Football

Pep Guardiola has extended his contract with Manchester City, ensuring his continued reign at the helm of the Premier League giants. The Spanish manager, whose previous deal was set to expire at the end of this season, has agreed to a new contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium for at least another year.Guardiola's decision to extend his stay is a testament to the unprecedented success he has overseen at City since his arrival in 2016. Under his guidance, the club has established itself as the dominant force in English football, winning six Premier League titles in seven years. City has also triumphed in the Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup multiple times under Guardiola's leadership.The Catalan coach's impact on City extends beyond trophies. He has instilled a winning mentality and a distinctive style of play that has made the team one of the most admired in the world. Guardiola's commitment to attacking football and his ability to develop young players have earned him widespread praise.Guardiola's contract extension comes at a time when City faces a slew of alleged financial breaches. The club has been charged with over 100 offenses spanning nine years, ranging from failing to provide accurate financial information to misleading UEFA about sponsorship revenue.Despite the ongoing investigation, Guardiola has expressed his confidence in City's ability to clear its name. He has stated that he welcomes the opportunity to defend the club and its reputation. A verdict in the case is not expected until next year.Guardiola's decision to stay at City is a major boost for the club, which is aiming to maintain its dominance in English football and challenge for major trophies in Europe. The Spaniard's experience, tactical acumen, and winning mentality will be invaluable assets as City navigates the challenges ahead.

Manchester City's dominance in the Premier League has hit a roadblock, as they suffered a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions, losing 2-1 to Brighton on Saturday. This setback has left the reigning champions five points behind Liverpool, who extended their lead at the top of the table with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa.City's struggles have been compounded by a string of injuries, with star midfielder Rodri out for the season with an ACL injury. The absence of key center backs Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake has further weakened their defense. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has also been struggling with fitness issues.Manager Pep Guardiola expressed his frustration after the Brighton defeat, acknowledging that City's squad is struggling to cope with the mounting injuries. "We cannot do it every three days, three days, four days, three days with the (injury) situation we have," he said.Brighton's victory was sparked by Joao Pedro's equalizer in the 78th minute, followed by Matt O'Riley's winner in the 83rd on his Premier League debut. City's loss marked their first league defeat in 11 months.Meanwhile, Liverpool continued their impressive start under new manager Arne Slot, with goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah securing a 2-0 win over Aston Villa. The Reds have now won nine of their 11 league games this season, putting them in contention for the title.Other notable results in the Premier League included Wolverhampton's first win of the season, a 2-0 victory over Southampton, and Fulham's impressive 2-0 win at Crystal Palace. Brentford bounced back from their loss to Fulham with a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth, while West Ham and Everton played out a 0-0 draw.

Manchester City, reeling from a trio of consecutive defeats, are determined to regain their winning form in their final Premier League encounter before the international break. Pep Guardiola's squad, who face a resurgent Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, succumbed to their first Premier League loss of the season at Bournemouth last week. This setback was compounded by a 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, ending another extended unbeaten run.Guardiola's charges, aiming for an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title, trail league leaders Liverpool by a mere two points. However, they are acutely aware of the need to avoid further setbacks. Brighton, on the other hand, enter the fixture following a 1-2 loss at Liverpool last week.The Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City Premier League match will take place on Saturday, November 9, at the American Express Stadium in Brighton. The match will commence at 11 PM IST and will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network. Live streaming will be available on Disney+ Hotstar.Manchester City's recent struggles have raised concerns among their supporters. The team's defensive frailties have been exposed, and their attacking prowess has waned. Guardiola will be eager to address these issues and restore his team's confidence before the international break.Brighton, under the guidance of Roberto De Zerbi, have impressed with their attacking flair and tactical flexibility. They will pose a significant threat to Manchester City, particularly on their home turf. The match promises to be an intriguing battle between two teams with contrasting styles and ambitions.

Manchester City, plagued by injuries, are desperate to end their losing streak in their final Premier League match before the international break. Chelsea, on the other hand, aims to worsen Arsenal's misery.Pep Guardiola's City, accustomed to success, have suffered three consecutive defeats, raising concerns. Last week, they were eliminated from the League Cup by Tottenham. Their unbeaten run in the Premier League ended at Bournemouth, followed by a 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.Despite being two points behind Liverpool, City is wary of losing further ground. Midfielder Bernardo Silva acknowledges the team's injury woes but emphasizes the importance of the upcoming international break.A positive for City was Kevin De Bruyne's return as a late substitute against Sporting after seven weeks out.Arsenal, meanwhile, could drop to eighth in the Premier League if results go against them. Mikel Arteta's team has earned only one point in their last three league games and lost 1-0 to Inter Milan in the Champions League.A defeat to Chelsea and a Liverpool win would leave Arsenal 10 points off the top spot. Thierry Henry believes Arsenal could be out of the title race if they lose.Liverpool, under Arne Slot, has won 14 of their first 16 games in all competitions. They have taken seven points from matches against Chelsea, Arsenal, and Brighton and have a perfect record in the Champions League.Slot downplayed the notion of Liverpool's success being "easy," emphasizing the intensity required to beat them. Liverpool faces a tough run of fixtures, but they have proven their mettle so far.

Manchester City's defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed as Sporting Lisbon stunned the Premier League champions 4-1 in the Champions League, with Viktor Gyokeres' hat-trick inspiring the Portuguese side to a famous victory.Ruben Amorim, who has agreed to take over as Manchester United manager on November 11, orchestrated Sporting's triumph, showcasing his tactical acumen and the potential he brings to Old Trafford.Despite Phil Foden's early goal for City, Sporting refused to be intimidated. Gyokeres equalized before halftime, and Maximiliano Araujo doubled Sporting's lead shortly after the break. Gyokeres then converted two penalties to complete his hat-trick and seal a remarkable comeback.Erling Haaland missed a penalty for City, hitting the bar, as the visitors' defensive woes continued. Amorim's tactical brilliance was evident as Sporting exploited City's injury-hit backline, with Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, making his first start for the club, particularly vulnerable.Amorim's victory over City has heightened expectations among Manchester United fans, who hope he can replicate his success at Old Trafford. However, the Portuguese manager faces a daunting task in restoring the club to its former glory.Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola's City have suffered a dramatic loss of momentum, losing three consecutive games for the first time this season. The absence of key players has taken its toll, and Guardiola will need to find solutions quickly to avoid further setbacks.Sporting, on the other hand, are in excellent form under Amorim, who has guided them to two Portuguese titles in four years. Their victory over City leaves them in a strong position in the Champions League, with 10 points from four games.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed concerns over his team's mounting injury crisis ahead of their Champions League clash against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday. The English champions have suffered consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Bournemouth, ending their 11-month unbeaten run in the Premier League.Guardiola's squad has been depleted by injuries to key players, including Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Oscar Bobb, Ruben Dias, Jack Grealish, and John Stones are also sidelined.Kevin De Bruyne could make his first appearance in seven weeks but is unlikely to start, while Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Jeremy Doku, and Savinho are also not fully fit."You know the situation with Rodri, nominated the best player in the world," Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference. "We know we will struggle, and we have to accept that, and it is fine.""The games will be difficult; in previous seasons it was smooth. Personal reasons, injuries, we won six Premier Leagues in seven years. Things change, we have to accept that."Guardiola will face one of his future rivals as Sporting boss Ruben Amorim takes charge of the Portuguese champions for the penultimate time before beginning his role as Manchester United manager.The sides last met in the last 16 of the 2021/22 Champions League when City romped to a 5-0 victory in Lisbon and on aggregate."They have changed players but have the same manager and the same mentality," added Guardiola on the challenge Sporting provide. "Winning the league for the first time in 20 years and then doing it again last season shows what a good job he has done."Bernardo Silva scored twice in City's 5-0 win over Sporting two years ago on his return to Lisbon, where he began his career at Benfica. He urged City not to make excuses despite their injury woes."With a full squad, we are stronger, there's no denying that. We have a lot of unbelievable players missing," said Silva. "We have not been able to count on Kevin for six weeks. Rodri is out for the season and other players out shorter times. But we never find excuses. This club was never about that."Both sides are unbeaten in the new Champions League format with seven points from their opening three matches.

Manchester City's injury crisis has reached alarming proportions after their League Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, with Savinho and Manuel Akanji joining a growing list of sidelined players. The latest setbacks leave Pep Guardiola with a mere 13 fit players ahead of a crucial Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Saturday.Savinho was stretchered off in the 62nd minute with a suspected ankle injury, while Akanji was ruled out just before kickoff due to a muscular issue. This adds to the already lengthy list of absentees, including Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Kyle Walker, Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku, and Jack Grealish.Guardiola expressed his concern over the physical toll the season has taken on his squad. "We have 13 players (available) so we are in real difficulty," he said. "The guys that play, they finish most of them with problems and we'll see how they recover. I think we are in trouble, because in nine years we've never been in the situation with so many injuries."Despite their precarious position, City remain narrowly ahead of Liverpool in the Premier League title race. However, the absence of so many key players raises concerns about their ability to maintain their title defense. The upcoming away clash with Bournemouth will be a stern test for Guardiola's ability to rally a depleted side and manage fitness levels.For Guardiola, who has enjoyed nine seasons with relatively few long-term injuries, this situation is unprecedented. "In nine years, we've never been in this situation with so many injuries," he admitted.City's injury crisis is a major blow to their hopes of winning multiple trophies this season. With so many players unavailable, Guardiola will have to rely heavily on his remaining squad members and hope that they can stay fit and healthy.

Rodri's triumph at the Ballon d'Or 2024 has sent shockwaves through the football world, marking a significant victory for the often-underrated defensive midfielder. Despite the dominance of attackers and defenders in the spotlight, Rodri's consistent brilliance for both Manchester City and Spain has earned him the coveted award.In his acceptance speech, Rodri paid tribute to his teammates, particularly Dani Carvajal and Lamine Yamal, who played pivotal roles in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph. He also acknowledged the contributions of his girlfriend Laura, his family, and his agent Paulo.Rodri's journey to the top has been marked by resilience and determination. He recalled a time when he almost quit football as a teenager, but his father's unwavering support kept him going. This experience has shaped his character and instilled in him the values of hard work and perseverance.Rodri's victory is not only a personal triumph but also a testament to the importance of defensive midfielders in modern football. His ability to control the tempo of the game, break up opposition attacks, and initiate attacks has made him an indispensable asset for both club and country.The Ballon d'Or 2024 results have sparked a debate about the criteria for selecting the best player of the year. Some argue that attackers should always be favored due to their goal-scoring prowess, while others believe that defensive players deserve equal recognition for their contributions to team success.Rodri's triumph has reignited this discussion, highlighting the need for a more balanced approach to player evaluation. His victory is a reminder that football is a team sport, and that every position on the field plays a vital role in achieving success.

Champions League: English Clubs Dominate, Barcelona Stuns BayernWednesday's Champions League action witnessed a resounding night for English clubs and a historic triumph for Barcelona.Liverpool and Manchester City extended their perfect records to three wins, while Arsenal and Aston Villa also secured victories. The four English teams have conceded just one goal combined in the competition so far.Barcelona, led by captain Raphinha, pulled off a stunning 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich, ending the German giants' six-match winning streak against the Catalan club. Raphinha scored a hat-trick, while Robert Lewandowski added another for Barcelona.Liverpool edged Leipzig 1-0 with a goal from Darwin Nunez, while City routed Sparta Prague 5-0 with Erling Haaland scoring twice.In other matches, Lille upset Atletico Madrid 3-1, while Inter Milan scraped a 1-0 win at Young Boys. Celtic held Atalanta to a 0-0 draw, while Benfica lost 3-1 to Feyenoord.