Page 3 – Rise Again

CITY GET TOUGH CARABAO CUP DRAW

Carabao Cup holders Manchester City have won the competition in the last three seasons and they are on course to make it four consecutive Carabao Cup wins but they have to overcome city rivals Manchester United in the semi-finals to achieve that target. Manchester City and Manchester United were drawn together in the Carabao Cup semi-finals for the second season in a row. Manchester City beat Manchester United over two legs in the Carabao Cup semi-finals last season with the help of the away goals rule. Manchester City went on to beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the Carabao Cup final to win the competition for the third season in a row.

Manchester City and Manchester United have already met this season. Manchester United played hosts to their city rivals in a league game played earlier this month but there was nothing between the two teams as the game ended in a goalless draw. Manchester City thrashed hosts Arsenal 4-1 on Tuesday night in their quarterfinal tie to book their place in the semi-finals with Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Frenchman AymericLaporte all getting on the scoresheet for the Citizens, while Manchester United beat Everton 2-0 in front of their home fans to book the final spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. EdinsonCavani and Anthony Martial scored for Manchester United. Continue reading

BLUNT CITY RECORD ANOTHER POOR RESULT

Manchester City have dominated English football for the better part of the last three years under manager Pep Guardiola but it seems those days of dominant Manchester City displays aree long gone going by what has happened in the Premier League this season. Spanish tactician Guardiola was appointed by the Manchester City owners four years ago and he was given an enabling environment to show why he’s regarded by many as the best manager in world football. Manchester City had built a system tailormade for Guardiola even before his appointment was confirmed four years.

Manchester City didn’t achieve much under Guardiola in his debut season in the Premier League but all that changed in the second season when he led the Citizens to the Premier League title with a record 100 points. Manchester City also won the Capital One Cup in that second season. His most successful season yet came in the third season when he led Manchester City to an unprecendented domestic treble. Despite the domestic dominance, the shadow of failed Champions League campaigns loomed over Guardiola and Manchester City with many believing that the Spaniard was appointed to deliver the much coveted Champions League trophy. In his fourth season last term, Guardiola and Manchester City had to settle for the Capital One Cup only as they finished 18 points behind champions Liverpool. Continue reading

MAN CITY TARGET STRIKER DUO

Four-time Premier League winners Manchester City are in the market for a new striker ahead of the new season. This is according to the latest report in the British media. The Citizens are in search of a replacement for star striker Sergio Aguero who has been injured for the better part of this year.

According to media portal 90min, Manchester City have shortlisted two strikers in their bid to sign a replacement for the aforementioned Aguero. The Argentine international is likely to move on when his Manchester City contract expires at the end of this season. It was disclosed that Borussia Dortmund player ErlingHaaland and Inter Milan attacker Lautaro Martinez are on the two-man striker shortlist.
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NAPOLI REGRETS NOT SEELING KOULIBALY SOONER

Serie A side Napoli have received numerous bids for their commanding centre back Kalidou Koulibaly over the years but have all turned them down. The club chief Aurelio De Laurentiis seems to be regretting that now as they are not receiving offers as high as they used to. The football chief admitted that they once received an offer of 110 million pounds for the Senegal international but turned it down.

He says when there are important offers, they will sell as there are no guarantees in Italy. He says their prized assets will exit this summer if their valuation is met. Manchester City are believed to be leading the race for the defender. Though they recently signed Nathan Ake for 40 million pounds from Bournemouth, they are expected to add another before the window closes in October.
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UNITED TO SEE POGBA-FERNANDES VS TOTTENHAM?

Manchester United fans are desperate to see their marquee signings Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes partner in the midfield. Since the Portuguese joined his high energy has helped revitalized the side with him being recognized after only a month in the Premier League. In nine games, he has scored three already and assisted four more. The move from Sporting Lisbon happened at the perfect time for United and gave them a renewed hope to finish the season well.

Pogba has returned from his long-term injury. There were concerns that he would leave but it seems that ship has sailed. Fernandes was at a point believed to be a replacement for Pogba, but the Frenchman is likely to stay for a bit longer at Old Trafford. Now fans are eager to see both midfield maestros’ partner, especially against former coach Jose Mourinho as the league resumes.
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BARCA CHIEFS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR NEYMAR DEAL

Barcelona have identified three priorities heading into the summer transfer window. According to reports from Spanish football expert Guillem Balague. Barca want Neymar to return to the Camp Nou. The club will do all they can to sign the Paris Saint-Germain attacker who left three years ago in a world record transfer fee of around £200million. But first the La Liga giants will have to raise funds to facilitate a deal for Neymar. The club has identified Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho as the candidates to depart Barca in order to raise money for Neymar.

Ousmane Dembele was the first player to arrive as a possible replacement for Neymar. He was signed in 2017 from Borussia Dortmund. The youngster has failed to live up to expectations as injuries, poor form and off field antics have held him towards reaching his peak form for the Catalan giant. Dembele is currently injured. He will be out for the rest of the season.
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MANCHESTER CITY ACE REVEALS REASON FOR MOVE

Manchester City midfielder has revealed why he snubbed Liverpool for Manchester City in 2016. He rejected the Reds and the opportunity to reunite with former manager, Jurgen Klopp. The pair enjoyed a good professional relationship while at Borussia Dortmund.

He explained that, he wanted to leave his comfort zone and an opportunity to work With a serial winner in Guardiola were among the factors he considered while choosing Man City.
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TERRY EXPLAINS DE BRUYNE’S FAILURE AT THE BRIDGE

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah are the epitome of why for all of Jose Mourinho’s coaching prowess, building talent is one thing he has miserably failed at. At every club he has ever coached.

Former Chelsea skipper has however come out to bizarrely defend Mourinho citing instead that the Belgian and the Egyptian were never good enough to play for Chelsea. The irony of it all is that De Bruyne and Salah are the major reason both Manchester City and Liverpool are the only teams in England capable of fighting for the Premier League title.
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SEVEN GAMES COULD DETERMINE PL WINNER

Liverpool have seven games between October 20 and November 10, 2019. These seven games could pretty much determine how the Premier League shapes up as the Reds try to extend their lead over City and stabilize their season.

The seven games include the trip to Old Trafford this weekend, a must win game against Genk away in the Champions League, before hosting Tottenham Hotspur at home. The FA Cup game R16 against Arsenal, that has always earned Klopp backlash for throwing the smaller tournaments, comes next then a trip to Aston Villa, the return fixture against Genk, which culminates in the battle of the titans as Manchester City visits.
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