Pep Guardiola praises Phil Foden’s versatility as Manchester City win again
Pep Guardiola hailed the impact of Phil Foden after champions Manchester City continued their winning Premier League start with a hard-fought victory over Newcastle. Julian Alvarez scored the only goal of a tight game at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday but it was Foden who claimed most of the plaudits as City registered a club-record 17th successive home victory. England midfielder Foden teed up Alvarez’s 31st-minute strike during a lively display in which he looked more than capable of filling the playmaking void created by injury to Kevin De Bruyne. “I’ve said many times, Phil can play in all the positions up front,” said City manager Guardiola. “He has an incredible ability between the lines. The way he turns and attacks the last lines – it is one of the best I have seen. “Every control, he knows exactly what is the goal. He doesn’t need two or three touches to get in the right position to attack the goal. In just one touch he is attacking. “Managers adapt skills to the players we have, or the problems we have right now. Phil, I know how good he is in that position, how good he is as a striker or left wing or wing. I am happy because I have the feeling he is coming back. “Still we are not at our best, we still have to make a step, but that is completely normal in this type of period. “Here the biggest difference is the team showed to me, and showed to the Premier League, we are ready to try it again.” Coming off the back of their European Super Cup triumph in midweek, the treble winners were not at their most dynamic. Yet with Foden at the heart of their attack, they repeatedly troubled Newcastle while successfully stifling the visitors’ threat. The result punctured some of Newcastle’s buoyancy after a bright start to the season but manager Eddie Howe emphasised the positives. Howe said: “They controlled it but you have to give them credit. They are a top team and that’s why they win so much. “It’s disappointing not to get anything from the game but we’ll reflect and analyse and there’s so much to take from the game. “We go into another one against Liverpool, which will be similar, and there’s lots to take into that match.”
1970-01-01 08:00
Ukraine's Zelenskyy in Netherlands after US approved sending Dutch F-16 jets to Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the Netherlands after a visit to Sweden
1970-01-01 08:00
How tall is Cher? A look at the ageless star's measurements
Cher, the captivating entertainer known for music, movies, and magnetism has often intrigued fans with her enigmatic stature
1970-01-01 08:00
Russia 'thwarts' Ukraine drone attack on Moscow region
Russia said it thwarted Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow and its region on Sunday, a day after a "heinous" missile strike killed seven people and...
1970-01-01 08:00
Turkey Starts Curbing FX Tool Imposed to Halt Lira Selloff
Turkey took a first step away from a tool designed to halt a selloff in the lira by
1970-01-01 08:00
Saudi football rise 'long-term project', says top official
Saudi Arabia's extraordinary football expansion is a "long-term project" with strong government support, unlike the short-lived Chinese boom, a senior...
1970-01-01 08:00
England, Spain on cusp of history at Women's World Cup
England and Spain are both bidding to win the Women's World Cup for a historic first time when they clash in a final Sunday that...
1970-01-01 08:00
Young Zimbabwean voters dare to hope for change of old guard
Just days before a national election to pick a president and lawmakers, one word is on the lips of most...
1970-01-01 08:00
Is Mike Tyson a fan of Jake Paul? Boxing legend says 'he got the light'
According to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul has done 'more for boxing than some of the champions did'
1970-01-01 08:00
‘Best in the world’: Lionel Messi guides Inter Miami to first trophy with Leagues Cup victory over Nashville
Lionel Messi was once again lauded as the “best in the world” by his teammates after his scintillating start to life at Inter Miami continued as the club picked up their first piece of silverware after a Leagues Cup victory against Nashville. The Argentine opened the scoring with a superb left-footed curling effort from outside the box before Miami were pegged back and sent to penalties after a second-half strike from Fafa Picault. After a drawn-out shootout, it was Miami who would eventually emerge victorious when Drake Callender saved his opposite number’s spot kick to secure a 10-9 victory. “It’s a huge honour to play a role in our first win in a final,” Callender said speaking after the match. "It’s pretty surreal. Very emotional. This team works so hard day-in, day-out to be able to perform like this on a night like this. And to have it come down to the very end, it was amazing to see the grit, just the belief of what we’re capable of. It’s something special and I’m just blessed to be a part of it.” The victory also serves as another reminder of the remarkable transformation in the team’s fortunes since Messi’s arrival. Rock bottom when he joined, the 36-year-old has scored 10 goals in just seven games, leading his team on an unbeaten run which saw them capture the club’s first silverware. Mess’s former Barcelona teammates - Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets - have reuinted with the Argentine in Miami, with the latter lauding him for his influence on the side. "We have infected the team with our spirit, our work, our character and experience,” the Spaniard said after the game. “We are making a solid team and then we have Leo [Messi], who makes a difference because he’s the best in the world. "I am very happy to win our first title in just one month, the club’s first. The team is growing by leaps and bounds and we are very happy." The result also serves as vindication for co-owner David Beckham who spent a great deal of time convincing Messi to make the move and join his team in MLS. “A lot can happen in five weeks,” Beckham joked after the victory. “A lot has changed for us, we will enjoy tonight and then we have to look to the future and continue to build. “We have some of the best players, if not the best player, in the world out there for us wearing pink. We have a bunch of academy players out there too and that is incredibly important. “It’s an emotional night for all of us. It has been a long journey for me. It has been a long journey, I always knew there would be bumps in the road along the way and there was too many, to be honest. Tonight is a night we are going to enjoy. “People ask ‘is it a fix?’ and it is the biggest compliment you can give these players because it is like a movie. You watch them play and it is emotional. Everything about their play is beautiful.”
1970-01-01 08:00
Women's World Cup Final: All the best memes and reactions as Lionesses face Spain
Sarina Wiegman named an unchanged starting line-up for England’s first-ever World Cup final to face Spain in Sydney. Ella Toone retained her place, while Lauren James returned after serving a two-match suspension and began on the bench. Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas was named amongst the substitutes for Jorge Vilda’s Spain, who also made it to a first final in their history, while Salma Paralluelo earned the start. The 19-year-old has scored twice in this World Cup, including the extra-time winner against the Netherlands in the quarter-final. England and Arsenal footballer Beth Mead, who missed out on a spot in the Lionesses squad due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, has told the BBC she is “not surprised” they are in the World Cup final. Mead told BBC Breakfast: “I’ve been super-proud of them and what they have achieved so far. Obviously they weren’t all guns firing in the group stages, but now they have grown into the tournament, a great semi-final against Australia and hopefully they peak today. “I’m not surprised where they are, I know the quality we have in the squad and the direction that Sarina (Wiegman) is putting us in.” Social media is already awash with memes and good luck messages to the players. Here are the best of reactions as the match played out in real-time. Additional reporting by PA. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Drone crashes into Russian railway station, leaving 5 injured
A Ukrainian drone crashed into the roof of a railway station in the western Russian city of Kursk early Sunday morning, injuring five people and causing damage to the building, according to the regional governor.
1970-01-01 08:00
