Pep Guardiola says he is braced for the challenge of turning around Manchester City’s fortunes after the worst run of his managerial career ahead of a daunting trip to runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool. Winless in six games City are without a win in six games, with five consecutive defeats followed by a 3-3 Champions League draw against Feyenoord on Tuesday, when City blew a 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes. Defeat at Anfield on Sunday would leave the Premier League champions 11 points behind Arne Slot’s men. Guardiola’s angst was clear in midweek as he appeared on camera after the Feyenoord game with a number of self-inflicted scratches on his face. Pep Guardiola The 53-year-old recently extended his contract at the Etihad until 2027 and said the chance to overcome a rare period of adversity played a part in that decision. “The moment I feel I’m not positive for the club, another one will come. It has to be [the case]. But I want an opportunity to try to do it,” Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “I don’t want to run away. I want to be there. I want to rebuild the team in many aspects from now on until the end of the season, the next seasons, to try to continue up there.” City have repeatedly rewritten the record books of English football during Guardiola’s eight years in charge. They have won six Premier League titles in seven seasons, including an unprecedented four in a row, and won the treble in 2023. But Guardiola has repeatedly called his side “fragile” and lacking in confidence in recent weeks. “In the first knock we are not as stable as we have always been,” he said. “In the past when we were able to go 3-0 up, we didn’t score the fourth, we didn’t score the fifth, but the game was dead. “Now in the first moments [of adversity] I don’t know how we are going to react for obvious reasons that we have, for the desperation to win, for the absence of important players. The best test to prove how stable we are is Anfield because we cannot expect they will not have that moment and momentum and that is when we have to stand up as a team,” he added. Guardiola, though, disagreed that City’s squad is in need of an overhaul in the transfer market. Lot of players missing Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, while Guardiola has had to cope without a number of other key players. “You have to now change everything — I don’t completely agree with that. We cannot forget three months ago we were champions of the Premier League,” he said. Saturday’s results . Brentford 4-1 Leicester City. Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle. Nottingham 1-0 Ipswich. Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
01 December,2024 08:41 AM IST | Manchester | AFPA first-half goal by Dimitrios Diamantakos helped East Bengal FC end their winless run by edging past NorthEast United FC 1-0 in a 2024-25 season match of the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan here on Friday night. Dimitrios Diamantakos scored the lone goal of the match in the 23rd minute, which was enough for Oscar Bruzon’s men to secure their first win of the ongoing season in a match that ended with 10 players each for both teams. East Bengal FC were off the blocks quickly as Jeakson Singh caught the NorthEast United FC backline off guard with a vicious cross from the right flank. The cross reached PV Vishnu in space in the penalty area but Gurmeet Singh kept out his tame subsequent effort in goal. The Red and Golds came close to scoring once again from a freekick from close range when Madih Talal struck the target but was kept out by an outstretched Gurmeet, diving to his left. Minutes later, the Highlanders almost grabbed the lead when Parthib Gogoi was through on goal. Just when he was about to slot it home, Lalchungnunga came with a fantastic block to keep the scores level. With both the teams taking the attack to each other, it certainly turned into a feisty affair with plenty of tackles flying in. Also Read: "Trust your game like Virat Kohli": Ponting tells these Australian batsmen Eventually, East Bengal FC’s early pressure and persistence in attack paid dividends as Diamantakos headed them into the lead in the 23rd minute following a beautifully weighted ball from Talal. The French midfielder’s initial corner was cleared away by the Highlanders but he latched onto the rebound. Talal then delivered a tantalizing ball on the far post where Diamantakos found himself completely unmarked as he headed it past Gurmeet. NorthEast United almost equalised in the 38th minute when Buanthanglun Samte’s cross from the left flank found Alaaeddine Ajaraei in the box, completely unmarked. But the Moroccan’s header struck the bar before going out for a goal-kick. Later, Parthib had a crack at goal but Prabhsukhan Singh Gill was alert to the danger as he parried it to safety and ensured that the hosts had the lead heading into the dressing room at the break. At the start of the second half, Juan Pedro Benali brought on Guillermo Fernandez and Macarton Nickson, allowing Ajaraei to move to his usual left flank with Guillermo adding a focal point to NorthEast United’s attack. Ajaraei with his relentless movement in and around the final third found a pocket of space just outside the penalty area. The Moroccan went for glory but the ball missed the target just by a whisker. Later, the Highlanders almost skipped a beat when Bekey Oram brought down Vishnu on the left flank very close to the penalty area but the referee rewarded the hosts with a freekick. However, things became worse for the visitors when Mohammed Ali Bemammer, who was already on a booking, brought down Vishnu. The referee handed advantage to the hosts but later stopped the play to hand the marching orders to the Moroccan midfielder in the 72nd minute. An error in judgment from Lalchungnunga saw him receive a red card in the 87th minute after he recklessly brought down Nickson. It brought both teams on even terms with the visitors aiming to salvage something from the game. But despite their best efforts, Oscar Bruzon’s men were resilient in defence as they thwarted away everything that came their way to secure the elusive win. East Bengal FC will next travel to Chennai to face Chennaiyin FC on December 7 while NorthEast United FC will host Mohun Bagan Super Giant on December 8. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 November,2024 12:54 PM IST | Kolkata | IANSRasmus Hojlund scored twice as Manchester United won a chaotic Europa League encounter against Bodo/Glimt 3-2 on Thursday, giving Ruben Amorim a vital win in his first home game at Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho gave the home side a lightning start after a shocking error from opposition goalkeeper Nikita Haikin. But Hakon Evjen levelled for the Norwegians and Philip Zinckernagel surged down the right wing to give them a shock lead. Hojlund pulled United level with a superb finish just before half-time and poked them ahead early in the second period. Also Read: Arsenal must be near-perfect to catch Liverpool: Arteta Ruben Amorim New United boss Amorim said the match was a “real ride” and that he was on a steep learning curve as he gets to know his players. “Of course I see what everybody sees — good moments, difficult moments, some confusion in the end trying to hold the result, but the lads did a great job,” Amorim told TNT Sports. “They ran, they pressed, they tried to do the thing we worked for these three days and we won,” he added. And he said he was touched by the reception he was given by the home fans. “The first thing is that half of the stadium doesn’t know me, doesn’t really know me,” he added. “I came from Portugal. I did nothing for this love yet so the way they made me feel at home, it’s so special.” The former Sporting Lisbon boss, who has said his methods will take time to implement, made six changes from the side that laboured to a 1-1 draw against Ipswich in his first game in charge on Sunday. Tyrell Malacia returned to the United line-up for the first time since the final game of the 2022-23 season. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 November,2024 08:53 AM IST | Manchester | AFPMikel Arteta says Arsenal will need to be almost perfect if they are to catch runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool but feels momentum is building again after a poor run. Arsenal, runners-up to Manchester City over the past two seasons, were expected to challenge again this year but instead Liverpool have raced eight points clear of second-placed City. Also Read: Haaland, Mbappe, Bellingham among nominees for honours The Gunners go into Saturday’s match against West Ham on a high after hammering Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in the Champions League in midweek. Victory at the London Stadium on Saturday would likely lift Arsenal to second in the table ahead of the Sunday matches , which includes a pivotal clash between Liverpool and City. Arteta was asked at his pre-match press conference on Friday whether his team would have to be almost flawless to stand any chance of catching Liverpool, who have won 10 of their 12 games. “If they continue that way, that’s for sure, with the numbers they’re producing and the amount of games they’re winning,” said the Arsenal manager. “But the focus is on us, maintaining the consistency, especially in performances, that will give us the right to win a lot of games... this is a long run.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 November,2024 08:51 AM IST | London | AFPManchester City’s Erling Haaland, Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are among the nominees in the best male player category as FIFA has announced the shortlist of nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024, which will recognise the leading lights in another thrilling year of women’s and men’s football at both club and national-team levels. Also Read: Mumbai City, Hyderabad look to overcome recent setbacks Besides Haaland, Mbappe and Bellingham, other nominees are: Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde, Florian Wirtz, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, Rodri, Toni Kroos and Vinicius Jr. There are a number of award categories — Best FIFA Men’s Player, Best FIFA Women’s Player, Best FIFA Men’s Coach, Best FIFA Women’s Coach, Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper and Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper. The winner will be decided by equally weighted fans, the current captains and coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams, and media representatives. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 November,2024 08:50 AM IST | Zurich | IANSMumbai City FC and Hyderabad FC will lock horns in an Indian Super League match here on Saturday, hoping to overcome setbacks in recent times. Also Read: Dope case: Halep points to leniency towards No. 2 Swiatek Mumbai City FC enter this game on the back of a 0-3 defeat to Punjab FC earlier this week. With 10 points from their first eight fixtures, courtesy of two wins and four draws, the Islanders sit on the 10th place in the table. Hyderabad FC too, went down to Odisha FC in the previous game. A heavy 0-6 loss should inspire them to give their best, come Saturday at the Mumbai Football Arena. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 November,2024 08:48 AM IST | Mumbai | PTIKylian Mbappe hoped his move to Real Madrid would finally end his wait to win the Champions League. That felt a long way off on Wednesday after a 0-2 defeat to Liverpool left the champs in danger of being eliminated from the UCL at the first stage. Mbappe had a miserable night at Anfield, where he was humbled by a young defender and then missed a penalty. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said the star forward was going through a “difficult moment” just months after he joined the record 15-time European champions. “We must give him our support and love and he will soon be fine,” said Ancelotti, facing multiple questions on Mbappe from Spanish reporters. “It could be lack of confidence. Sometimes in the game, when things don’t work out, the idea is to keep things simple. Don’t complicate things. He’s going through that moment now. Don’t blame him for missing a penalty. We can’t put too much grief on him for that.” Also Read: Hybrid model for CT not acceptable: PCB to ICC Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher (yellow) dives to his left to save a penalty taken by Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe during their UEFA Champions League match at Anfield on Wednesday World Cup-winner Mbappe looked a shadow of himself against a Liverpool team that leads the way in the Premier League and Champions League. He was brought crashing down by a crunching tackle from 21-year-old right back Conor Bradley when threatening to burst through on goal in the first half. And it got worse in the second when he had a chance to make it 1-1 from the penalty spot after Alexis Mac Allister had given Liverpool the lead, but couldn’t beat Liverpool’s back-up goalie Caoimhin Kelleher. Mbappe has scored nine goals in 18 ties for Madrid since leaving PSG, but has only one goal in the UCL for his new club, who have lost three of their five games in the revamped competition. Reds bos Slot on song Liverpool are the only team with a perfect record in this season’s UCL after beating holders Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday. They are the sole side with five wins from five in this new-look UCL, and are guaranteed to advance to the play-offs in February. “It’s special to play against a club that won this Champions League so many times,” said Liverpool boss Arne Slot. “Real are the reigning champions and have been a pain in the a**e for Liverpool many times as well,” added Slot. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 November,2024 07:39 AM IST | Liverpool | AFPEmiliano Martinez produced a wonder save and Aston Villa were controversially denied a last-gasp winner in a 0-0 Champions League draw with Juventus on Wednesday. Chances were at a premium in Birmingham but the home side had Argentina international Martinez to thank for keeping the scores level. Then, deep into stoppage time, Morgan Rogers looked to have given Unai Emery's team another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home. But the goal was ruled out after it was deemed that Diego Carlos had fouled Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. Emery said he was "very happy" with the point despite the late ruling by the officials, describing the contact as "soft". "The last action is clear, it is the interpretation of the referee," the Spaniard told TNT Sports. "Only the interpretation. We know here in England, 80 percent is not fault (foul) and maybe in Europe it is a fault." Villa raced out of the blocks in Europe this season, winning their first three matches, but they have now gone seven games in all competitions without a victory. Emery made it clear before the match that a draw would not be a bad result against the Italian giants as he plots an exit from the revamped group stage. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025 | "Jay Shah will think about the ICC's benefit": Naqvi hopes positive response on hosting the event Juventus, playing without a recognised striker, enjoyed the bulk of possession in the early stages but showed little punch. The game opened up as the first half progressed. Teenager Kenan Yildiz drifted in from the left but dragged his shot wide of Martinez's right-hand post in the 20th minute. The first shot on target for either side came when Ollie Watkins controlled a clever Boubacar Kamara pass in the 37th minute but Di Gregorio pushed the ball behind. Matty Cash lashed a shot towards goal from the resulting corner but it hit a Juventus player and the Italians broke with pace, Timothy Weah, playing up front, firing over from distance. Martinez then kept out a shot from the impressive Francisco Conceicao. But Villa came closest to breaking the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when Lucas Digne rattled the crossbar from a free-kick. Both teams showed more urgency early in the second half as the game picked up pace, with the home crowd trying to lift Villa. Two-time champions Juventus had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 65th minute when the ball fell to Conceicao at the back post from a corner. He got his effort on target but somehow Martinez made up ground to his right, diving low to keep the ball out, millimetres short of crossing the line. Five minutes later Villa were denied when Leon Bailey crossed for John McGinn, whose shot was kept out by the outstretched boot of Manuel Locatelli. The home side thought they had won the match in the final seconds but it was not to be. Villa, playing their first season in Europe's top-tier competition since the 1982/83 season, are ninth in the Champions League table, with Thiago Motta's Juventus down in 19th spot This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
28 November,2024 12:12 PM IST | United Kingdom | AFPThiago Messi, the eldest son of the Argentina star, has made his debut in the “Newell’s Cup” tournament in the countryside city of Rosario. Also Read: We’re fragile, unstable: Pep after 3-3 draw v Feyenoord The 12-year-old Messi played with the No. 10 jersey of an Inter Miami youth team, which lost 1-0 on Monday to host Newell’s Old Boys in the traditional under-13 competition. The team also played on Tuesday. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 November,2024 07:45 AM IST | Buenos Aires | AP | PTIManchester City boss Pep Guardiola said a 3-3 draw in the Champions League against Feyenoord felt like another defeat after his side blew a 3-0 lead in the final 15 minutes on Tuesday. A point did snap City’s five-game losing streak, but did little to inspire confidence ahead of Sunday’s daunting trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool. It is the first time City had failed to win a match they led by three goals since 1989 and the first time ever it had happened in the final 15 minutes of a Champions League game. Also Read: Bajrang Punia said that joining this political party would lift his ban Pep Guardiola But the defensive frailties that have been the root cause for a staggering collapse in recent weeks were exposed in the closing stages as Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko scored for Feyenoord. “We concede a lot of goals because we are not stable,” said Guardiola. “We give them the first and the other ones and that is why it is difficult.” Erling Haaland had struck twice, either side of Ilkay Gundogan’s deflected effort, to put the English champions in a commanding position at the Etihad Stadium. “We lost a lot of games lately. We are fragile and of course we need a victory,” added Guardiola. “The game [at 3-0] was good for the confidence, playing a good level and the first time something happens we have problems.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
28 November,2024 07:42 AM IST | Manchester | AFPPep Guardiola endured a painful night as his Manchester City side squandered a commanding 3-0 lead against Feyenoord. The reigning Premier League champions were left shell-shocked at the Etihad Stadium after a dramatic collapse in the final 15 minutes. The Dutch side capitalised on a defensive error, with Anis Hadj Moussa seizing on a mistake by Josko Gvardiol to score their first goal. Substitute Santiago Gimenez then chested in the equalizer with just eight minutes remaining, before David Hancko completed the stunning turnaround in the 89th minute. This latest setback means City have now gone six matches without a win, leaving Guardiola visibly frustrated. To add insult to injury, the jubilant Feyenoord fans taunted him with chants associated with their former manager, Arne Slot, who now oversees Liverpool. Stress is real and it kills….I almost lost my life the day pic.twitter.com/UdnYu0TOra — Cosma (@cosma_aino) November 26, 2024 As Hancko's late equalizer rang out, the away end erupted into a rendition of Liverpool's iconic anthem, "You’ll never walk alone," further rubbing salt into City’s wounds ahead of their daunting trip to Anfield on Sunday. Also Read: It's time to pep up city! Feyenoord manager Arne Slot was lauded by his successor, Brian Priske, who expressed pride in their performance. The Danish coach, who has taken over at Feyenoord, was eager to show his respect for Slot's legacy. "I’m sure he’s proud. As an ex-Feyenoord manager, I’m sure he’s following [results], I know that. We’ve definitely done everything we could to help him as well. He had a massive impact on the club over the last three years," said Priske. "He definitely gave me a good start as well, with a good team and Champions League qualification. So I’m really happy that, hopefully, we can help him a bit, and he needs to do the dirty job at the weekend." Also Read: What’s behind Manchester City’s uncharacteristic struggles this season? Reflecting on Feyenoord’s remarkable comeback, Priske continued, "If you are from Feyenoord Rotterdam, it is an unbelievable evening, 3-0 down away from home against, for me, still the best team in the world. Obviously, you always believe, but it was a difficult game. The first 25 minutes, they played fast football, we were not as tight as we wanted, ended up too low. At 3-0 down, you definitely think this is going to be a long night, a tough evening. But without any tactical [changes], just individual quality, moments, gave us the draw. The players stayed in the game, kept pushing and kept believing. I can only praise them." Meanwhile, Guardiola appeared battered and bruised during his post-match interviews, with noticeable cuts and marks on his face and head. When asked about the injuries, he revealed they were self-inflicted: “My finger, here [points to nose]. My nail. I want to harm myself.”
27 November,2024 04:55 PM IST | London | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
