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Tag: Pep Guardiola

  • Guardiola reacts after Man City lose 4th consecutive game

    Guardiola reacts after Man City lose 4th consecutive game

    Manchester City’s misery continued with a 2-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.

    This was after late goals from substitutes Joao Pedro and Matt O’Riley handed the champions their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions.

    The defeat marks the first time City coach Pep Guardiola has lost four in a row in his managerial career.

    The result kept his side second in the league standings on 23 points from 11 matches. Brighton climbed to fourth on 19 points.

    City looked poised to end their ugly run after Erling Haaland scored in the 23rd minute when Mateo Kovacic threaded a long pass between Brighton’s two centre backs, and the Norwegian striker booted in his own rebound to extend his league scoring lead to 12 goals.

    Brighton improved after the break and Pedro drew the hosts level in the 78th minute when City could not clear the ball and the Brazilian pounced to lash it past Ederson.

    “Last season we dropped too many points and the gaffer told us to believe in ourselves this season and we are doing well this season against the big teams,” Pedro told Sky Sports.

    O’Riley made his Premier League debut a memorable one when he secured the well-earned victory five minutes later, latching onto Pedro’s through ball and slotting home from close range past Ederson’s outstretched arm.

    Guardiola will rue City’s squandered first-half chances, including a couple from Haaland in the span of a few minutes that on a different night could have seen the Norwegian celebrating a hat-trick.

    The first chance saw goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen dive to stop a blistering Haaland shot with his right ankle at the near post. Haaland then headed just over the bar.

    While Brighton had only 39.5% possession, it felt like a goal was coming in the second half. The hosts had a terrific chance soon after the break when Jack Hinshelwood leapt high to head down a looping cross from Pervis Estupinan that an alert Ederson swatted away.

    City have been hit by injuries with Nathan Ake, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Ruben Dias missing on Saturday, alongside longer-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb.

    Their previous three defeats were a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur that eliminated them from the League Cup.

    A shock 2-1 league loss at Bournemouth, and a 4-1 Champions League thrashing by Sporting that had midfielder Bernardo Silva saying City were in a “dark place”.

    “Well… welcome! There is always time for a first in life,” Guardiola said on four defeats in a row for the first time in his career.

  • Who I asked about Kompany before appointment – Bayern chief

    Who I asked about Kompany before appointment – Bayern chief

    Bayern Munich board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admits they asked Pep Guardiola about Vincent Kompany before hiring him.

    Kompany moved to Bayern this summer from Burnley, though also was former Bayern coach Guardiola’s Manchester City captain.

    Rummenigge told Kicker: “Max Eberl (the sporting director) asked me to talk to him because I am very close friends with Pep.

    “I told Pep that I needed an analysis that was authentic and honest. We then spoke on the phone for almost two hours. To make a long story short, he said that he was 100 percent convinced that Vincent Kompany was absolutely the right coach for Bayern.

    “Sometimes fate helps you. The number of rejections that Max Eberl unfortunately had to deal with meant that we may have gotten exactly the coach we needed for this team.

    “There were two decisive factors: the team likes the style of football, and so do the fans. Football should be fun. This is exactly why children play in the street. And you can see that in our team too.”

  • EPL: Guardiola speaks highly of embattled Sterling, reacts to bringing him back to Manchester City

    EPL: Guardiola speaks highly of embattled Sterling, reacts to bringing him back to Manchester City

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his fondness for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, but has categorically ruled out the possibility of the 29-year-old returning to the Etihad Stadium.

    Sterling, who joined Chelsea in a £47.5m deal in 2022, is reportedly seeking a departure from Stamford Bridge after being sidelined by new manager Enzo Maresca.

    When questioned about a potential reunion with Sterling, Guardiola stated:

    “He’s a Chelsea player, absolutely. I have a strong attachment to the time we shared with Raheem, and I wish him all the best.

    However, he remains a Chelsea player, and I won’t consider bringing him back to Manchester City.”

    Guardiola’s response highlights his affection for Sterling, but also his commitment to his current squad and reluctance to disrupt the team’s dynamics.

  • EPL: Guardiola dispels rumor of leaving City after next season

    EPL: Guardiola dispels rumor of leaving City after next season

    Pep Guardiola has indicated that he might stay at Manchester City beyond the end of the season, despite his contract expiring at the end of the current campaign. After City secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title, Guardiola had hinted at uncertainty about his future, stating he was “closer to leaving than staying.”

    Guardiola, who has led City for eight seasons and secured six league titles among 17 trophies, spoke to reporters in New York ahead of City’s pre-season match against AC Milan at Yankee Stadium. He clarified that his future remains undecided, saying, “I didn’t say I was leaving.”

    He added, “Nine years at the same club is an eternity. I don’t rule out extending the contract. I want to be sure it is the right decision for the club and the players. When I decide, I will talk with my CEO and sporting director. But I want to start the season, and look at how everything is going and how connected we are. After, we will see.”

    Guardiola expressed a desire to be in charge for the expanded 32-team Club World Cup in the United States next summer but expressed uncertainty about the tournament itself due to a dispute between FIFA and major players’ unions. Manchester City could play up to 75 matches this season, beginning with the Community Shield against Manchester United at Wembley on August 10 and potentially concluding in the Club World Cup final in the U.S. on July 13.

    Striker Erling Haaland noted the challenge of maintaining freshness over so many matches, saying, “It is difficult to be sharp if you play 70 games a year. You could see at the Euros how tired people will be. Some will get a lot of vacation. You have to work with the people around you to be the best version of yourself.”

    Guardiola, however, had little sympathy for Haaland, noting that he allowed players involved in the Copa America and Euro 2024 to choose their return date for pre-season training to avoid exhaustion. Norway, Haaland’s national team, did not qualify for the Euros.

    “He has to rest more,” Guardiola said of Haaland. “If he is tired, go to bed early. Tired is an excuse.”

  • Football Transfers: Musiala set to replace De Bruyne at Manchester City

    Football Transfers: Musiala set to replace De Bruyne at Manchester City

    According to BILD, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is considering potential replacements for Kevin De Bruyne. Despite speculation about a summer departure, De Bruyne is expected to remain at the Etihad for now, although he is in the final months of his contract with the club.

    Guardiola is reportedly contemplating the signing of Jamal Musiala from Bayern Munich as a possible successor to De Bruyne. The Spanish coach believes De Bruyne’s tenure at the club may soon be coming to an end.

    Musiala is said to be interested in a move, aspiring to join a team that consistently competes for the Champions League title, similar to Jude Bellingham’s situation at Real Madrid.

  • Guardiola tips Rodri to win Ballon D”Or

    Guardiola tips Rodri to win Ballon D”Or

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has entered the discussion surrounding this year’s Ballon d’Or, expressing his belief that Rodri deserves to win the award over players like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior. Guardiola praised Rodri’s exceptional consistency, stating,

    “I can’t deny how happy I would be if Rodri could get the Ballon d’Or. His consistency is just brutal. Being in the race, being nominated, or winning the Ballon d’Or is fantastic.”

     

    Rodri played a crucial role in Manchester City’s success, helping the team secure their fourth consecutive Premier League title, and was also instrumental in Spain’s victory at Euro 2024.

  • EPL: City manager, Guardiola names goalkeeper that will replace Ederson next season

    EPL: City manager, Guardiola names goalkeeper that will replace Ederson next season

    Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has named the goalkeeper that will replace Brazilian, Ederson if his deal with Saudi Pro League side pulls through.

    Ederson is being heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with Al Ittihad especially keen on his signature.

    According to Guardiola, Ederson has grown in the game and mature enough to step in as the number goalie.

    “Talks City-Al Ittihad for Éderson ongoing but nothing done or easy.

    “No interest in bringing in ‘big name’ as GK despite links with Donnarumma, Oblak and more.”

     

  • EPL: Why I stopped Messi from coming to Manchester City – Guardiola

    EPL: Why I stopped Messi from coming to Manchester City – Guardiola

    According to the biography “God Save Pep” by Marti Perarnau, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola prevented Lionel Messi from transferring to the club from Barcelona. It is claimed that Messi reached out to his former coach in 2020 to discuss a potential reunion at the Etihad Stadium.

     

    During a meeting at his home in Barcelona, Guardiola suggested that playing for Manchester City might be too challenging for Messi, who was 33 at the time.

    However, Messi disagreed with this assessment. Despite their conversation, Manchester City ultimately allowed Paris Saint-Germain to complete a dramatic move to bring Messi to France.

    The Argentine now plays club football for Inter Miami in the MLS.

  • I hated Pep Guardiola’s training method at Barcelona – Lionel Messi

    I hated Pep Guardiola’s training method at Barcelona – Lionel Messi

    Inter Miami forward and Ballon D’or winner,  Lionel Messi has revealed that he hated former coach, Pep Guardiola’s method of training at Barcelona, insisting it was confusing.

    The Argentina captain said he did not like how Guardiola’s tactics were taught to young kids at La Masia.

    Continuing, Messi said that kids’ natural ability would be restricted as they were forced to follow a strict method.

    Messi made this  known during an interview with JP Varsky on Clank Media, added that six-year-olds were taught to take two touches and play faster.

    Messi is of the opinion that instead of such training, the kids should be taught to understand the game and work on their movements to find spaces instead.

    The former PSG star said (via Mundo Albiceleste): “The Guardiola era was a bit confusing. … Many times, six and seven-year-old kids are already starting to be told that they have to play with two touches, to play fast, that they can’t have much of the ball.

    “I think that at that age it has to be a bit like what happened to me: to teach them to better understand the game, to know how to move, to find spaces, to play quickly, but not to take away the spontaneity of each one.”

  • EPL: Guardiola given ultimatum to sign new contract at Manchster City

    EPL: Guardiola given ultimatum to sign new contract at Manchster City

    Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has been given a deadline for tenure extension by the board at Etihad according to reports from ESPN.

    The Spaniard has got only one year left on his contract and he’s showing sign of no extension at the club.

    The 53-year-old gaffer would have to let the club know his plans hence the deadline for December contract extension.

    The management at City set the December  deadline for Guardiola in order to start shopping for a new manager early in case he refuses to extend his contract.

    Guardiola guided the club to an unprecedented era of success with 15 major trophies, since arriving from Bayern Munich  in 2016.

    Guardiola’s strong relationship with the director of football, Txiki Begiristain, ensures he will get the freedom to decide how and when he leaves.

    The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss is leaning towards leaving City after the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.

    Manchester City have won the English Premier League for a record  four seasons in a row.