LONDON • Pep Guardiola's revitalised Manchester City face a potentially tricky challenge at home to Wolves today (tomorrow morning Singapore time) as they attempt to cut the deficit to Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points.
However, City have shown enough just two weeks into the new year to suggest that their uncharacteristic collapse in form last month is firmly behind them.
The English champions' slump was triggered after Chelsea ended their unbeaten streak in the league and they subsequently lost successive league games, against relatively modest opposition in both Crystal Palace and Leicester.
But a victory over the Reds to kick off the second half of the term has completely rejuvenated the mood at the Etihad Stadium.
Since then, two Cup routs in the space of four days - albeit against lower league clubs Rotherham and Burton - have indicated the return of the clinical edge that characterised their play during last season's record-breaking campaign.
It was a mood reflected by Kevin de Bruyne, who has been injured for most of the first half of their campaign, against Rotherham when he showed visible dissatisfaction at being brought off after an hour, even though City were already leading by five goals.
While media reports have hinted at his anger, with de Bruyne reportedly refusing to return to the bench to watch the remainder of their FA Cup third-round 7-0 win, instead opting to head straight down the tunnel, Guardiola refused to address the speculation, claiming he "did not speak with him" over the Belgium forward's reaction.
Despite his petulance, de Bruyne remains in line to start just his second league game of the term when City take on Wolves.
Sergio Aguero and captain Vincent Kompany, who have not played since the Liverpool match, look set to return to the first XI, and Guardiola confirmed his team had a clean bill of health as "the rest (except for Benjamin Mendy) are fit".
The Spaniard also felt City could maintain their chase for honours on four fronts even though they are unlikely to reinforce by dipping into the January transfer market.
He said: "Sometimes, we have done it but, normally, when you want to buy one player, it is for the next five or six years and, normally, it doesn't happen in this window.
"The big clubs don't buy important players for six months. If you don't have injuries and are satisfied with the squad, you go with them."
Despite declaring his happiness with his players, he warned that Wolves would be no pushovers and they had no margin for error.
Recalling how Nuno Espirito Santo's men held City to a creditable 1-1 league draw earlier in the season at Molineux, he added: "They are strong physically, (at) counter-attack, set-pieces. They defend well, deep, they control many areas (through Joao) Moutinho.
"(Ruben) Neves, he can shoot from a long way. They are newly promoted and doing incredibly well."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MANCHESTER CITY V WOLVES
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, tomorrow, 4am
Hence, only a miracle will stop Sheffield United to get promoted to EPL and they are destined to finish as runners-up to Norwich. As for Leeds, they can only wait for their opponent in the playoff semi-finals as they are guaranteed a spot in the top 4 position. Current Top 6: 1. Norwich - 91 pts (MP:45 , GD +35) 2. Sheffield Utd - 88 pts (MP:45
An Early Look at the Three Teams Promoted from the
Football: Barca put one hand on title after edging past
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino fears Harry Kane could miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury sustained against Manchester City. The striker had to be helped down the tunnel by Spurs
Neymar visits recovering Pele in hospital. By AFP Neymar has paid a visit to Brazilian football legend Pele, who has been in hospital in Paris since April 3.
Neymar visits recovering Pele in hospital - World Soccer Talk
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/04/08/neymar-visits-recovering-pele-in-hospital/
Paris (AFP) - Neymar has paid a visit to Brazilian football legend Pele, who has been in hospital in Paris since April 3. The Paris Saint-Germain forward posted a photo on his Instagram account on Monday of himself alongside a smiling Pele in his hospital bed with the two holding hands.
Neymar visits recovering Pele in hospital - msn.com
Jurgen Klopp labelled his team 'talented giants' after Liverpool's incredible victory. Champions League final with a stunning 4-0 win against the Spanish champions in the second leg at
Cincinnati had been unable to convert chances in the top of the ninth, 10th and 11th innings after it stranded a combined five runners on base in the last three innings of a 2-1 loss to the Cubs on Sunday. "A real frustrating game," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It was just really a chance to have a better finale with this series.
Reds made to pay for missed chances - The Carmarthenshire Herald
Latest İrfan Can Kahveci news, stats, photos and videos on MSN Sport. msn back to msn home sport football. powered by Microsoft News. web search. Skip to Navigation;
Ikhsan Fandi - Howling Pixel
Find Tampines Rovers FC results and fixtures , Tampines Rovers FC team stats: squad, top scorers, yellow and red cards, goals scoring stats, current form.
Singapore S.League 2019 table, results and statistics
Football: Jahanbakhsh on target as Iran ease past Oman into
REUTERS - Ryan Babel struck a potentially deadly blow to Cardiff City's Premier League survival chances with a stunning 25-yard strike that secured relegated Fulham a deserved 1-0 win at Craven
Football: Babel strike leaves Cardiff on brink of relegation
PSG take charge with 2-0 win at Manchester United, Paul Pogba
United dump holders Chelsea out of FA Cup to pile pressure on Sarri Sports By John Doe 2019-02-19 London (Reuters): Manchester United's Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba headed first-half goals to claim a 2-0 win that dumped FA Cup holders Chelsea out of the competition and secured a place in the quarter-finals in an intense tie at Stamford Bridge
United dump holders Chelsea out of Cup to pile pressure on
Arsenal star Olivier Giroud angry with constant criticism from France fans and says it is getting 'tedious' The Gunners forward has come under fire from France fans once again but Giroud is
France's Giroud looking to silence "mudslingers" with goals
0 comments:
Post a Comment