to Everton on Sunday and United did begin the match with aggression, battling hard until City went ahead through Bernardo Silva in the 54th minute.

    “We got a reaction and in the end we were beaten by a better team. But we got a reaction from fans and players and had a go.

    “You can see the work rate was there, it wasn’t good enough though,” said the United boss.

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    “The players wanted to show they really care. The first half was positive; we were pleased at the break.

    “Unfortunately, we conceded two sloppy goals in the second half that could have been avoided.

    “Everyone can see what City has done over the last few years,” he said.

    City strolled to victory in the second half with united flagging as they chased after a stream of precise passes from Guardiola’s side.

    “There is a difference in quality. That is why they are top and we are where we are. They have set the standard. Living in Manchester we cannot be happy with that.

    “It is up to us to close that gap and overtake them,” said Solskjaer.

    “Today you can’t say that any of them didn’t run. You could see clearly an intent and focus. We just need to keep working on it,” he said.

    United have lost seven of their last nine games in all competitions, a run of form which contrasts markedly with the positive start to Solskjaer’s reign in December.

    A Champions League spot remains within their grasp, however, with United in sixth place, three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who they play on Sunday.

    “In the short term, we are still in the race for the top four and we know we must deliver a good performance against Chelsea,” said Solskjaer.

    NAN

     

  • Guardiola: Man City players yet to get over UCL heartbreak

    Pep Guardiola has said his Manchester City players are still not over their dramatic elimination from the Champions League quarterfinals at the hands of Tottenham, who they face in the Premier League on Saturday.

    City suffered injury time heartbreak in midweek when a last minute goal from Raheem Sterling, which would have sent City through, was ruled out by the video assistant referee and Spurs progressed on away goals.

    The two sides meet again in at the Etihad and City know that if they win their five remain fixtures, they will be crowned champions again.

    “If you believe it doesn’t hurt, or it’s over and forget it, I would say no,” Guardiola told a news conference. “I don’t want the players to forget what they lived.

    “If they forgot what happened on Wednesday that would not be the truth — they would not be human beings. It will take time but you have to live with that feeling and play with that feeling and it’s nice.

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    “What we lived last Wednesday in terms of emotion and simple life, it was incredible — we were fortunate to live it. More than 55,000 people went from joy and happiness and within one second everyone was devastated. There is not an activity in this world you can put in these limits.

    “Always it will remain in our hearts. The performance we did was incredible at this level. I don’t want to see my players saying it doesn’t matter what happened, I like to see them that it hurts.”

    Guardiola said he needs to see how his players have reacted to their exit before deciding on the side to face Mauricio Pochettino’s team for a third time in a matter of weeks.

    “We saw each other yesterday and we congratulated each other on the game,” Guardiola said of Pochettino.

    “I hope the [reaction will be] our best, we have five games in the Premier League and an FA Cup game and tomorrow another game against Tottenham and we’ll see.

    “We’ll see today how people recover, mentally and physically from the last game then we’ll take a decision tonight as we play early. We’ll see.”

    While City needs a 100 percent record to keep the title destiny in their own hands, Spurs are also desperate for the three points as they battle to ensure a top-four finish and a Champions League spot.

    Tottenham are a point clear of fifth-place Chelsea, who have played a game more.

    Pochettino’s focus may now have switched to their European semifinal against Ajax but Guardiola is expecting another tough game.

    “Both teams are going to attack, them in their way with long balls to Llorente or Lucas Moura picking up second balls and the attacker running in behind,” he added.

    “We are going to attack with a more positional game but it will not be easy because they are an incredible top team — we saw it in the last two games — but we are going to try.”

    ESPN

  • Pep set to seal multi-million-pound puma deal

     

    Pep Guardiola is on the verge of signing a multi-million-pound deal with Manchester City’s new kit manufacturer Puma.

    The Premier League champions last month announced a 10-year contract with the sportswear giant, worth up to £650million and also covering four of its sister clubs.

    Puma are working on landing a number of City’s star players but the manager is viewed as a prized asset. Salaries for top talent usually reach seven figures

    Guardiola, seen as one of very few managers worth sponsorship commercially, was with Gore-Tex while Bayern Munich manager before that agreement ended mutually.

    The 48-year-old has been spotted wearing Puma gear this season. Adidas have previously sponsored him.

    The Catalan has also been an ambassador for Dsquared2, also an official City partner, since his days at Barcelona.

    Guardiola took to ripping the Stone Island labels off clothing given his tie-up with Dsquared2 during his early time in England.

    City Football Group’s contract with Puma is fourth in Europe, behind Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United

    Puma chief executive Bjorn Gulden revealed the German company is looking at others at City, with Leroy Sane, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling three to have been mentioned as potential targets.

    Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and David Silva are already ambassadors. ‘We’ll obviously try to pick some,’ Gulden said.

    ‘If you look at the personalities at City then there are some who are very interesting. We can’t have them all but we’ll add a couple.’

  • 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