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Tag: Man City

  • Sterling strikes as Man City beat Arsenal

    Sterling strikes as Man City beat Arsenal

    Stand-in skipper Raheem Sterling scored the only goal as Manchester City returned to winning ways in their Premier League clash with Arsenal.

    Sterling, given the armband by manager Pep Guardiola with Fernandinho on the bench and Kevin de Bruyne injured, finished off the rebound after Phil Foden’s 23rd-minute shot had been saved.

    Arsenal had chances to level but City keeper Ederson denied them with three excellent first-half saves and both David Luiz and Pepe were off target with free-kicks in good positions after the break.

    The result extended a miserable run of away results against their fellow ‘top six’ members for Arsenal. They have now failed to win in their last 29 such meetings, since a success at City in 2015.

    Guardiola is yet to drop a point against the Gunners in five encounters at Etihad Stadium since he succeeded Manuel Pellegrini as City manager in 2016.

    More importantly for his side, after picking up a single point from their last two games, they were able to claim maximum points in this one.

    The three points came even without De Bruyne and with the returning Sergio Aguero restricted to an hour’s action on his first appearance since June after recovering from a knee injury.

  • Carabao Cup: Sterling double helps City to quarter-finals

    Carabao Cup: Sterling double helps City to quarter-finals

    Raheem Sterling’s first two Manchester City goals of the season – and Ferran Torres’ first for the club – ensured the holders reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup at Burnley’s expense.

    City dominated the game and Burnley keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell had to twice smartly deny Sterling before the England forward got the breakthrough after Benjamin Mendy’s cross.

    His second was a close-range finish from Torres’ cross before the Spain winger, who joined from Valencia for £20.78m in August, put the tie beyond Burnley’s reach with an instinctive finish to cap a fine individual display.

    Burnley struggled to create chances and it required a fine block by Peacock-Farrell to deny Sterling his hat-trick.

    It was the perfect response by Pep Guardiola’s side after their 5-2 home drubbing by Leicester City last Sunday.

    The draw for the quarter-finals takes place after Liverpool’s tie against Arsenal (19:45 BST) on Thursday.

  • City boss Guardiola insists no Messi regrets

    City boss Guardiola insists no Messi regrets

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists there’s no regrets missing out on Barcelona star Leo Messi.

    City were favourites to land the Argentine before he withdrew his transfer request.

    “It’s a joy to work with these players and this club,” the manager said. “We have good expectations to do good football and get the results this club deserves. We want to continue the consistency.

    “Leo explained his feelings quite well,” Guardiola added. “I don’t have anything to add. He’s a football player for Barcelona, the club I love. Nothing else to say.”

    Guardiola was also asked how new signings Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres are settling in.

    “What you have to do, all the players and staff, all the people close to them, is help them settle as soon as possible,” he said.

    “They are two nice people and they are going to help us.”

    On City’s transfer activity, Guardiola added: “Since I arrived here I’m more than satisfied with what I have in the team, and I know the club does absolutely everything.

    “Sometimes it’s the players who decide to move. But never before or in the future will I complain about this – I am a lucky person to be in this club.”

  • Messi’s father denies Man City talks

    Messi’s father denies Man City talks

    Jorge Messi – father and agent of Lionel Messi – has said it will be difficult for his son to stay at Barcelona.

    But Messi Snr denied he has held conversations with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola about a potential move to the Etihad.

    The 62-year-old agent told El Chiringuito: “A future at Barcelona? It is difficult. It would be difficult to stay.”

    Pushed on City’s interest in the 33-year-old, Jorge responded: “I haven’t talked with Pep. There is nothing yet with City.”

  • Barca planning Messi compromise with Premier League side

    Barca planning Messi compromise with Premier League side

    Barcelona believe Lionel Messi will sign for Manchester City and they are hoping to agree a £250 million (€280m/$333m) deal for the Argentine, claims the Mirror.

    The revised transfer fee comes as City and Messi continue to investigate the chances of him leaving Camp Nou for free.

    Barca are willing to accept players as part of the deal but want at least £120m (€134m/$160m) in cash so they can rebuild their squad.

  • My son wants City move, Messi Snr tells PSG

    My son wants City move, Messi Snr tells PSG

    Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi wants to join Manchester City this summer.

    That’s according to L’Equipe, which are reporting Messi’s father has informed Paris Saint-Germain of his son’s desire to move to Manchester City.

    PSG’s sporting director Leonardo reportedly contacted Jorge Messi to express the club’s interest in the Barcelona star.

    The French champions and Champions League finalists were reportedly politely told Messi already has his mind set on City.

    Jorge Messi is understood to have touched down in England yesterday for talks with City.

  • Lionel Messi’s father in England ahead of City move

    Lionel Messi’s father in England ahead of City move

    The father of Lionel Messi is in England today for talks with Manchester City.

    Barcelona captain Messi, 33, is set to quit his childhood club after nearly 20 years following a major fall out with the hierarchy.

    TyC Sports says Jorge Messi has landed in England to discuss terms over a sensational Etihad switch.

    The reports add that a two-year deal is being mulled over by Messi Sr.

    City chief Ferran Soriano has reached out to Messi’s camp to assure them that City can afford to sign him – even if they have to pay a transfer fee on top of his mammoth weekly wages.

    Messi faxed the board to inform them he wants to quit earlier this week.

  • Messi contacts Guardiola over Man City move

    Messi contacts Guardiola over Man City move

    Wantaway Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is in talks with Pep Guardiola about a move to Manchester City.

    It was revealed on Tuesday that Barca legend Messi, who has spent his entire career at the Nou Camp, has told the club he wants to move on.

    Radio Cataluyna reports Messi has already contacted former boss Guardiola about a move to the Etihad.

    The communication has been made in recent days about a potential reunion between the pair, after their illustrious success together between 2008-2012 at Barcelona.

    Messi and Guardiola won two Champions League trophies and three LaLiga titles in a period where the Argentine forward became the best player in the world.

    Messi believes a clause in his contract allowing him to walk away for nothing is still valid because the season ended in August and not May due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Barcelona say the deadline for Messi to leave for free passed in June and will contest the player’s argument that the deadline changed when the season was rearranged after lockdown.

  • Man City preparing bank-busting move for Messi

    Manchester City are crunching the numbers ahead of a possible move for Lionel Messi.

    The Argentine is reportedly disgruntled at Barcelona after the club went a season without a trophy for first time since 2007/08.

    ESPN says City understand a deal for Messi would be complicated but want to organise their finances should an opportunity arise.

    Barca are sticking with their demand that clubs meet Messi’s release clause of €700m.

    However, it is believed there are some members of the Barca board who believe they could use the money from Messi’s sale to reinvest in a team that clearly needs rebuilding.

    Inter Milan have also strongly been linked with the 33-year-old, with PSG another option.

    Messi has spent his entire career at Barcelona and just the mention of his possible exit from the club has sent shockwaves around the footballing world.

  • Arsenal beat Man City 2-0, zoom to FA Cup final

    Arteta left his role as assistant at City last December to take charge at Emirates Stadium, and while it has been far from straightforward for the Spaniard since, he could be on course to finish a topsy-turvy campaign with silverware.

    Aubameyang was the hero as he struck twice at an eerily empty Wembley, sending his side through to face Chelsea or Manchester United on August 1.

    City huffed and puffed throughout but were unable to blow Arsenal’s well-constructed house down, suffering their first defeat at the national stadium since going out to the Gunners at the same stage of the competition three years ago.

    Guardiola fielded the same starting XI that won 3-0 when these teams returned to Premier League action in June, when the master easily overcame his former apprentice in Manchester.

    However, the cup holders never hit the same heights in familiar surroundings in the capital, failing to respond after Aubameyang converted Nicolas Pepe’s cross with a half-volleyed finish in the 19th minute.

    The Gabon forward had missed a glorious chance earlier in proceedings, shooting straight at Ederson when clean through, but made no mistake when stretching out to poke the inswinging right-wing cross back across the face of the Brazilian goalkeeper and in via the far post.

    Shkodran Mustafi saw a header tipped over in the closing stages of a first half that saw a rather sluggish City fail to muster a shot on target.

    Raheem Sterling carelessly missed the target soon after the break, but Emiliano Martínez was finally called into action to keep out a low attempt by Riyad Mahrez, while the goalkeeper was grateful to see a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick ripple the outside of the net.

    Aubameyang, though, had no such issues locating the goal during a rare Arsenal attack in the 71st minute, running onto Kieran Tierney’s lofted pass before slotting through Ederson’s legs.