Sports

Guardiola has to ‘find a solution’ to Man City woes after Villa loss

Published

8 months ago

December 7, 2023

Pep Guardiola

Guardiola has to ‘find a solution’ to Man City woes after Villa loss

Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola admitted he has to “find a solution” to Manchester City’s woes after the Premier League champions crashed to a damaging 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Guardiola’s side were rocked by Leon Bailey’s second-half winner at Villa Park.

Fourth-placed City are now languishing six points behind leaders Arsenal after a fourth successive league game without a victory.

Villa have climbed above them into third place, with the treble winners looking more vulnerable than any time in recent memory.

Guardiola had no immediate answer to why City have stumbled of late, with the lethargic Villa loss coming after draws with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.

But the City boss conceded he must get to the bottom of their alarming blip quickly.

“Six points (behind Arsenal) and we would prefer to be top of the league but we made three draws and lost today,” he said.

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“In these years we have found a way to win games but we struggled a bit and we have to find a way.

“It is my job to find a solution. The dynamic changes by winning games. When a team is better you have to recognise it.”

Villa out-played City from start to finish, with Guardiola’s team failing to muster a shot on target after Erling Haaland’s two efforts in quick succession early in the first half.

Guardiola admitted City never looked comfortable, saying: “Aston Villa played better. The first half we didn’t move in possession and the second half was much better and we had chances, but we struggled to find the pass and movements in the right moments.

“We have scored four or five goals with deflections so it is what it is and we have to accept Aston Villa was better and go to Luton on Sunday.”

City’s four defeats this season have come without Rodri in the line-up, with the influential Spain midfielder serving a suspension at Villa.

They are unbeaten in their last 43 games with Rodri in the team and Guardiola said: “Rodri is an important player of course but when he is not there we have to find a way to win without him.”

Guardiola has to ‘find a solution’ to Man City woes after Villa loss

AFP

Related Topics:Manchester City Pep Guardiola Rodri

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PSG not giving up on Osimhen, seek further slash in price

Published

22 mins ago

July 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Victor Osimhen

PSG not giving up on Osimhen, seek further slash in price

Paris Saint-Germain is still negotiating a lower transfer fee for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as they pursue the Nigeria international this summer.

According to transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio, PSG are poised to retake the lead in their pursuit of the Napoli striker.

In contrast, Italian sports news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the French champions are still dissatisfied with Napoli’s reduced asking price of £100 million.

“The Parisian club would in fact have decided to take a step back. President Al-Khelaifi considers the 100 million euros excessive, believing that with De Laurentiis he is making the same mistake as last summer,” the report stated.

Napoli had initially demanded the full payment of Osimhen’s £130m release clause, a figure that has deterred many potential suitors. PSG, however, have refused to meet this valuation and are hoping for a further reduction in the price.

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The prolonged negotiations have reportedly left Osimhen frustrated, with Italian publication Tutto Napoli suggesting that the striker is now open to considering offers from Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal.

“Osimhen is fed up, a prisoner of his golden contract. De Laurentiis will probably grant discounts on the clause but not sales,” Tutto Napoli wrote.

As the transfer saga continues, PSG may need to offload either Goncalo Ramos or Randal Kolo-Muani to make room for Osimhen.

Interestingly, Chelsea have reportedly been offered the chance to sign these two PSG forwards, potentially holding the key to Osimhen’s move to the French capital.

Osimhen, who joined Napoli in 2020 for a club-record fee, has been in impressive form, scoring 41 league goals in the past two seasons and helping the club secure their first Scudetto in over three decades.

PSG not giving up on Osimhen, seek further slash in price

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Two Saudi clubs eye Osimhen amid PSG stalled deal

Published

28 mins ago

July 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Victor Osimhen

Two Saudi clubs eye Osimhen amid PSG stalled deal

With options fast drying up for Victor Osimhen, it has now been reported that top Saudi Arabian clubs Al Ahli and Al Hilal are now pulling all the stops to sign the Napoli striker.

Osimhen continues the pre-season with Napoli and will join the team in Castel Di Sangro for the second part of preparation while waiting for a move to PSG.

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Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta claimed that a move to the French capital is now a priority for Osimhen. Tuttosport reported last week that the striker has already agreed personal terms with the club.

However, the French giants must sell Gonçalo Ramos or Randal Kolo Muani before sending an official offer to Napoli. PSG are unlikely to pay the entire €130m clause, but Napoli will look for at least €100m.

Two clubs who can surely match Napoli’s demands are Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, both sides are waiting for the developments of PSG talks with Osimhen before making a formal bid.

Two Saudi clubs eye Osimhen amid PSG stalled deal

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Be humble in Madrid, former Liverpool striker tells Mbappe

Published

17 hours ago

July 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Kylian Mbappe

Be humble in Madrid, former Liverpool striker tells Mbappe

A former Liverpool striker, Stan Collymore, has issued a warning to Kylian Mbappe as the French star joins Real Madrid.

Drawing from his own experience as a high-profile signing at Liverpool, Collymore advised Mbappe to approach his new role with humility.

Collymore, who was once a British record transfer to Liverpool, shared his insights with CaughtOffside on Thursday.

He stressed the importance of Mbappe navigating the dressing room dynamics carefully, stating, “They (Real Madrid players) won’t really care that he (Mbappe) was a Real Madrid fan as a kid or that he had Cristiano Ronaldo posters on his wall.”

The former striker recalled his experiences at Liverpool, where he faced challenges integrating with the team.

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“When I went to Liverpool, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind whatsoever that within two or three weeks of signing and after all the happy, clapping, ‘hey, how you doing, do you want to come out with us for a beer and be our friend?’ kind of thing, that my team-mates thought I was some big-time Charlie,” Collymore revealed.

He warned Mbappe about the potential pitfalls of being perceived as arrogant or entitled.

“Kylian Mbappe, who has been top dog and massively overindulged for so long, will have to fall in line fairly quickly, be humble and say the right things. If he doesn’t, there’ll only be problems down the road,” Collymore said.

Collymore highlighted the challenges faced by high-profile signings in adapting to new team environments. He suggested that despite Mbappe’s status as a World Cup winner and global superstar, he need to earn respect within the Real Madrid squad.

“Players like Dani Carvajal have been there, seen it, got the t-shirt, and so there’ll be two or three that will be looking at him and seeing how he is in the dressing room,” Collymore said.