Pep Guardiola
Manchester City v Tottenham – Battle of Two Legendary Managers
Manchester City v Tottenham HotspurEnglish Premier LeagueEtihad Stadium, ManchesterSaturday, February 13, 202117:30 GMTReferee: Paul Tierney This Saturday, Manchester City and Tottenham Hootspur face each other in the English Premier League (see full list of fixtures here). This match-up acts as another clash between two of the greatest managers of all-time – Tottenham’s José Mourinho and City’s Pep Guardiola. City are currently first in the Premier League with 50 points, and Tottenham are in eighth with 36 points. Manchester City Preview: City remain in spectacular form, having won their last 15 matches and stayed undefeated in their last 22 matches. They head into this fixture following a 3-1 victory over Swansea City in the FA Cup and a 4-1 demolition of Liverpool in the Premi...
Premier League mid-season awards 2020/21: best players, best signings, best games, and more
It’s been an enthralling season of Premier League football so far, with the title race shaping up to be one of the most open in decades. And now we’re at the midway stage (well…most teams are, although Aston Villa still have about 94 games in hand), we have a rough idea of how each side will fare over the course of the campaign. We’re still a few months away from awards season, but it’s always fun to have a look at where our standouts have come from. So, here are the Premier League mid-season awards. Best Players Third Place – Heung-min Son Son is playing brilliantly this season The Korean has been one of the standouts at Tottenham Hotspur for a few years now, but this season he seems to have elevated his game to a new level. If he registers just three more goals in the next 20 games, Son ...
Manchester City’s Eric Garcia agrees five-and-a-half year deal at Barcelona
Manchester City defender Eric Garcia has agreed a five-and-a-half year deal with Barcelona with the clubs closing in on a cut-price agreement, report El Mundo Deportivo. It is claimed that there is a deal which will see the Blaugrana pay €5m – in a transaction that will go through next season – alongside a further €5m in variables for the player, who is out of contract this summer. Back in August, City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed the player would not renew his deal at the English club and the defender is now taking centre stage of Barcelona transfer news this calendar year. The central defender has been a Cule all his life but joined City in 2017 from the Catalan giants, with previous multiple reports claiming they have been eyeing a return for the past year. Reports have drawn parallels ...
IFFHS: Diego Simeone the best club coach of the decade
Diego Simeone’s consistency at Atletico Madrid has been rewarded. The International Federation of Football and History Stats (IFFHS) have put the Argentine ahead of managers like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. This will be talked about for a while. The IFFHS have voted Cholo Simeone as the best coach of the latest decade (2011-20). Ahead of Pep Guardiola (Man City) and Champions League winners like Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) and Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), who win three straight Champions Leagues, the IFFHS have gone for the Argentine’s consistency. After arriving at Atletico in 2011, he took a struggling Atleti to Champions League regulars. He has won 203 matches, drawn 118 and lost 82, as well as seven titles. A La Liga title, a Copa del Rey, two Europa Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and...
Pep Guardiola confident Kevin de Bruyne will commit future to Manchester City
Pep Guardiola expects Kevin De Bruyne to commit his long-term future to Manchester City despite reports the Belgium midfielder’s contract talks have stalled. De Bruyne’s current contract runs until 2023, but City have already offered him a new deal. That contract extension remains unsigned amid claims De Bruyne was “disappointed” City’s offer did not significantly improve his reported salary of £280,000 ($380,000) per week. De Bruyne, voted the PFA Player of the Year last season, is said to want a deal that reflects his status as one of the world’s best midfielders and vice-captain of the club. Despite those issues, City boss Guardiola remains confident De Bruyne’s future will be at the Etihad Stadium. “I am pretty sure he will stay but at the same time we have to respect the process,” Gua...
Tactical Analysis: How Manchester City Breezed Past Chelsea
The Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City was being built up as quite a big one. Prior to the match, the Blues only had one win in their last five Premier League games but were nearly back to full squad strength as Hakim Ziyech made a much-awaited return from injury. City, on the other hand, were unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches, but with the likes of Ederson, Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus, Ferran Torres, Aymeric Laporte and some others missing due to COVID or injury, their squad was looking fairly depleted, so much so that Pep Guardiola named only eight substitutes including three EDS (Elite Development Squad) players. The match, however, proved to be a simple stroll in the park for City. They breezed past Chelsea with unmatched effortlessness and a perfor...
Frank Lampard under serious threat of being sacked as Chelsea boss
According to a damning on-the-whistle report from The Athletic, Frank Lampard’s job at Chelsea is under serious threat after the 3-1 defeat to Manchester City. The loss to Pep Guardiola’s side marked Chelsea’s fourth in their last six Premier League games, the Blues have won just once over this period – against West Ham – who they are now level on points with. It’s not just the results though, the Blues have lost to sides that are firmly contenders for European competition like Wolves and Everton – whilst they were stunned by rivals Arsenal on Boxing Day. The Athletic report that the west London outfit have now begun to ‘explore alternative plans’ in regards to the team’s future, with the consideration that Lampard will be sacked if this run continues. Chelsea now sit eighth in the Premier...
Pep Guardiola: No new striker for Manchester City due to coronavirus impact
Manchester City’s strikers will have to rediscover their scoring touch because reinforcements will not be signed in January, manager Pep Guardiola has said. Guardiola explained that even with the backing of their Abu Dhabi owners, City were subject to the same financial pressures as their rivals due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. City have scored only twice in their last three league games but hope to welcome back Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus for Tuesday’s League Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. However, the League Cup holders’ record goalscorer Argentinian Sergio Aguero is sidelined by an undisclosed issue having had knee and illness problems already this season. Asked about the prospect of new blood coming to the club, Guardiola replied: “No I don’t think so because the eco...
Pep Guardiola: Manchester City miss Sergio Aguero
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola opened up on his side’s goal scoring troubles after a goalless draw against Man United. He also talked about missing star striker Sergio Aguero. He said: “We miss Sergio but for the last six months, not just today, he was injured a lot of times. One step at a time, he still isn’t fit”. “Other players are working hard. Today he had a problem in his stomach and couldn’t make a session. He was at home”. “Of course, we miss Sergio, he is the best striker in Manchester City’s history”. “In the next short time, we will go without him and I am sure when he is fit, he will be back.” Sergio Aguero missed the Manchester derby due to sickness. The Argentine has been absent for much of City’s season till now. He was carrying an injury into the start of the new sea...
Pep Guardiola: Kun Aguero not ready to start Manchester derby
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Sergio Aguero won’t start Saturday’s derby against United at Old Trafford. The Argentine, who has been troubled by knee injury and hamstring issues this season came off the bench to score Manchester City’s 3-0 win against French club Olympic Marseille on Wednesday night. Aguero has featured in five games across all competitions for the Citizens this season. Guardiola has said he will not take risks with the 32-year-old and will not be tempted to throw him in from the beginning at Old Trafford. Asked if Aguero could start the derby, Guardiola simply said: “No.” On his general performance, he added: “His instinct to score will always be there. He’s had three or four training sessions and the reaction was good. “He had 25 minutes and scored a goal. S...
Pep Guardiola Comments on Sergio Aguero’s Future
Pep Guardiola has discussed the future of Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Burnley on Saturday. Aguero joined Man City in 2011 for a reported fee of approximately £35m. Since then, he has been a monumental hit, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, winning four Premier League titles, and six other domestic trophies. He’s also fourth on the Premier League all-time goalscorers list and could move into third (behind Rooney and Shearer) before the current season is over. It’s fair to say he has had a significant impact on the Premier League and is the most prolific Premier League striker of the last decade. Aguero is Man City’s all time top goalscorer The 32-year-old is in the final year of his contract, leaving him eligible to open talks with ...
Manchester City ease into Champions League last 16
Manchester City booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League but there were more concerns for Pep Guardiola over his side’s lack of ruthlessness in a 1-0 win at Olympiakos on Wednesday. Phil Foden’s low strike nine minutes before half-time ensured City deservedly kept up their 100 percent record in Europe this season. But a one-goal margin of victory was a scant reward for the visitors’ dominance even with a heavily-rotated side. Guardiola made five changes to the team beaten 2-0 at Tottenham on Saturday to see City off to their worst league start since the first few months of the club’s Abu Dhabi-backed ownership. Scoring goals has been City’s big problem in the Premier League, but they had scored three in each of their opening three Champions League wins over Porto, Marseill...
