FA Cup final: Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag cup final records compared June 2, 2023 For a manager accused of over-thinking big games, Pep Guardiola almost always gets it right when a trophy is in sight – but his opponent in Saturday’s FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag is no slouch either. Late on a balmy April evening in 2011, Angel di Maria scampered down the left flank towards the [...]
Six Premier League clubs in Forbes’ top 10 most valuable June 1, 2023 Six Premier league clubs have made the top 10 in Forbes’ world’s most valuable football teams list. While Spanish giants and reigning Champions League winners Real Madrid top the list with a valuation of $6.07bn, three of the top five are English clubs. Manchester United ($6bn valuation) are second with Barcelona third. At an estimated [...]
Trevor Steven: Why Pep Guardiola is my Premier League manager of the season May 29, 2023 Trevor Steven on why Pep Guardiola pips Ten Hag, Emery, De Zerbi, Howe, Arteta and O’Neil to his Premier League manager of the year award. So many different storylines emerged during the Premier League season that finished on Sunday, one of the most volatile campaigns that I can remember. Some big clubs and managers badly [...]
Pep Guardiola makes U-turn over Champions League after clinching Premier League May 21, 2023 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits they must win the Champions League to be considered among the greats despite clinching a fifth Premier League in six years. City lifted the domestic title in front of their home fans after beating Chelsea 1-0 on Sunday, 24 hours after their successful defence was confirmed by Arsenal’s defeat [...]
Manchester City, Premier League titles and the many asterisks in European football May 21, 2023 Release the ticker tape, crank up Blue Moon and fetch Pep Guardiola’s dancing shoes: Manchester City are Premier League champions again for the fifth time in six years and the seventh time in a decade. With FA Cup and Champions League final appearances to come before the season is out, there is every chance that [...]
Guardiola: My Manchester City legacy is already exceptional May 16, 2023 Pep Guardiola insists his legacy at Manchester City is “already exceptional” despite his team’s failure to win a European trophy. City can take a major step towards remedying that when they face Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Etihad Stadium tonight, having drawn 1-1 in Madrid last week. [...]
Trevor Steven: Treble is in sight for Pep Guardiola’s best Manchester City team yet May 16, 2023 Manchester City couldn’t ask for a much better chance to beat Real Madrid and reach another Champions League final than the one they face tomorrow. City are fortunate to have home advantage for a second leg in which they know exactly what they will have to do, having drawn 1-1 in Spain last week. After [...]
‘We have to apologise’: Mikel Arteta reacts after Arsenal title bid suffers major setback May 14, 2023 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticised his team after their Premier League title challenge suffered a knockout blow in a 3-0 home defeat by Brighton on Sunday. Second-half goals from Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Estupinan stunned the Gunners and left them with only the slimmest of mathematical chances of catching Manchester City. City earlier [...]
FA Cup could be SAVED for fans as coaches secured amid rail strikes May 11, 2023 The FA has secured 120 extra coaches to help fans reach the FA Cup final next month amid worries strikes could scupper supporter hopes of reaching Wembley. The FA Cup final is scheduled to take place between Manchester United and Manchester City on 3 June, the same day as one of three 24-hour strikes set [...]
Qatari bidder Sheikh Jassim rules out Manchester United move for Lionel Messi May 10, 2023 Manchester United will not make any attempt to sign Lionel Messi on a free transfer this summer if Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani buys the club. Messi, 35, is due to leave Paris Saint-Germain next month when his contract with the Qatar-owned French champions expires. His availability has sparked a €1bn scramble for his [...]