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Tag: Man City

  • EPL: Hudson-Odoi scores as Forest stun Man City

    EPL: Hudson-Odoi scores as Forest stun Man City

    Nottingham Forest snatched all three points as a late Callum Hudson-Odoi strike condemned Manchester City to a 1-0 Premier League (PL) defeat at the City Ground.

    Firmly in contention for a UEFA Champions League spot, Forest have had a remarkable season, achieving success with the league’s lowest average possession to put them one point above City ahead of kick-off.

    Pep Guardiola’s side top the possession charts, and they typically dominated in that respect, albeit without regularly troubling the home side.

    An early snapshot from Erling Haaland trickled wide via a deflection, shortly before Nico González rifled an effort from distance against the outside of the near post.

    Those chances were as close as anyone came to breaking the first-half deadlock, with the hosts having promising flashes that ultimately led to nothing.

    Maintaining their record as the only PL home side yet to trail at HT this season, Forest remained disciplined after the restart.

    The pattern of play remained largely the same until an injection of tempo favoured the hosts, allowing Hudson-Odoi to carve out a golden opportunity in the 67th minute, denied only by a combination of Ederson’s quick reactions and the inside of the post.

    In search of fresh impetus, Guardiola turned to his bench, but neither Kevin De Bruyne nor Omar Marmoush were able to truly trouble Matz Sels as time ticked away.

    With the contest heading towards a draw, a brilliant raking pass from Morgan Gibbs-White opened up City, giving Hudson-Odoi the space to drive towards goal before shifting outside and striking beyond Ederson at his near post.

    City had little time to respond, and despite a venomous Mateo Kovačić volley flying narrowly wide, ultimately were unable to break down a well-organised Forest unit.

    City had little time to respond, and despite a venomous Mateo Kovačić volley flying narrowly wide, ultimately were unable to break down a well-organised Forest unit.

    A first triumph over City in the league since December 1997 (D2, L7), keeps Nuno Espírito Santo’s side third, having yet to fall outside the top four in 2025.

    Meanwhile, a Chelsea win over Leicester City on Sunday would see City drop out of the guaranteed UCL qualification spots.

    Tribalfootball

  • Mbappe’s hat-trick dumps Man City out of UCL

    Mbappe’s hat-trick dumps Man City out of UCL

    Manchester City’s Champions League campaign came to a tame conclusion at the Bernabeu as Kylian Mbappe’s brilliant hat-trick inspired holders Real Madrid to a comfortable victory and place in the last 16.

    Pep Guardiola’s side were attempting to reverse a 3-2 deficit from the play-off first leg but this contest was effectively over after four minutes when Mbappe’s precise lob from Raul Asencio’s pass increased their advantage.

    City, with Erling Haaland only fit enough for the bench, saw their plight worsen moments after Mbappe’s opener when they lost defender John Stones to injury.

    And City’s earliest Champions League exit since they failed to get out of the group in 2012-13 edged closer when Mbappe showed brilliant close control to wrong-foot Josko Gvardiol before beating Ederson after 33 minutes.

    The France forward’s third came just after the hour with a low shot as City subsided, barely laying a glove on Real all night as they were outclassed.

    City pulled a goal back when Nico Gonzalez turned in his first goal for the club after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick hit the bar, but it was no consolation on a desperate night for the reigning Premier League champions.

    It was a chastening experience for Guardiola, whose discomfort was particularly relished by Real’s fans because of his old Barcelona allegiances, as he faces a mammoth task to rebuild and restore City to Europe’s top table.

    BBC

  • Ballon d’Or banner gave me strength – Vinicius

    Ballon d’Or banner gave me strength – Vinicius

    Vinicius Junior claimed Manchester City’s fans’ banner fired him up after playing a starring role in Real Madrid’s dramatic Champions League victory at the Etihad Stadium.

    The visiting side were greeted by a huge flag before Tuesday’s play-off first leg at the Etihad Stadium, poking fun at the Brazilian’s runners-up finish to City midfielder Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d’Or award and Real’s boycott of the ceremony.

    Yet it was Real who had the last laugh as the banner backfired badly, with Vinicius enjoying a superb game as the Spaniards twice came from behind to win 3-2.

    Vinicius told Movistar: “I saw it, I saw the banner. Whenever the opposing fans do things like that they give me more strength to have a great game and here I have done it.”

    The banner displayed a huge picture of Rodri kissing his trophy alongside the message ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ – a song title by City-supporting band Oasis.

    City manager Pep Guardiola claimed he had not seen the banner and instead lamented his side’s latest failure to hold onto a lead in what has been a frustrating campaign.

    The hosts twice led with Erling Haaland strikes but they were cancelled out by Kylian Mbappe, and former City youngster Brahim Diaz before Jude Bellingham grabbed a stoppage-time winner.

    Real will now be heavy favourites to progress to the last 16 when the sides meet at the Bernabeu Stadium next week for the return clash.

    Guardiola said: “After (it went) 2-1 what happened was a resume of a little bit of this season. In so many games it has happened against Feyenoord, against Sporting Lisbon, against Brentford in the Premier League and Man United.

    “Many games we have given away at the end. Unfortunately it has happened many times and at this level (that makes it) so difficult.”

    After sweeping almost all before them in recent years, this season has been a big comedown for City and Guardiola admits he is currently not able to restore the intensity that previously made them formidable.

    “We have been an extraordinary team, an incredible machine every three days in these years.

    “But if the opponent is better the opponent is better and at the moment I’m not able to give the composure to the team, to manage this kind of situation.

    “I don’t have a problem accepting that it doesn’t work like it worked in the past and it’s down to all of us – me first and the players as well.”

    In spite of the defeat, Guardiola is not writing off the tie.

    “We’ll try,” he said. “You have to continue. We’ll learn and, with fresh minds, fresh legs go for them.”

  • UCL: Real Madrid beat Man City by two late goals

    UCL: Real Madrid beat Man City by two late goals

    Manchester City are fighting for Champions League survival and a place in the last 16 after Jude Bellingham’s injury-time winner settled a tense play-off first leg in Real Madrid’s favour.

    Pep Guardiola’s side rediscovered more of their true form early on at Etihad Stadium as Jack Grealish and Josko Gvardiol combined to set up Erling Haaland for a confident finish after 19 minutes.

    Grealish, who had made a fine start, then went off injured and after Haaland hit the bar shortly after the break, Real took control.

    Real let City off the hook by failing to take their chances until Kylian Mbappe scrambled home a close-range finish on the hour.

    They continued to squander opportunities, including two for Bellingham, and were punished when Haaland put City back in front from the spot after 80 minutes following Dani Ceballos’ foul on Phil Foden.

    Real, however, hit back with four minutes left, former City man Brahim Diaz equalisingbefore Bellingham finally hit the target, sliding in from close range to leave the holders as firm favourites to reach the knockout stage in next week’s second leg at The Bernabeu.

    BBC

  • Man City to face Real Madrid in Champions League play-off [Full draw]

    Man City to face Real Madrid in Champions League play-off [Full draw]

    Manchester City will play 15-time European Cup winners Real Madrid and Celtic will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League play-off round.

    City, the 2023 Champions League winners, will host Madrid at Etihad Stadium on 11 or 12 February before travelling to Spain for the second leg the following week.

    Celtic, the first British club to win the trophy when they did so in 1967, will face Bayern Munich at Celtic Park before the Bundesliga club host Brendan Rodgers’ side at Allianz Arena in the second leg.

    The winners of City’s tie against Madrid and Celtic’s meeting with Bayern will face either German side Bayer Leverkusen or Spanish club Atletico Madrid in the last 16.

    The draw for the last 16 is on 21 February, following the conclusion of the play-off ties, but some elements of that draw are pre-determined.

    Champions League play-off draw in full:

    Brest v Paris St-Germain

    Club Brugge v Atalanta

    Manchester City v Real Madrid

    Juventus v PSV Eindhoven

    Monaco v Benfica

    Sporting v Borussia Dortmund

    Celtic v Bayern Munich

    Feyenoord v AC Milan

  • Guardiola exit conversation was difficult – Kyle Walker

    Guardiola exit conversation was difficult – Kyle Walker

    New AC Milan signing Kyle Walker admitted feeling “uncomfortable” when leaving his old club.

    Walker spoke about his anxiety at informing Pep Guardiola of his decision to leave Manchester City.

    The 34-year-old England defender was unveiled by Milan this week, citing a lack of playing time as a key reason for his loan move.

    Guardiola’s response to the situation has been terse, stating that Walker “decided to leave.”

    On going to Milan, Walker said: “When I spoke with Pep, it wasn’t a comfortable conversation because of the respect we have for each other.

    “What he’s won at City, I have won it, too. I like to think he knows what I bring to a dressing room.

    “City was my family — from the cooks to cleaners, kitmen and physios. I like to think I was liked and helped everyone blend in.

    “But things weren’t going well there and I wasn’t playing enough.”

  • Khusanov should not have played against Chelsea – Guardiola

    Khusanov should not have played against Chelsea – Guardiola

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spokeb about handing Abdukodir Khusanov with an instant start against Chelsea on Saturday.

    The new arrival from Lens was at fault for Chelsea’s opening goal, though grew into the game as City eventually won 3-1.

    Guardiola said: “Khusanov should not have played; he should have taken more time. It’s not easy against Chelsea in the Premier League when you come from another country and can’t really communicate with the teammates.

    “He arrived without training and still has to figure out what to do and the process around it … Imagine going through what Khusanov has experienced and what happened, ‘Oh God!’”

    New City striker Omar Marmoush also said of Khusanov: “Khusanov is an exceptional player and I would like to congratulate him for his debut.”

  • UCL: ‘I can’t be angry’, Guardiola reacts to PSG defeat

    UCL: ‘I can’t be angry’, Guardiola reacts to PSG defeat

    Paris Saint-Germain were the better team against Manchester City in the Champions League.

    That is the view of City boss Pep Guardiola, who acknowledged his team deserved to lose.

    Despite being 2-0 up away from home, City conspired to lose 4-2 in the second half.

    “Am I angry? No. They were better. The players suffer and they were better,” said Guardiola post-game.

    “They had better intensity to win duels. We found our moment to score two goals and go 0-2. When they have the ball they drop us but when we have the ball we create problems for them.

    “At 0-2 and 1-2 we could not play. To defend, you have to have the ball. They were better. They had an extra man in the middle with a false nine and that’s why it was difficult.

    “They were better, and we have to accept it. We have the last chance at home against Brugge and we will do everything there. If not, it’s because we don’t deserve it.

    “We have had tough games away, but the games against Inter and Feyenoord have put us in this position.

    “It’s not about that that we can’t qualify, but after that you have to recover players and do better. They were better and we have to accept it.”

  • Man City back in top four after 6-0 drubbing of Ipswich

    Man City back in top four after 6-0 drubbing of Ipswich

    Manchester City’s Phil Foden scored twice and created another goal in an outstanding first-half display as they hammered Ipswich Town 6-0 at Portman Road on Sunday.

    The comprehensive win moved City to 38 points and into fourth position on goal difference ahead of Newcastle United.

    But they are still 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and six behind Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.

    Ipswich, who remain 18th on 16 points, had a couple of good early chances but City shook off the shackles of recent poor performances with a superb display of attacking football, and once they got the first goal, there was no way back for their hosts.

    It came in the 27th minute as Jeremy Doku combined with Kevin De Bruyne, and he in turn worked the ball on for Foden to take a touch before drilling it home to break the deadlock.

    That trio tormented the Ipswich defence as Mateo Kovacic doubled the lead three minutes later.

    Doku was again involved down the left, feeding the ball for Foden to set up Kovacic, and the Croat needed no second invitation to fire into the net from the edge of the box.

    City continued to attack down the left and their perseverance paid off in the 42nd minute as Foden added his second, his shot squirming under the body of Ipswich keeper Christian Walton and across the line.

    There was no let-up after the break as Doku scored four minutes into the second half before setting up Erling Haaland, who signed a lucrative 10-year-contract in midweek, to make it 5-0.

    Substitute James McAtee completed the rout in the 69th minute with a looping header, much to the delight of coach Pep Guardiola, whose side look to be back to something resembling their best form.

  • Haaland signs decade-long contract with Manchester City

    Haaland signs decade-long contract with Manchester City

    Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has signed a new 10-year contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2034, the club announced on Friday.

    The 24-year-old Norwegian, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, has been a pivotal figure in the club’s recent successes.

    His initial contract was set to expire in 2027, but the new deal reflects the club’s confidence in Haaland’s importance to their future.

    “Erling Haaland has signed a new 10-year Manchester City contract, keeping him at the Club until the summer of 2034,” the statement said.

    Reflecting on the new contract, Haaland expressed his delight at extending his stay.

    “I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club.

    “Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters, and it’s the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody,” he said.

    Haaland thanked his teammates, manager Pep Guardiola, and the City staff, stating, “They have made this such a special place to be, and now I am City no matter what. I want to keep developing, keep working to get better, and help us achieve more success going forward.”

    Since his arrival, Haaland’s impact has been nothing short of extraordinary. In his debut 2022/23 season, he scored 52 goals across all competitions, the highest-ever tally by a Premier League player in a single season, breaking the previous league record of 36 goals.

    His goals were instrumental in City’s historic treble-winning campaign, which included the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles.

    In addition to collective success, Haaland garnered numerous individual accolades in his debut season, including the PFA Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year awards.

    Despite an injury that sidelined him for nearly two months during the 2023/24 season, Haaland continued his prolific form, scoring 38 goals in 45 appearances, including 27 in the Premier League, securing a second consecutive Golden Boot.