Page 9 - Manchester City

Man City's 3-1 win against Man United provides reality check for Ratcliffe

Good luck trying to knock Manchester City off its perch. With new investment and renewed hope, Manchester United fans have been encouraged to believe the good times will return. That great revival felt as far away as ever after a humbling 3-1 loss to City in the Premier League, which could have been even worse Sunday if not for a spectacular miss from Erling Haaland and a series of saves from United goalkeeper Andre Onana. "This team is legendary," City manager Pep Guardiola said afterward. The same cannot be said for United after a 16th defeat in all competitions this season and its 11th loss in the league. The latest setback delivered another blow to Erik ten Hag's hopes of securing Champions League qualification, with his team in sixth and 11 points off fourth-place Aston Villa. City, meanwhile, marches on in its three-pronged defense of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. "Don't forget City, at this moment, is the best team in the world," Ten Hag said. Such word

Haaland scores five goals in Man City's 6-2 rout of Luton in the FA Cup

Erling Haaland looks determined to make up for lost time. The Norway striker scored five goals to power Manchester City into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup in a 6-2 win against Luton on Tuesday. It was his eighth hat trick in a season-and-a-half with City and the second time he has scored five in a single game for the club. Perhaps more significantly, it was evidence that Haaland is fully back up to speed after recently returning from a foot injury that ruled him out for more than a month between December and January. "My fitness is getting back to its best finally," he said. "I feel good. It's an amazing feeling." Haaland had scored only three goals in seven appearances since making his comeback on January 31. By his remarkable standards, that represented a relative drought, but he looked back to his devastating best at Kenilworth Road with a first-half hat trick and two more after the break. Four of those goals came from assists by Kevin De Bruyne, who has also missed large p

EPL: Haaland comes to Man City's rescue in 1-0 win over Brentford

Erling Haaland added Brentford to his list of Premier League conquests when he came to Manchester City's rescue with a 71st-minute goal to clinch a 1-0 win Tuesday. It looked like City would be dropping points in a tight title race for the second time in four days after a 1-1 draw with Chelsea only for Haaland to finally get some space behind Brentford's defense in a counterattack. Julian Alvarez played the ball forward, Haaland collected it and raced past center back Kristoffer Ajer, who lost his footing. One on one with Mark Flekken, Haaland took his shot early and placed a low finish to the Dutch goalkeeper's right for his league-leading 17th goal of the campaign. Of the 21 teams Haaland has faced since arriving in the Premier League last season, Brentford was the only one he'd failed to score against. Not anymore. He's the best in the world," said Oscar Bobb, Haaland's City and Norway teammate who made his first Premier League start on Tuesday. The narrow and nervy win move

Champions League: De Bruyne inspires Man City to 3-1 win at Copenhagen

Kevin De Bruyne is so often Manchester City's man for the big occasion. He delivered again at the start of the Champions League's knockout stage. By scoring one goal and having a hand in two others, the Belgium playmaker inspired City to a 3-1 win at FC Copenhagen in the first leg of the round of 16 on Tuesday as the English champions resumed their quest to retain their European crown. It's an English-record nine straight wins in the Champions League for City stretching back to last season, and 10 victories in a row in all competitions over the past two months. It is going to take something special to stop Pep Guardiola's defending champions. Only a careless mistake from goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, which led to Copenhagen's equalizer in the 34th minute, prevented City from taking an even more commanding lead into the second leg in Manchester in three weeks. Still, few will give the Danish champions hope of turning this around. Not with De Bruyne seemingly back in top form already

Erling Haaland to relax and stay positive: Manchester City's Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola called on Erling Haaland to relax and stay positive after being concerned by the prolific striker's on-field demeanor before he scored the first goals of his comeback from injury. Guardiola was critical of his players' body language during the 2-0 win over Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, which saw Haaland score twice in the second half after a frustrating first 45 minutes for the Norwegian. In that moment, he has to be positive," Guardiola said Monday, a day before Haaland and City take on FC Copenhagen away in the first leg of the Champions League's round of 16. "When he scored a goal, he reacted but he doesn't need to score because he helps us for many things. He is defined by goals but it is not just scoring a goal. As much it's how he is clapping, encouraging his mates and the first intense press. This is what we need from Erling." Not that the 23-year-old Haaland ever goes too long without scoring. He was the top scorer in his .

Champions League knockout stage starts with Man City and Real Madrid games

The Champions League narrative is so often about Manchester City and Real Madrid. The past two champions of Europe were the only teams to sweep through the group stage with six wins. They also are first in action Tuesday when the most prized competition in club soccer resumes in the round of 16. Man City is away to a Copenhagen team playing in the knockout stage for the first time in 13 years and Madrid is at Leipzig for the first leg. The two teams favored to lift the trophy warmed up with comfortable wins Saturday and goals from signature players. Erling Haaland confirmed his return to form after a foot injury with both goals in Man City's 2-0 win over Everton, his first since Nov. 28 when Leipzig was beaten 3-2 in their Champions League group. Haaland has a Premier League-leading 16 goals and Madrid's Jude Bellingham has a La Liga-best 15 after also scoring twice in a 4-0 rout of second-place Girona, which is owned by the same Abu Dhabi group as Man City. But Bellingham has an

Manchester City keeps the pressure on Liverpool in EPL title race

Watch out, Premier League. The competition's most lethal attacking combination is back in tandem. Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne both recently back from long injury absences linked up for the clinching goal in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday in what will be a worrying sight for the defending champions' rivals. Liverpool remained in first place after a 3-1 victory over Burnley but City is ominously placed on the leader's shoulder, two points behind with a game in hand, and with its superstar attackers back in the groove. Make it 12 times that De Bruyne has set up Haaland for a goal since they started playing together at the beginning of last season following the striker's move to England. No other Premier League partnership has delivered that many goals in this period. With him, I know I'm going to get it perfect. You know the ball is going to come, Haaland said of De Bruyne, English soccer's king of the assists. I watch a lot of football and I already saw

City's Haaland to miss 9th straight game, Guardiola hopeful of early return

Erling Haaland has been ruled out of Manchester City's Premier League game at Newcastle on Saturday because of a foot injury, and he is likely to be out until the end of January. The Norway striker has missed the past eight games in all competitions though he's still the co-leading scorer in the league with 14 goals. Haaland hasn't played since a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Dec. 6. Hopefully at the end of this month he'll be ready," City manager Pep Guardiola said. "It was a little bit more than we expected in the beginning. It's the bone. It needs time. With every injury you can do whatever you want but it's a question of time. On Friday, Guardiola also confirmed that defender John Stones (ankle) won't suit up against Newcastle. Erling is out and John is out, the manager said. The 23-year-old Haaland, who has returned to training, has also scored five goals in Champions League play this campaign. Playmaking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is set for more minutes Saturday, possibly as

FA Cup: Liverpool beat Arsenal 2-0; De Bruyne back for City in 5-0 win

Three straight losses, an elimination from the FA Cup, and the ominous sight of Manchester City back in form and boosted by the return of Kevin De Bruyne. These are worrying times for Arsenal. In a heavyweight third-round matchup in the FA Cup, Arsenal's increasingly alarming problems in front of goal were further exposed in a 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday. An end-to-end contest was settled by two late goals an own-goal by Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior in the 80th minute and a fierce strike by Luis Diaz in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Arsenal has now lost four of its last seven matches in all competitions, including its last three in a row. We need to reset, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. This (upcoming winter) break is good. It has come at a good time. Arsenal has had 48 shots in its last two home games taking in the 2-0 loss to West Ham in the Premier League on Dec. 28 and not scored a goal. That statistic, plus a knee injury to first-choice striker Gabriel Jesu

EPL: Inspired by world champion badge, Man City really to beat Everton 3-1

Trailing 1-0 to Everton at halftime, Manchester City didn't much look like the newly crowned Club World Cup champion despite the new golden FIFA badge on the front of the players' shirts. But Pep Guardiola had a simple message to his players at the break. The manager (told us) at halftime to just keep believing, we haven't got this badge for no reason, City midfielder Phil Foden said. "In the second half, yeah, wow, I think we blew them away with the way we played. Foden started the comeback by equalizing in the 53rd minute, before Julian Alvarez's penalty and a late goal by Bernardo Silva secured a 3-1 win at Everton to put the defending champions back into the Premier League's top four. That's why we're the world champions. The best team in the world, Guardiola said with a smile in a post-game interview on Amazon Prime. Now I'm going to remind them every day. We have a standard to keep. The trip to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup was perhaps a bit of a distraction and allow

Football Yearender 2023: Top 10 transfers from Ronaldo to Messi and Neymar

From Saudi clubs poaching Europe's biggest stars to English clubs running after freak strikers, here's how the football transfer market operated in 2023

Man City confirmed as world's best club in 2023 after winning fifth trophy

Pep Guardiola is happy to call Manchester City the best in the world this year, but an all-time great team? That debate must wait for years if not decades. Right now, I don't know, Guardiola said after City cruised to its first Club World Cup title by easily beating Fluminense 4-0 on Friday, lifting a fifth domestic and international trophy in 2023. Guardiola is the first coach to win the FIFA club title with three different teams and compared City's status to the great Barcelona side he led to be champion of Spain, Europe and the world in 2011. If people talk about the team 25 or 30 years later it means you're a really good team, he said. Today is nice. We have been the best team in the world. Judgment on this Man City era also must wait for the outcome of an English Premier League investigation into alleged financial wrongdoing at the club for almost a decade through 2018. A hearing is expected late next year to examine 115 charges leveled against the club for conduct during th

Champions League round of 16 draw: City play Copenhagen, Arsenal face Porto

Following a thrilling couple of months of group-stage action, the focus now shifts to the knockout rounds where 16 teams will fight it out to win the ultimate crown

Premier League: Manchester City star Jack Grealish nears return from injury

Jack Grealish is close to returning from injury and could be involved in Manchester City's game against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, Pep Guardiola said. The England international has been sidelined with a knee injury that has seen him miss City's last three games. But he is back in training and in contention to make the squad for the home game against Forest. Jack is coming back. He has trained well and maybe he will be ready for some minutes, City manager Guardiola said Friday. Mateo Kovacic is also nearing recovery from muscular injury, but Bernardo Silva is out after being withdrawn in the first half of City's Champions League win against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday. (Silva) has a little injury. It is nothing much. The clinical development is good but it could be one week, 10 days, two weeks that he will be out, Guardiola said. Kevin de Bruyne and John Stones are also out for City.

Champions League: Lazio goalkeeper scores late to earn draw versus Atletico

Barcelona's Joo Flix, Manchester City's Julin lvarez and Paris Saint Germain's Kylian Mbapp all scored as their teams made winning starts in the Champions League. But the wildest celebrations of the night came in Rome, where Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel headed in the team's equalizer in the fifth minute of injury time to earn a 1-1 draw with Atltico Madrid. It was the last action of the game. As the group stage began without either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time since 2002-03, a 16-year-old almost scored on his competition debut for Barcelona. Lamine Yamal struck the side netting, then saw an effort saved by Antwerp goalkeeper Jean Butez after coming on as a substitute in Barcelona's 5-0 win over the Belgian team. Celtic finished with nine players in a 2-0 loss at Feyenoord that stretched the Scottish champion's winless streak in the group stages to 11 games. Here's a closer look at Tuesday's games: CITY HAS TO COME FROM BEHIND Manchester City started its

Premier League: Erling Haaland dwarfs Shearer's record as City thump Fulham

The Norwegian talismanic striker Erling Haaland's hattrick against Fulham ensured Manchester City remained the only team to win their first four matches before the international break

Premier League: Manchester City signs Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton

Manchester City completed the signing of midfielder Matheus Nunes on Friday after agreeing to pay Wolverhampton a reported transfer fee of 53 million pounds ($67 million). The Portugal international had been refusing to train with Wolves in an effort to force a move to City, which had a lower bid rejected last week. He signed a five-year contract, City said. City manager Pep Guardiola was looking for help in the midfield. The injured Kevin De Bruyne could be out until the new year. City also lost Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona after his contract expired, and signed central midfielder Mateo Kovacic as a replacement. However, that's not a like-for-like replacement, with Kovacic operating in deeper areas than Gundogan, who often played as an attacking midfielder just off Erling Haaland. The 25-year-old Nunes typically plays further forward than Kovacic so would offer something different to Guardiola. Nunes is the fourth signing for City, following Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol and wi

Champions League 2023-24 full schedule, teams, live streaming in India

Arsenal and Manchester United make their Champions League comebacks as the group stage draws were announced on Thursday, August 31, 2023

EPL: Sauna, nose taping, special glasses part of Haaland's sleeping routine

Erling Haaland, the leading goal scorer in the Premier League 2022-23 season has a unique sleeping routine to get a good night's sleep and make his body function in the best way

Manchester City's "Happy Onam" Instagram post in Malayalam goes viral

English Premier League club Manchester City's Instagram post extending Onam wishes in Malayalam went viral on the internet and warmed the hearts of the local populace. Manchester City wished Malayalees across the world "Happy Onam" in Malayalam, as a result of which the Instagram picture went viral and warmed the club's fan base in Kerala. While the image focuses on superstar Erling Haaland in blue jersey biting into a fried pappadam, the background shows two houseboats lined up close to a piece of land defined by coconut trees, catching the instant attention of Malayalees across world. Kerala Tourism reposted the image on Facebook, saying "The team with 32 major honours in the English Premier League wishes all Malayalees a happy Onam. Manchester City has quite a dedicated Malayalee following all over the world. This, too, earned a flurry of congratulations, a Kerala Tourism statement said here on Thursday. Commenting on the post, Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said on