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Pep’s future and Premier League charges – Where next for Man City after treble?
Pep’s future and Premier League charges – Where next for Man City after treble?
Manchester City reached the pinnacle of the European game with victory in the Champions League final on Saturday, which also saw them complete the treble. Here, the PA news agency looks at what could come next for the club. Could this be the first of many European triumphs for City? The club will certainly hope so. While winning the Champions League may have been a long-held ambition and the culmination of everything hitherto done in a now 15-year project under Abu Dhabi ownership, it was not a one-off target. The club have advanced considerably on and off the field and they intend to establish themselves firmly among the continent’s heavyweights. Winning every season is obviously not realistic but they want reaching the latter stages each time to become the norm. Will Pep Guardiola carry on at the helm? The inspirational Catalan has been the central factor in City’s success. The club identified Guardiola as the man to bring them European glory long before they even appointed him and their set-up is tailored to him. Their trust in him has paid off handsomely and they will naturally want him to stay as long as possible. There is uncertainty as Guardiola has never favoured long-term commitments. All his contract renewals at City have been relatively short. After winning the Champions League there is a feeling he could see his business as done when his current deal expires in 2025. On the other hand, he does seem firmly wedded to the City project and spoke on Saturday of not wanting the club to win one Champions League “and disappear”. City fans can expect at least a couple more campaigns from him. Will he need to reshape the team? With the way City have charged through the closing stages of the season to sweep up three trophies, there would seem little reason to make major changes. A specialist left-back would be desirable after Joao Cancelo left on loan in January and seems likely to move on, but that position has been a recurring problem throughout Guardiola’s tenure and has hardly hindered them. Some new signings may be necessary if the influential pair of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva leave. Gundogan is out of contract this summer and yet to commit while Silva is apparently open to a new challenge and could go if a suitable offer arrived. City are hopeful both will stay, however. Other than that, there seem no pressing issues. Can they maintain their standards? It would surely be impossible for City to remain at the same level they have been this season. Last year Liverpool produced a very high standard and came within a whisker of winning the quadruple but, after their exertions took their toll, fell away this term. City will be anxious to ensure any downturn is not as dramatic. Five Premier League titles in six years, however, suggests Guardiola has a good idea how to prevent this. There is an elephant in the room though isn’t there? Yes. The Premier League’s Financial Fair Play investigation into City may be out of sight at times but it has not gone away. City are facing more than 100 charges for alleged rule breaches. This could loom over them for some considerable time but, with little clarity over the process or the nature of the charges, it will be business as usual in the meantime. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Zach Mercer and Danny Care included in England World Cup training squad Football rumours: Wilfried Zaha eyes move to Paris St Germain On this day in 2019: Chris Froome ruled out of Tour de France after crash
2023-06-12 16:00
Ange Postecoglou hopes Fulham clash offers ‘escape’ from troubles amid conflict
Ange Postecoglou hopes Fulham clash offers ‘escape’ from troubles amid conflict
Ange Postecoglou will not tell Tottenham supporters how to feel about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict but hopes his team can provide a sense of escapism when they host Fulham on Monday night. The fixture will be Spurs’ first at home since tensions escalated in the Middle East, with hundreds of Palestinian civilians killed in a massive blast at a Gaza City hospital on Tuesday. A statement was issued by Tottenham earlier this month in response to the initial war breaking out between Israel and Hamas, but some supporters were critical of the club for failing to show support for victims from the Jewish community, which has a long-standing affiliation with the Premier League outfit. Postecoglou answered questions about the ongoing conflict during Friday’s press conference and although he discussed the topic at length, he was keen to point out the role of his players is merely to help fans forget their troubles for 90 minutes. “I have the responsibility of being a football manager but like everyone else, I’m a human being and you struggle with these things and you understand that other people will struggle with them,” he explained. “My life experience has taught me not to judge or come to any strong conclusions. I’ll let the people who are affected by it be the guide in these kinds of things, because it’s very easy for others to cast judgement but in all these things, you are guided by people who are directly affected. “I am not the custodian of this club. I have been at this club for four months or whatever it is. “People have spent lifetimes in these clubs, so I am not going to go round telling people how to feel, how to behave, how to act, what to think. “As I said, I think the greatest role a football club can play in these scenarios is to provide what they have always provided – a sense of one place where people can come and escape and hopefully unite as one to support their football club. “You know, maybe sort of take them away from whatever troubles they may have. I think that’s the greatest role any football club has.” No Israel or Palestine flags will be allowed into Tottenham’s stadium on Monday, which was a club-wide move by the Premier League in an attempt to ease any potential tension among supporters during this weekend. A minute’s silence has occurred in all top-flight matches but Postecoglou was eager to focus on football in its purest form when quizzed about the feeling of fans affected by the Israel-Hamas war. He added: “When we go out there on Monday night there will be 60,000 – and hundreds of thousands around the world – who just want to see their football team play some exciting football and win a game and give them that joy that only football can bring. “Because, you know, when you score in that last minute to win a game of football, you don’t care who is next to you. Do you? “You don’t care where they come from, what they think or what they believe. You are united as one for that moment. That’s what football provides.” Postecoglou did also reveal support is on hand for Israel international Manor Solomon, who is currently out with a knee injury while the war is impacting his home nation. “Not specifically (about the war). I have spoken to Manor because he’s dealing with a couple of things. He has just had his surgery as well. I have been helping him through that process,” the Spurs boss revealed. “Again, it’s not about me trying to extract information from him. I am there. “He’s going through what he is going through, like a lot of people in his position. Hopefully like I said, he feels like there’s a place here where he feels if he needs some extra help or guidance, we can give it to him.” Read More Courtney Lawes to retire from England duty when Rugby World Cup ends Sjoeke Nusken bags brace as joint leaders Chelsea strike back to beat Brighton The tributes in pictures as football family remembers Sir Bobby Charlton We’re after seven teams – Unai Emery plays down Villa’s Champions League chances Anthony Joshua teases ‘mega-card’ of Wilder bout sharing bill with Fury v Usyk 5 things we learned from the Storm Babet hit Premiership this weekend
2023-10-23 05:30
Bayern, Dortmund show Bundesliga credentials; Union Berlin eyes Champions League
Bayern, Dortmund show Bundesliga credentials; Union Berlin eyes Champions League
Bayern Munich romped to a big win over Schalke and Borussia Dortmund replied with a rout of Borussia Mönchengladbach
1970-01-01 08:00
Why Erling Haaland deserves to beat Lionel Messi & win 2023 Ballon d'Or
Why Erling Haaland deserves to beat Lionel Messi & win 2023 Ballon d'Or
The reasons why Manchester City striker Erling Haaland could, and should, win the 2023 Ballon d'Or over the likes of Lionel Messi and teammate Kevin De Bruyne.
2023-10-25 07:00
Bayern held at home by Copenhagen after late VAR intervention
Bayern held at home by Copenhagen after late VAR intervention
Copenhagen held Bayern Munich to a 0-0 draw away on Wednesday, the visitors needing a VAR review to overturn a penalty awarded to the home...
2023-11-30 06:07
Judge Chutkan to hold first hearing Friday in already contentious Trump January 6 criminal case
Judge Chutkan to hold first hearing Friday in already contentious Trump January 6 criminal case
After a week of bitter court filings, federal prosecutors and Donald Trump's defense lawyers are scheduled to appear in Washington, DC, federal court Friday morning for the first hearing before the judge assigned to oversee the special counsel's election subversion case against the former president.
2023-08-11 17:03
Was anyone arrested over Alicia Navarro's disappearance? Authorities interview four people after missing teen shows up at Montana police station
Was anyone arrested over Alicia Navarro's disappearance? Authorities interview four people after missing teen shows up at Montana police station
Alicia Navarro went missing on September 15, 2019, leaving behind a note that read, 'I ran away. I will be back, I swear. I'm sorry'
2023-07-29 17:50
Atlanta Braves Rumors: Rotation outlook, Freddie Freeman's return, a wasted trade fit
Atlanta Braves Rumors: Rotation outlook, Freddie Freeman's return, a wasted trade fit
Braves Rumors: Freddie Freeman returns to Atlanta againFreddie Freeman will always have fond memories of the ATL, but last season's first trip home hit a little different.The Braves were the only organization Freeman had ever known. It made his decision to leave all the more difficult. Wh...
2023-05-22 23:59
Projected 76ers lineup after anti-climactic James Harden trade
Projected 76ers lineup after anti-climactic James Harden trade
The 76ers traded James Harden to the Clippers in a trade that seemed long overdue. What does the Philly lineup look like after the trade?
2023-10-31 21:46
Roberto De Zerbi praises Jurgen Klopp after Brighton’s draw with Liverpool
Roberto De Zerbi praises Jurgen Klopp after Brighton’s draw with Liverpool
Roberto De Zerbi praised Jurgen Klopp after the Liverpool manager intervened to try and calm him as he protested against a refereeing decision during the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Brighton at the Amex Stadium. The Italian was shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor for remonstrating with the fourth official when his team were denied a penalty for a possible handball against Virgil van Dijk. The ball struck the defender on the leg and bounced up onto his arm, with the manager insistent his side should have been given a spot-kick as they sought a way back from 2-1 down. Klopp went into Brighton’s technical area to try and sooth the situation, putting his arms around De Zerbi in what he described as “using his age” to try and assuage the situation. De Zerbi, who saw his side come back to draw for the second time in three days after Thursday’s Europa League meeting with Marseille, said that whilst he felt his team were hard done by over the decision, he believed the foul by Trent Alexander-Arnold on Solly March from which Brighton later equalised through Lewis Dunk should not have been a free-kick. “I love Klopp,” he said. “He can do what he wants because I have a big respect and I consider him one of the best coaches in the world. I like his behaviour, and when he says something, 99 per cent I agree with him. “In that situation, I think there was a clear penalty and I told the referee, I think in a good way, what I thought in the moment. “I think there was a penalty, but there wasn’t a foul when we scored the second goal. I’m honest, and I told Jurgen my opinion.” Brighton are sixth going into the international break having won five of their first eight Premier League games. De Zerbi has made an average of seven changes between matches this season as he seeks to navigate the demands made by a first season in Europe for the club. Despite recording a fourth winless game in a row in all competitions the manager praised his players’ character, particularly in the context of bouncing back from the 6-1 defeat against Aston Villa to register two comeback draws. “The most important thing for me has been the reaction after Villa Park,” he said. “We started the game in Marseille, one of the best stadiums in Europe, and we started losing 2-0. After that moment, there was only one team on the pitch – Brighton. “To do it, you have to show character, to show the right attitude, the right behaviour and passion. The most important thing in my idea of football is passion, is the character. “After that we can speak about tactical disposition, the quality of the players, recruitment. But without that part of football, in my opinion, you can’t play or work in football.” Read More Cricket among sports put forward for inclusion at the 2028 Olympics Expectation to underachievement – How Scotland came up short in France Matt Fitzpatrick completes double at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Ronnie O’Sullivan beats Ken Doherty to keep hold of his world number one ranking Captain Ben Davies hopes to bring a bit of Tottenham to Wales camp Gareth Anscombe and Liam Williams ‘recovering well’ ahead of Wales quarter-final
2023-10-10 03:16
Logan Paul discusses potential fight with Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate: 'I’d take him in backyard brawl'
Logan Paul discusses potential fight with Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate: 'I’d take him in backyard brawl'
Logan Paul expressed his confidence in potential boxing matches against Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate but admitted to his limitations against jiu-jitsu
2023-06-08 12:39
Project L Core Gameplay In-Depth Look Revealed
Project L Core Gameplay In-Depth Look Revealed
Riot Games released its second developer update on Project L for 2022.
1970-01-01 08:00