Category: Josep Guardiola

City and Guardiola bet it all on Haaland – The Warm-Up

May 11, 2022

Wednesday’s big stories

Haaland represents a huge risk for Guardiola

Erling Haaland’s goalscoring record indicates that he is a near-guarantee of goals. Since his debut, he has scored 154 in 199 games. And, yet, his signing constitutes a sizable risk for Manchester City and, most notably, Pep Guardiola.

Premier League

‘He’s a real beast’ – Klopp believes Haaland is a ‘really good signing’ for City

5 HOURS AGO

The reason is two-fold. Firstly, and most crucially, for his acquisition to be deemed a true success, City must win the Champions League. Secondly, stylistically, he does not fit this Manchester City team in its current possession-first guise.

The Catalan has built his managerial career and success on ball possession. It has served him well. He has won everything – but last won Europe’s premier trophy in 2011.

Haaland, as a truly elite goalscorer, has shown a laser-like focus on hitting the back of the net, and little interest in playmaking. That is fine as, to state the obvious, he is a striker, whose primary job is to score goals. However, Guardiola has never seen that role’s sole purpose as just that. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sergio Aguero provide evidence of this fact.

So, why sign Haaland?

It looks like City are about to win the league for the fourth time in five years, but have, by their standards, struggled in cup competitions. They reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup, and the fourth round of the League Cup. Thus, the following conclusion can be drawn: over the course of the season, City’s pure weight of talent pays dividends in the league.

Guardiola’s cabal of midfield passers bludgeons a league into submission, but cup competitions – read the Champions League – are slightly different. One game of missed gilt-edged chances – say against Real Madrid in a first-leg semi-final at the Etihad – can – and this season did – prove fatal to City’s, and, more pertinently, Guardiola’s hopes of finally getting their hands on that Champions League trophy.

And, thus, like Sir Alex Ferguson did before him with Juan Sebastian Veron, Guardiola has bet the house on a player who is not necessarily suited to his style of play, but whose excellence could see City extend their domestic dominance to Europe.

However, for this to happen either City – read Guardiola – or Haaland need to adapt. It represents a huge risk.

Give the Ballon d’Or to the excellent, incomparable Sadio Mane

City, as stated above, will more than likely make it four league wins in five seasons. And, yet, if they don’t, Sadio Mane will have played a central and crucial role in wrestling that title from the Etihad club.

He was at it again on Tuesday night, craning his head back to arrow a Luis Diaz centre past Emi Martinez in Aston Villa’s goal to secure the comeback 2-1 win that draws them level with Manchester City at the top of the table having played a game more.

Mane has been nothing short of inspirational since he helped guide Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations success in February. And come May 28 Mane could have won the Africa Cup of Nations, the League Cup, the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League.

Being in that position in May, and having contributed to it so vastly, makes Mane the standout candidate for the Ballon d’Or this.

‘It was massive’ – Klopp on win over Villa as Premier League title race intensifies

Manchester United finally listen to Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho said the below in 2019 after taking Manchester United to second in the Premier League the previous season.

“If I tell you, for example, that I consider one of the best jobs of my career was to finish second with Man United in the Premier League, you will say, ‘this guy is crazy,'” Mourinho said.

“I keep saying this because people don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.”

It was a classic from the Mourinho genre. It seemed hyperbole then, and a deflection of his own shortcomings. And, yet, perhaps the Portuguese was right – not necessarily about it being one of the best jobs of his career; winning the Champions League with Porto, or the treble with Inter or conceding barely a goal with Chelsea in their first title-winning season under the Portuguese would constitute that.

However, there have been movements behind the scenes at United ahead of the appointment of Erik ten Hag that suggest an admission that something was in fact “going on behind the scenes”.

The club’s chief strategy officer, Hemen Tseayo, left the club on Tuesday, and, in doing so, joined Matt Judge, director of football negotiations, Jim Lawlor, chief scout, and Marcel Bout, head of global scouting in leaving the backroom structure as new CEO Richard Arnold looks to stamp his authority on the club.

A successful club needs a streamlined, well-oiled operation at the boardroom level. Manchester City have it, Liverpool have it and so too do, to a lesser extent, Real Madrid. PSG and United do not while the jury is still out on Barcelona given their recent upheaval.

If United can get the behind-the-scenes stuff right, then they will once again become a force to be reckoned with.

IN THE CHANNELS

Decent patter here from Danny Welbeck.

COMING UP

A serious selection of Premier League football. Leeds v Chelsea, Watford v Everton and Wolves v Man City.

Andi Thomas will be here tomorrow to pick through that.

Transfers

Haaland transfer confirmed with forward to join Manchester City, Dortmund to sign Adeyemi

A DAY AGO

Transfers

Guardiola refuses to talk about Haaland transfer until deal ‘completely done’

YESTERDAY AT 13:52

City and Guardiola bet it all on Haaland – The Warm-Up

May 11, 2022

Wednesday’s big stories

Haaland represents a huge risk for Guardiola

Erling Haaland’s goalscoring record indicates that he is a near-guarantee of goals. Since his debut, he has scored 154 in 199 games. And, yet, his signing constitutes a sizable risk for Manchester City and, most notably, Pep Guardiola.

Premier League

‘He’s a real beast’ – Klopp believes Haaland is a ‘really good signing’ for City

8 HOURS AGO

The reason is two-fold. Firstly, and most crucially, for his acquisition to be deemed a true success, City must win the Champions League. Secondly, stylistically, he does not fit this Manchester City team in its current possession-first guise.

The Catalan has built his managerial career and success on ball possession. It has served him well. He has won everything – but last won Europe’s premier trophy in 2011.

Haaland, as a truly elite goalscorer, has shown a laser-like focus on hitting the back of the net, and little interest in playmaking. That is fine as, to state the obvious, he is a striker, whose primary job is to score goals. However, Guardiola has never seen that role’s sole purpose as just that. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sergio Aguero provide evidence of this fact.

So, why sign Haaland?

It looks like City are about to win the league for the fourth time in five years, but have, by their standards, struggled in cup competitions. They reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup, and the fourth round of the League Cup. Thus, the following conclusion can be drawn: over the course of the season, City’s pure weight of talent pays dividends in the league.

Guardiola’s cabal of midfield passers bludgeons a league into submission, but cup competitions – read the Champions League – are slightly different. One game of missed gilt-edged chances – say against Real Madrid in a first-leg semi-final at the Etihad – can – and this season did – prove fatal to City’s, and, more pertinently, Guardiola’s hopes of finally getting their hands on that Champions League trophy.

And, thus, like Sir Alex Ferguson did before him with Juan Sebastian Veron, Guardiola has bet the house on a player who is not necessarily suited to his style of play, but whose excellence could see City extend their domestic dominance to Europe.

However, for this to happen either City – read Guardiola – or Haaland need to adapt. It represents a huge risk.

Give the Ballon d’Or to the excellent, incomparable Sadio Mane

City, as stated above, will more than likely make it four league wins in five seasons. And, yet, if they don’t, Sadio Mane will have played a central and crucial role in wrestling that title from the Etihad club.

He was at it again on Tuesday night, craning his head back to arrow a Luis Diaz centre past Emi Martinez in Aston Villa’s goal to secure the comeback 2-1 win that draws them level with Manchester City at the top of the table having played a game more.

Mane has been nothing short of inspirational since he helped guide Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations success in February. And come May 28 Mane could have won the Africa Cup of Nations, the League Cup, the FA Cup, the Premier League and the Champions League.

Being in that position in May, and having contributed to it so vastly, makes Mane the standout candidate for the Ballon d’Or this.

‘It was massive’ – Klopp on win over Villa as Premier League title race intensifies

Manchester United finally listen to Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho said the below in 2019 after taking Manchester United to second in the Premier League the previous season.

“If I tell you, for example, that I consider one of the best jobs of my career was to finish second with Man United in the Premier League, you will say, ‘this guy is crazy,'” Mourinho said.

“I keep saying this because people don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.”

It was a classic from the Mourinho genre. It seemed hyperbole then, and a deflection of his own shortcomings. And, yet, perhaps the Portuguese was right – not necessarily about it being one of the best jobs of his career; winning the Champions League with Porto, or the treble with Inter or conceding barely a goal with Chelsea in their first title-winning season under the Portuguese would constitute that.

However, there have been movements behind the scenes at United ahead of the appointment of Erik ten Hag that suggest an admission that something was in fact “going on behind the scenes”.

The club’s chief strategy officer, Hemen Tseayo, left the club on Tuesday, and, in doing so, joined Matt Judge, director of football negotiations, Jim Lawlor, chief scout, and Marcel Bout, head of global scouting in leaving the backroom structure as new CEO Richard Arnold looks to stamp his authority on the club.

A successful club needs a streamlined, well-oiled operation at the boardroom level. Manchester City have it, Liverpool have it and so too do, to a lesser extent, Real Madrid. PSG and United do not while the jury is still out on Barcelona given their recent upheaval.

If United can get the behind-the-scenes stuff right, then they will once again become a force to be reckoned with.

IN THE CHANNELS

Decent patter here from Danny Welbeck.

COMING UP

A serious selection of Premier League football. Leeds v Chelsea, Watford v Everton and Wolves v Man City.

Andi Thomas will be here tomorrow to pick through that.

Transfers

Haaland transfer confirmed with forward to join Manchester City, Dortmund to sign Adeyemi

YESTERDAY AT 14:35

Transfers

Guardiola refuses to talk about Haaland transfer until deal ‘completely done’

YESTERDAY AT 13:52

Guardiola klagt: “Jeder ist für Liverpool – auch die Medien”

May 9, 2022

Seit dem Wochenende ist Manchester City in der Pole Position auf den englischen Meistertitel. Pep Guardiola spürt Gegenwind – und muss im Saisonendspurt auf gleich drei Defensivspieler verzichten.

Brust raus: Pep Guardiola liegt mit Manchester City in der Pole Position um die Meisterschaft.

Brust raus: Pep Guardiola liegt mit Manchester City in der Pole Position um die Meisterschaft.

picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com

“Jeder in diesem Land ist für Liverpool – auch die Medien, jeder”, sagte Guardiola nach dem 5:0 über Newcastle zu “beIn Sports”. Durch den Patzer der Reds gegen die Tottenham Hotspur und den eigenen Kantersieg hält Guardiolas Team bei drei Punkten Vorsprung und noch drei ausstehenden Spielen alle Trümpfe in der eigenen Hand.

Die Sympathien hat Guardiola seiner Ansicht nach jedoch nicht auf seiner Seite, “weil Liverpool eine unglaubliche Geschichte in den europäischen Wettbewerben hat”, erklärte der Spanier – und schickte noch eine kleine Spitze in Richtung Anfield Road: “Nicht in der Premier League, da haben sie nur einen Titel in 30 Jahren gewonnen.”

City hingegen könnte bereits den vierten Titel innerhalb von fünf Jahren feiern. “Wir sind seit elf oder zwölf Jahren dabei”, so Guardiola weiter. “Ich weiß, wir sind manchmal unbequem, aber mir ist es egal, dass die Leute es Liverpool mehr gönnen als uns. Es ist kein Problem.”

Walker, Stones und Ruben Dias fallen aus

Die letzten drei Saisonspiele muss Guardiola allerdings ohne ein Abwehr-Trio bestreiten. Für Ruben Dias, der sich beim Sieg über Newcastle verletzte, ist die Saison ebenso gelaufen wie für Kyle Walker und John Stones. Aber auch das sei “kein Problem in unserer Situation”, sagte Guardiola. “Wenn Rodri die Position spielen muss, ist es kein Problem – oder wenn es jemand aus der Akademie ist.”

Guardiola klagt: “Jeder ist für Liverpool – auch die Medien”

May 9, 2022

Seit dem Wochenende ist Manchester City in der Pole Position auf den englischen Meistertitel. Pep Guardiola spürt Gegenwind – und muss im Saisonendspurt auf gleich drei Defensivspieler verzichten.

Brust raus: Pep Guardiola liegt mit Manchester City in der Pole Position um die Meisterschaft.

Brust raus: Pep Guardiola liegt mit Manchester City in der Pole Position um die Meisterschaft.

picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com

“Jeder in diesem Land ist für Liverpool – auch die Medien, jeder”, sagte Guardiola nach dem 5:0 über Newcastle zu “beIn Sports”. Durch den Patzer der Reds gegen die Tottenham Hotspur und den eigenen Kantersieg hält Guardiolas Team bei drei Punkten Vorsprung und noch drei ausstehenden Spielen alle Trümpfe in der eigenen Hand.

Die Sympathien hat Guardiola seiner Ansicht nach jedoch nicht auf seiner Seite, “weil Liverpool eine unglaubliche Geschichte in den europäischen Wettbewerben hat”, erklärte der Spanier – und schickte noch eine kleine Spitze in Richtung Anfield Road: “Nicht in der Premier League, da haben sie nur einen Titel in 30 Jahren gewonnen.”

City hingegen könnte bereits den vierten Titel innerhalb von fünf Jahren feiern. “Wir sind seit elf oder zwölf Jahren dabei”, so Guardiola weiter. “Ich weiß, wir sind manchmal unbequem, aber mir ist es egal, dass die Leute es Liverpool mehr gönnen als uns. Es ist kein Problem.”

Walker, Stones und Ruben Dias fallen aus

Die letzten drei Saisonspiele muss Guardiola allerdings ohne ein Abwehr-Trio bestreiten. Für Ruben Dias, der sich beim Sieg über Newcastle verletzte, ist die Saison ebenso gelaufen wie für Kyle Walker und John Stones. Aber auch das sei “kein Problem in unserer Situation”, sagte Guardiola. “Wenn Rodri die Position spielen muss, ist es kein Problem – oder wenn es jemand aus der Akademie ist.”

Klopp and Pep are totally fine, promise! – The Warm-Up

May 9, 2022

MONDAY’S BIG STORIES

Klopp and Pep are fine

They’re fine! They’re like, totally cool with it. Seriously, water under the bridge, agree to disagree, it’s nothing. Honestly. Can we just move on now?

Premier League

‘I don’t like this kind of football’ – Klopp slates Spurs’ tactics

YESTERDAY AT 09:22

We’re sure Jurgen Klopp isn’t still thinking about the draw that hampered Liverpool’s title bid or Tottenham’s supposed negative football which earned them a point at Anfield on top of the six they collected against Manchester City this season.

Look, even in his own words Klopp has said it’s “fine… whatever… absolutely fine”.

Except, well, he’s anything but fine with it, taking issue with Tottenham’s 36 per cent possession (let’s hope he didn’t see Newcastle’s tally 10 minutes into the second half at City on Sunday…) and stating that “this kind of football” is not for him, featuring “world-class players” who “block all the balls” (how dare they) and deploy “smart” tactics which “makes it not easier for us” – err, isn’t that the point?
But apart from that, he’s all good, who wants the quadruple anyway, and over in Manchester so is Pep Guardiola. He’s like totally not hung up on the Champions League or anything. Seriously, he’s just super buzzed their Premier League lead is now three points with three to go.

Just see for yourself!

See! Fine.

“One week ago, nobody even…everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone,” he said, although that wasn’t quite the question.

“Of course, because Liverpool has an incredible history in Europe, not in [the] Premier League, because they’ve only won one in 30 years, but it’s not a problem at all. The situation is what it is.”

No problem at all, says Pep, so that settles that.

Anyway… both interviews were a nice little ‘After Eight’ to the main feast of weekend action, and while City look increasingly likely to beat Liverpool to the title, we can still look forward to a north London derby with extra edge – a place in the Champions League if Arsenal win – on Thursday, and a relegation battle where one points separates three sides.

Maybe that magic 40-point mark won’t be quite the case? Let’s see…

Kerr blimey!

Eight months ago Arsenal Women lay down the gauntlet, beating Chelsea 3-2 on the opening day of the WSL season and then winning their next five games by an aggregate of 20 goals to nil.

It meant Chelsea had some catching up to do, and a shock loss to Reading in December then had them trailing by four points in the 22-game season.

Cue the comeback, an unbeaten one at that, while costly draws for Arsenal – as well as a surprise defeat to now-relegated Birmingham City – saw them lose their grasp on a title that Chelsea would go on to win on the final day yesterday, by just the one point, with manager Emma Hayes calling it “by far and away the best one”.

They did it the hard way, too, overcoming a 2-1 half-time deficit to Manchester United before sealing a 4-2 win. They largely have Sam Kerr to thank, with the FWA Footballer of the Year somehow trumping her equalising goal…

… with an even more stunning second…

“Hallelujah!” Hayes proclaimed, as Golden Boot winner Kerr cut a delirious figure during the title celebrations.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are left picking up the pieces of a near-miss, while their next fortnight – and trophy prospects next season – will be dominated by the choice of Vivianne Miedema, who is yet to decide her future amid reports linking her with Barcelona.

“I really want to win titles,” Miedema told BBC Two yesterday. “This year I haven’t won anything. If I feel like the club is moving in that direction then maybe I [will] stay another year or two years.

“I’m speaking with the club and Jonas [Eidevall]. I will have a couple of weeks holiday and will then make a decision.”

That would be a massive loss, and a sign that the WSL still has some way to go to keep its best players – particularly if the all-conquering Barca come knocking.

IN OTHER NEWS

Hate for Hodgson

Is there a relegation etiquette? Well, there are certainly some expectations, and Roy Hodgson certainly did not meet them on Saturday, opting to applaud the Crystal Palace supporters but skipping the walk over to the Watford fans as “they were a bit too far away” at Selhurst Park.

That, plus the smiles with Wilfried Zaha and some of his other former players, did not entirely go down well with Watford’s supporters… who found it a little distasteful given the little fight their side showed in going down.

To be fair, though. Hodgson was Watford’s third manager of the season and was appointed in January, so despite being paid to care that’s as far as it stretches, really, and given he’s off in the summer he just couldn’t bother caring anyway.

Oh, and pretty funny this chap predicted it all last week!

IN THE CHANNELS

What in the-

RETRO CORNER

Whatever comes of the Todd Boehly era, we’ll just have to wait and find out. In the meantime, it’s 12 years to the day since Chelsea wrapped up their third Premier League title with an emphatic 8-0 win over Wigan.

COMING UP

A relatively quiet night of football but there’s a taste League One play-off second leg as Sunderland take their 1-0 lead to Sheffield Wednesday. There’s also Fiorentina v Roma in Serie A if you fancy.

Champions League

‘No team fights like Real, historic night will be remembered for years’ – Inside Europe

05/05/2022 AT 12:34

Champions League

‘It’s their history!’ – Guardiola after Madrid stun City

05/05/2022 AT 07:17

Klopp and Pep are totally fine, promise! – The Warm-Up

May 9, 2022

MONDAY’S BIG STORIES

Klopp and Pep are fine

They’re fine! They’re like, totally cool with it. Seriously, water under the bridge, agree to disagree, it’s nothing. Honestly. Can we just move on now?

Premier League

‘I don’t like this kind of football’ – Klopp slates Spurs’ tactics

YESTERDAY AT 09:22

We’re sure Jurgen Klopp isn’t still thinking about the draw that hampered Liverpool’s title bid or Tottenham’s supposed negative football which earned them a point at Anfield on top of the six they collected against Manchester City this season.

Look, even in his own words Klopp has said it’s “fine… whatever… absolutely fine”.

Except, well, he’s anything but fine with it, taking issue with Tottenham’s 36 per cent possession (let’s hope he didn’t see Newcastle’s tally 10 minutes into the second half at City on Sunday…) and stating that “this kind of football” is not for him, featuring “world-class players” who “block all the balls” (how dare they) and deploy “smart” tactics which “makes it not easier for us” – err, isn’t that the point?
But apart from that, he’s all good, who wants the quadruple anyway, and over in Manchester so is Pep Guardiola. He’s like totally not hung up on the Champions League or anything. Seriously, he’s just super buzzed their Premier League lead is now three points with three to go.

Just see for yourself!

See! Fine.

“One week ago, nobody even…everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone,” he said, although that wasn’t quite the question.

“Of course, because Liverpool has an incredible history in Europe, not in [the] Premier League, because they’ve only won one in 30 years, but it’s not a problem at all. The situation is what it is.”

No problem at all, says Pep, so that settles that.

Anyway… both interviews were a nice little ‘After Eight’ to the main feast of weekend action, and while City look increasingly likely to beat Liverpool to the title, we can still look forward to a north London derby with extra edge – a place in the Champions League if Arsenal win – on Thursday, and a relegation battle where one points separates three sides.

Maybe that magic 40-point mark won’t be quite the case? Let’s see…

Kerr blimey!

Eight months ago Arsenal Women lay down the gauntlet, beating Chelsea 3-2 on the opening day of the WSL season and then winning their next five games by an aggregate of 20 goals to nil.

It meant Chelsea had some catching up to do, and a shock loss to Reading in December then had them trailing by four points in the 22-game season.

Cue the comeback, an unbeaten one at that, while costly draws for Arsenal – as well as a surprise defeat to now-relegated Birmingham City – saw them lose their grasp on a title that Chelsea would go on to win on the final day yesterday, by just the one point, with manager Emma Hayes calling it “by far and away the best one”.

They did it the hard way, too, overcoming a 2-1 half-time deficit to Manchester United before sealing a 4-2 win. They largely have Sam Kerr to thank, with the FWA Footballer of the Year somehow trumping her equalising goal…

… with an even more stunning second…

“Hallelujah!” Hayes proclaimed, as Golden Boot winner Kerr cut a delirious figure during the title celebrations.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are left picking up the pieces of a near-miss, while their next fortnight – and trophy prospects next season – will be dominated by the choice of Vivianne Miedema, who is yet to decide her future amid reports linking her with Barcelona.

“I really want to win titles,” Miedema told BBC Two yesterday. “This year I haven’t won anything. If I feel like the club is moving in that direction then maybe I [will] stay another year or two years.

“I’m speaking with the club and Jonas [Eidevall]. I will have a couple of weeks holiday and will then make a decision.”

That would be a massive loss, and a sign that the WSL still has some way to go to keep its best players – particularly if the all-conquering Barca come knocking.

IN OTHER NEWS

Hate for Hodgson

Is there a relegation etiquette? Well, there are certainly some expectations, and Roy Hodgson certainly did not meet them on Saturday, opting to applaud the Crystal Palace supporters but skipping the walk over to the Watford fans as “they were a bit too far away” at Selhurst Park.

That, plus the smiles with Wilfried Zaha and some of his other former players, did not entirely go down well with Watford’s supporters… who found it a little distasteful given the little fight their side showed in going down.

To be fair, though. Hodgson was Watford’s third manager of the season and was appointed in January, so despite being paid to care that’s as far as it stretches, really, and given he’s off in the summer he just couldn’t bother caring anyway.

Oh, and pretty funny this chap predicted it all last week!

IN THE CHANNELS

What in the-

RETRO CORNER

Whatever comes of the Todd Boehly era, we’ll just have to wait and find out. In the meantime, it’s 12 years to the day since Chelsea wrapped up their third Premier League title with an emphatic 8-0 win over Wigan.

COMING UP

A relatively quiet night of football but there’s a taste League One play-off second leg as Sunderland take their 1-0 lead to Sheffield Wednesday. There’s also Fiorentina v Roma in Serie A if you fancy.

Champions League

‘No team fights like Real, historic night will be remembered for years’ – Inside Europe

05/05/2022 AT 12:34

Champions League

‘It’s their history!’ – Guardiola after Madrid stun City

05/05/2022 AT 07:17