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Manchester City’s Super Cup victory shows that Cole Palmer is a gem to be treasured
Manchester City’s Super Cup victory shows that Cole Palmer is a gem to be treasured
First Istanbul, then Athens. Manchester City have bookended their summer by going from east Manchester to eastern Europe and returning with continental trophies. They added the Super Cup to the Champions League, their fourth piece of silverware of 2023, when Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj became the only player to miss in a penalty shootout. Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker – the captain, a particularly rare penalty taker, breathed a sigh of relief when his effort squeezed under Bono – found the net in an increasingly tense shootout. There was outstanding goalkeeping in the preceding 90 minutes but neither Ederson nor Bono made a save thereafter and when Gudelj’s spot kick was a fraction high, the City celebrations began. If Ederson was one who starred for a depleted City side, so did Cole Palmer, the youngster developing a taste for the big occasion. In two August finals, Palmer has scored two excellent goals, a Community Shield strike and a Super Cup equaliser; only Michael Owen had previously done the double of scoring in each in the same season. Each goal may have been a blow to the clubs hoping to take Palmer on loan: he is staking a case to be involved at the Etihad Stadium more often. Scorer of the Champions League final winner, Rodri, added a Super Cup assist with a deep cross. Palmer stole in at the far post to head back across goal and, buoyed by his goal, he sought a winner with a shot Bono parried, one which followed an audacious drag-back. It was a display to suggest he can take over seamlessly from Riyad Mahrez as the goalscoring left-footed, right winger. The Algerian tweeted approvingly about the young pretender’s performance. It was nevertheless notable that City’s contingent of high-class passers was depleted since the Champions League final, with the Barcelona-bound Ilkay Gundogan, ill Bernardo Silva and injured Kevin De Bruyne all absent. It may have been reflected in a lack of creativity which, in turn, may prompt another bid for West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta. And yet City still had the opportunity to score rather more. But they encountered wonderful resistance by the defiant Bono, who made a series of excellent saves, bookended by early and late stops from Nathan Ake, who perhaps ought to have scored with each header. City ended up with 22 shots though, from their perspective, too few from Haaland, who is still yet to score for them in a final. They had to come from behind against underdogs. Sevilla had ensured the Super Cup would not be an all-Mancunian affair, eliminating Manchester United from the Europa League. Sevilla have lost their influential director of football, Monchi, in the summer and some players could follow but they retain a spirit that has rendered them fearsome competitors on the European stage. The energetic Lucas Ocampos was excellent, in the age when the classic No. 9 has started to look an endangered species, Sevilla got a trademark goal for a true centre-forward. It was a bullet header from Youssef En-Nesyri, rising above Ake to meet Marcos Acuna’s cross. Yet he and Sevilla could rue an inability to score a second when they broke at speed and with menace. En-Nesyri ought to have had a second brace against a Manchester side in 2023, spurning two chances. First, Lucas Ocampos released him on a counter-attack but Ederson saved his shot, then the Brazilian made another stop. It amounted to a difficult full debut for Josko Gvardiol. The £77 million defender’s previous appearance in European club competition was a 7-0 defeat for Leipzig, against City. If this was less painful, City missed Ruben Dias and John Stones, who were both only on the bench after missing the win at Burnley. For much of the match, though, City were attacking. Jose Luis Mendilibar has been billed as the Spanish Tony Pulis, a veteran relegation firefighter who is unafraid to adopt direct tactics. Sevilla were content not to have the ball; Mendilibar does not burden his side with a passing philosophy. As City had around three-quarters of possession, Sevilla were increasingly penned in. Pressure eventually told and history was made. Guardiola had won this trophy with both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, the latter courtesy of Jupp Heynckes’ treble-winning feats. He became the first manager to win the Super Cup with three different clubs. His determination was apparent: whereas in the Community Shield, he removed Haaland, in Athens, he kept 10 of the starters on for the full 90 minutes, substituting only Palmer, and three days before a clash with Newcastle. Yet winning the Champions League brought other prizes, the chance for more silverware, and City already have their first trophy of the season. Read More Kevin De Bruyne facing up to four months out and may require surgery Man City fears grow after Kevin De Bruyne hamstrung by the same old problem Man Utd confirm Mason Greenwood investigation is over - but no decision on future made
2023-08-17 05:50
Krupa, hard-driving veteran entrusted with reviving Societe Generale
Krupa, hard-driving veteran entrusted with reviving Societe Generale
By Mathieu Rosemain PARIS Slawomir Krupa has one clear mission when he takes over at Societe Generale on
2023-05-23 14:02
'Queen since the beginning': Fans amazed as 'ageless' Gwen Stefani, 53, shares throwback pic from teen years
'Queen since the beginning': Fans amazed as 'ageless' Gwen Stefani, 53, shares throwback pic from teen years
Gwen Stefani said in the past that she attributes her agelessness to 'falling in love' after her life 'blew up'
2023-05-23 14:05
US fraud trial of disgraced crypto star Sam Bankman-Fried begins
US fraud trial of disgraced crypto star Sam Bankman-Fried begins
The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of one of the cryptocurrency industry's biggest exchanges, begins on Tuesday to determine whether he committed massive fraud...
2023-10-03 14:38
Merger-Arbitrage Funds See Tide Turning After FTC’s Microsoft-Activision Loss
Merger-Arbitrage Funds See Tide Turning After FTC’s Microsoft-Activision Loss
Merger-arbitrage investors say the tide is turning in their favor after the Biden administration’s antitrust push suffered a
2023-07-14 23:47
Devon Hoover autopsy reveals cause of death of beloved Detroit neurosurgeon
Devon Hoover autopsy reveals cause of death of beloved Detroit neurosurgeon
Devon Hoover was found dead wrapped in a plastic sheet with only one black sock on his feet in his $1.2 million home on April 23
1970-01-01 08:00
How to Unlock All Valorant Agents on Xbox Game Pass
How to Unlock All Valorant Agents on Xbox Game Pass
Riot Games announced that all Xbox Game Pass users will receive all Valorant agents for free as part of its collaboration with Microsoft.
1970-01-01 08:00
Priyanka Chopra shares how Nick Jonas “Sealed the Deal” by writing a song for her
Priyanka Chopra shares how Nick Jonas “Sealed the Deal” by writing a song for her
Priyanka Chopra shares how Nick Jonas “Sealed the Deal” by writing a song for her
1970-01-01 08:00
CNN Poll: Americans' views of the Republican Party and its congressional leaders have worsened amid House leadership crisis
CNN Poll: Americans' views of the Republican Party and its congressional leaders have worsened amid House leadership crisis
The public's impressions of the Republican Party and its leaders in Congress have worsened amid a leadership crisis in the House of Representatives, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS, with Republican-aligned Americans divided over how the GOP should govern.
2023-10-13 04:01
GSK sues Pfizer in US for patent infringement over RSV vaccine
GSK sues Pfizer in US for patent infringement over RSV vaccine
By Blake Brittain (Reuters) -British biopharmaceutical giant GSK sued Pfizer in a U.S. court on Wednesday, alleging that Pfizer's respiratory
2023-08-02 22:14
NFL Week 9 Byes: Every team that's off this week
NFL Week 9 Byes: Every team that's off this week
A look at the teams on a bye during Week 9 of the 2023 NFL season.
2023-11-01 11:01
'We might as well talk about it': Martin Scorsese refused to ignore history in Killers of the Flower Moon
'We might as well talk about it': Martin Scorsese refused to ignore history in Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese wanted to address violence towards Native Americans in his new movie 'Killers of the Flower Moon'.
2023-09-29 18:00