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Tag: Man City

  • Man City have taken a historic step – Fernandinho

    Man City have taken a historic step – Fernandinho

    Fernandinho says Manchester City have taken a ‘big step’ in the club’s history after qualifying for their first Champions League final.

    The Sky Blues claimed a 2-1 win over PSG on Tuesday to book their place in the final.

    “I think this is a big step for the club and everyone,” Fernandinho after the victory.

    “We are so grateful for everyone which has done so much for this club, worked so hard.

    “This is a big achievement for us, I’m glad and grateful to reach the Champions League final for the first time, I think everyone deserves to celebrate.”

  • Mahrez sends Man City into first Champions League final

    Mahrez sends Man City into first Champions League final

    Manchester City reached their first Champions League final as they overcame Paris St-Germain at Etihad Stadium to secure a commanding victory over two legs.

    In a game played in unseasonal snow, the brilliant Riyad Mahrez capped a sweeping move started by goalkeeper Ederson’s 60-yard pass to extend their 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Paris.

    PSG suffered a serious blow before kick-off when world-class forward Kylian Mbappe was restricted to the bench because of injury. They did not lack endeavour or intent but with Neymar subdued and City throwing bodies on the line in defence, Mauricio Pochettino’s side could not find a way through.

    Mahrez punished them again just after the hour when he turned in Phil Foden’s cross at the far post to effectively end the contest.

    PSG, as they did when Idrissa Gueye was sent off late in the first leg, lost their discipline and Angel di Maria was shown a red card for a senseless stamp on Fernandinho following a touchline tangle.

    City were in full control, avoiding further mishap to set up the Champions League final they and manager Pep Guardiola have craved, against either Chelsea or Real Madrid in Istanbul on 29 May.

  • UCL: PSG coach reveals plan for Man City battle

    UCL: PSG coach reveals plan for Man City battle

    PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino says key to victory at Manchester City tonight is keeping them away from the ball.

    PSG meet City needing to overturn a 2-1 deficit to reach the Champions League final.

    Pochettino said, “It’s the intention to deprive them of the ball. We are a team that also loves possession, but with a balance between possession and transition, due to the characteristics of our players.

    “We will have to be clinical and aggressive. We need at least two goals to advance to the final.

    “The final is a unique match, and that depends on several factors. In the semi-final you have two matches, the emotional approach is different, it will be there, because it’s a result that affects your approach to the match. They will have an advantage and of course we will have to take risks, be aggressive. It’s hard to know the keys to this game. Things are difficult to anticipate.

    “Football is a game that may surprise you. There may be moments during the encounter that you will be able to manage because you have been successful in creating certain habits throughout the season. This is the method, the philosophy, and the team is prepared to manage these moments.”

  • Neymar wants to be PSG’s “first warrior” in Man City battle

    Neymar wants to be PSG’s “first warrior” in Man City battle

    Neymar has issued a rallying call to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) ahead of their 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League semi-final showdown with Manchester City.

    The Brazilian claimed he was ready to “die on the pitch”.

    PSG slipped to a 2-1 defeat in last week’s first leg at Parc des Princes, with Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez overturning Marquinhos’ first-half opener.

    An impressive opening to the contest from Mauricio Pochettino’s men subsided, with Manchester City exerting almost complete control on proceedings after the interval.

    Neymar cut an increasingly isolated figure, while attacking partner Kylian Mbappe failed to attempt a single shot after starting a match for the first time in his Champions League career.

    The world’s most expensive player is aware of the tall task that awaits at the Etihad Stadium.

    But he has not given up hope of last season’s beaten finalists returning to the showpiece.

    “We have a very difficult match against Manchester City, but we have to believe, no matter what the stats or our percentage chance of winning is,” Neymar told PSG’s in-house channel.

    “I think that every Parisian has to believe in us. I’ll be the first to do so.

    “I’m on the front line and I’ll be the first warrior to go into battle for the team.

    “I’m going to give the best of myself and I’ll do everything I can to qualify, whatever happens.”

    With a chuckle, he added: “Even if I have to die on the pitch.”

    The stats Neymar alludes to certainly do not make for comfortable reading for those of a PSG persuasion.

    There have been 47 previous instances of English clubs winning the first leg of Champions League or European Cup tie away from home.

    On each occasion, they have progressed.

    Manchester City have won each of their past six UEFA Champions League matches and have 10 out of 11 victories this season.

    A goalless draw at FC Porto was the only blemish.

    A seventh win would edge Pep Guardiola’s men ahead of Manchester United (1965 and 1966), Leeds United (1969 and 1970) and Arsenal (2005).

    It will make them the outright English record-holders for the longest winning run in Europe’s premier club tournament.

    PSG have played Manchester City four times in European competitions and are yet to beat the Manchester side

  • Man City will suffer against extraordinary PSG – Guardiola

    Man City will suffer against extraordinary PSG – Guardiola

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola expects to “suffer” against PSG tomorrow night in their Champions League semifinal.

    City hold a 2-1 lead after an impressive performance and result in Paris last week as Guardiola’s side look to reach the Champions League final for the first time.

    “Emotions means you can’t predict a game, but it can be completely different to what you expect,” Guardiola said, at his pre-match press conference on Monday.

    “You can’t play 90 minutes like we played the second half. It’s not going to happen, it will be tough, we will suffer. I’m sure we will react well and impose. It comes from inside, visualise what we have to do.

    “It’s not different from what we’ve done over the last eight months, we don’t demand anything special. It’s real tough, the Premier League is the same level as PSG, you always play difficult games in the Champions League too.

    “To do what we’ve done this season, in the bad moments stay calm, take the ball, try to regain our momentum and try to win the game. How big will be our good moments will be the difference. After that belongs to the players, the desire to do something nice for us, to make a step forward, to individually say we will win the game.”

    On PSG, Guardiola continued: “They are an extraordinary team, everybody knows it.

    “They can create something nobody expects to win. Of course I look at their qualities, but it’s fresh what they leave on the pitch. At the same time we know how good we can be.

    “Tomorrow at 8pm we have to be there and do it again. It’s not complicated.”

  • Aguero thrilled to play and score in Man City win

    Aguero thrilled to play and score in Man City win

    Manchester City could clinch the Premier League title on Sunday after two goals in the space of 83 seconds saw off a stubborn Crystal Palace.

    City will secure a third title in four seasons if second-placed Manchester United lose at home to Liverpool.

    After a scrappy first half at Selhurst Park, Sergio Aguero thumped City ahead with a clinical finish before Ferran Torres drilled in a low shot.

    That ended the resistance of Palace, who stay in 13th place.

    Afterwards, Aguero said: “Finally I could play, I’m so happy. It was a long time that I hadn’t played 90 minutes. The goal was good because maybe we can win the Premier League.

    “We wait for tomorrow. Every game is difficult, but we wait for tomorrow. Of course if Liverpool win it’s better.”

    On his goal, he said: “Always [Benjamin] Mendy tries to pass to me. All I needed in the box was one touch or two touches. Finally I got the goal. I’m so happy about that.”

    On Tuesday’s game against Paris St-Germain, Aguero said: “Always I’m ready. I’m feeling good, my knee is so good. I just wait for the opportunity to play, like today. If I don’t play it doesn’t matter. I want to be with the team-mates. Of course every player wants to play, but we’ll see.”

    And on receiving a statue, he concluded: “When the club told me about that I told them I don’t want anything. I prefer to wait until the end. If the club want to do something, then thank you.”

  • Schalke shut door in my face – Ilkay Gundogan

    Schalke shut door in my face – Ilkay Gundogan

    Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has spoken of rejecting Schalke as a junior player.

    Gundogan admits he turned down Schalke after they had first rejected him.

    He recalled to the Players’ Tribune: “I was eight years old when I realised how crude this business is. I achieved what every kid in Gelsenkirchen dreams of, playing at the Schalke 04 academy. I was so proud, just wearing that jersey was fantastic.

    “When the season ended, Schalke let me go. Or rather, I’ll tell you how I felt: they slammed the door in my face. It was a very hard blow.

    “Three years later, Schalke wanted me to come back, I told my parents to say no, I didn’t want to come back. The pain was too recent.”

  • Wenger: Stupid PSG mentally collapsed after City loss

    Wenger: Stupid PSG mentally collapsed after City loss

    Former Arsenal boss Areene Wenger slammed PSG’s players as “stupid” after their Champions League defeat to Manchester City.

    Wenger believes PSG’s second-half collapse was due to their poor discipline.

    Speaking about Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick, Wenger told beIN SPORT: “From the defenders turning their back, it’s between Paredes and Kimpembe. Why do you lie a guy on the ground if the guys in the wall open the wall?’

    “I personally believe that the second goal is not acceptable for that level. It’s not the first time we see players turning their back and City took advantage of that.

    “But I must say in the second half PSG were protective and not progressive any more. Is it because they were not physically capable?

    “After the 1-1, they collapsed completely. They become emotional and aggressive in a stupid way.”

    PSG became visibly irate as the second half turned against them with Neymar particularly getting embroiled in spats off the ball after a first half where he shone for the French giants.

    “What was very interesting tonight is that you could see that when it was 1-1, PSG mentally collapsed,” Wenger added.

    “This is as well the consequence of this team losing eight games in the league. This has an impact in this kind of situation.

    “When it’s 1-1 the team knows they have lost many games, they carry that. It’s not like the season before when they were unbeatable in the league.

    “You could see the confidence dropped considerably and the mental impact when Man City equalised, for the semi-final of a Champions League, was too big.”

  • UCL: Man City comeback to defeat PSG in Paris

    UCL: Man City comeback to defeat PSG in Paris

    Manchester City produced a superb display to come from behind and take control of their Champions League semi-final with victory against Paris St-Germain in France.

    Pep Guardiola’s side fought their way through a scintillating early PSG surge when they fell behind to Marquinhos’ header, glanced in from Angel di Maria’s corner after 15 minutes, to dominate after the break and turn this first leg tie in Paris on its head.

    City, who had threatened before the break when Phil Foden missed a great chance, were much more positive and got the reward they deserved after 64 minutes when Kevin de Bruyne’s menacing cross evaded everyone in the penalty area and drifted beyond motionless PSG keeper Kaylor Navas.

    PSG, with Neymar fading and Kylian Mbappe subdued, were ragged and Riyad Mahrez put City in a great position to reach their first Champions League final when his left-foot free-kick went through the wall to beat Navas seven minutes later.

    And to complete PSG’s misery, former Everton midfield man Idrissa Gueye was rightly shown a red card late on for a dreadful challenge on Ilkay Gundogan.

  • Man City clinch fourth consecutive Carabao Cup title

    Man City clinch fourth consecutive Carabao Cup title

    Manchester City won the League Cup for a record fourth time in succession with a deserved victory over a disappointing Tottenham Hotspur side at Wembley.

    City defender Aymeric Laporte, arguably fortunate to be on the pitch after escaping a yellow card in the first half before being cautioned after the break, rose above Spurs substitute Moussa Sissoko to head home Kevin de Bruyne’s free-kick eight minutes from time.

    It was reward for City creating a host of chances and dominating Spurs, who did not benefit from any sort of positive reaction after sacking manager Jose Mourinho on Monday and replacing him with caretaker Ryan Mason.

    The final was played in front of 8,000 supporters, including 2,000 from each club – and it was a delight to hear noise inside Wembley’s vast arena once more.