Tag: Pep Guardiola

Match coverage

Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City: Individual mistakes cost profligate Gunners as Citizens return top

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Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester...

Individual mistakes from Gunners defensive duo Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Magalhaes during both halves helped reigning champions Manchester City rally from a tetchy start to return top of the Premier League, earning a hard-fought 3-1 away win over long-running leaders Arsenal in north London. Erling Haaland ended his three-match goalscoring drought to wrap up the points, combining with – who else – Kevin de Bruyne. Continue reading “Arsenal 1-3 Manchester City: Individual mistakes cost profligate Gunners as Citizens return top” →

Match coverage

Guardiola confirms red-hot Haaland will be rested when time is right, after Manchester derby treble

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Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates their sides sixth goal and their hat trick with team mate Erling Haaland during the Premier League match...

Having broken another league record with his third hat-trick of the campaign against Manchester United, Erling Haaland’s formidable form has not gone unnoticed – 14 goals and three assists in his first eight Premier League games. It’s important not to be transfixed by the moment, and is why head coach Pep Guardiola has tonight reaffirmed the fact the Norwegian will be rested when the time is right, with a heavy year-long fixture schedule to consider.
Continue reading “Guardiola confirms red-hot Haaland will be rested when time is right, after Manchester derby treble” →

Match coverage

Haaland haunts Hammers as defending champs City preview life with Norwegian leading their line

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Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and...

Erling Haaland became the second Manchester City player to score a brace on his Premier League debut, after now-retired legendary striker Sergio Aguero did so during a memorable substitute appearance against Swansea in 2011. The 22-year-old’s first foray in England’s top-tier was predictably devastating away at West Ham yesterday, but eyes will be on the encore.
Continue reading “Haaland haunts Hammers as defending champs City preview life with Norwegian leading their line” →

Analysis, feature pieces

Scary hours indeed: Erling Haaland’s City move could shift the needle further in their favour

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In this photo released on June 13, 2022 Manchester City unveil new signing Erling Haaland at Manchester City Football Academy in Manchester, England.

Jadon Sancho’s ‘scary hours’ tweet shortly after his £73m move to United was swiftly ridiculed by rival fans amid limited minutes and disappointing displays. His former teammate in Germany, Erling Haaland, has this week been unveiled as a City player – with an overwhelming feeling the striker’s impact will by contrast be a significant one felt immediately across Europe. Continue reading “Scary hours indeed: Erling Haaland’s City move could shift the needle further in their favour” →

Match coverage

Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Second-half goals from Jota, Firmino see Reds close gap on leaders City

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Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates their sides first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on March...

Second-half strikes from Diogo Jota and impact substitute Roberto Firmino helped Liverpool close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City to just one point, as the Reds rallied from a sluggish first-half showing to end Arsenal’s six-match unbeaten run in north London. Continue reading “Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Second-half goals from Jota, Firmino see Reds close gap on leaders City” →

Match coverage

Carabao Cup Final: Liverpool’s fullback duo show their mettle against wasteful Chelsea

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Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson of Liverpool sit and look on after the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley...

After riding their luck at times against another wasteful Chelsea showing, Liverpool emerged victorious in yesterday’s action-packed Carabao Cup Final – winning 11-10 on penalties. However, it was again the individual displays of Jurgen Klopp’s formidable fullback pairing which stand them in good stead for the rest of the season with more silverware up for grabs. Continue reading “Carabao Cup Final: Liverpool’s fullback duo show their mettle against wasteful Chelsea” →

Archives, Specials

Sergio Aguero’s abrupt retirement, aged 33, is upsetting but tinged with relief

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Kun Aguero of FC Barcelona announces his retirement from football due to a heart condition during a press conference at Nou Camp on December 15, 2021...

Less than six months into his Catalan adventure, Manchester City’s all-time top goalscorer wept during the announcement as he explained what we’ve known for a few weeks now: having to retire prematurely with a heart condition. But as we reflect on his greatest moments and angrily wonder what could’ve been, I’m relieved he’s okay at a time where nothing is certain. Continue reading “Sergio Aguero’s abrupt retirement, aged 33, is upsetting but tinged with relief” →

Archives

Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City: de Bruyne douses Reds’ hearts in thrilling second-half

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Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester...

Despite Manchester City’s initial dominance in the early exchanges, this game lived up to the billing: contentious officiating, big moments, goals aplenty before a goal-saving block in a second-half frenzy – finely poised and still could’ve swung either way until the final whistle. Continue reading “Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City: de Bruyne douses Reds’ hearts in thrilling second-half” →

Archives

Tottenham’s City triumph felt inevitable, even as Harry Kane saga rumbles on

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Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur is congratulated by team mates after scoring their side's first goal during the Premier League match between...

Tottenham players had their backs to the wall, the world watching intently as their talisman was absent against the team he wants to join… but still found a way to start the new Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s men on Sunday. Surprised? Not quite. Continue reading “Tottenham’s City triumph felt inevitable, even as Harry Kane saga rumbles on” →

Archives

Kai Havertz seizes big moment as Chelsea seal second Champions League triumph

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After an eventful first campaign in England packed with trials and tribulations, Chelsea creative midfielder Kai Havertz scored the Champions League-sealing winner overnight in the biggest game of his blossoming career to date – sinking Premier League champions Manchester City. Continue reading “Kai Havertz seizes big moment as Chelsea seal second Champions League triumph” →

Archives, Specials

Rúben Dias and Timo Werner, the tale of contrasting summer signings

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Timo Werner of Chelsea runs with the ball under pressure from Sergio Ramos (L) and Vinicius Junior (R) of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on May 05, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images )

Considering what has proved an arduous campaign for all involved this term, it feels fitting two big-money summer signings – Manchester City centre-back Rúben Dias and Chelsea forward Timo Werner – helped their respective sides to earn a Champions League Final berth on May 29.

Continue reading “Rúben Dias and Timo Werner, the tale of contrasting summer signings” →

Archives

Timely two-year contract extension just what Kevin de Bruyne deserves

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Kevin de Bruyne of Manchester City signs a new contract extension at the club at Manchester City Football Academy on April 07, 2021 in Manchester,...

Less than 12 hours removed from his decisive display to help Manchester City overcome a relentless Borussia Dortmund effort in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, the news was finally announced: the Premier League leaders had agreed a two-year contract extension with their creator-in-chief to keep him at Eastlands until the summer of 2025. Continue reading “Timely two-year contract extension just what Kevin de Bruyne deserves” →