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    Pep Guardiola has crashed cars worth a staggering £460,000 since becoming Manchester City manager

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    PEP Guardiola might be the driving force behind Manchester City but he needs lessons behind the wheel.The Premier League boss has got through four cars since moving to the North West.
    Pep Guardiola has damaged four cars since moving to Manchester in 2016Credit: Reuters
    Pep has a reputation of being a hapless driverCredit: 2014
    Road hog Pep, 50, has damaged an £80,000 black Mercedes GLE, a £150,000 Range Rover, a £200,000 silver Bentley GTX700 and a £30,000 Mini Cooper.
    Authors Lu Martin and Pol Ballus write in Pep’s City: The Making Of A Superteam: “Today he’s behind the wheel of his black Mercedes.
    “He has a reputation from his Barcelona days of being a hapless driver and this is his fourth car he has owned since coming to Manchester.
    “His wing mirrors don’t survive for long and he’s also managed to fill a diesel Range Rover with petrol and mangle a silver Bentley.”
    A source said: “Pep is brilliant at many things but driving doesn’t appear to be one of them.

    “He’s struggled with the roads in Manchester and had a couple of bumps.”
    In November 2018, The Sun on Sunday told how Pep had a car share with backroom staff.
    It saw the Spaniard, who arrived at City in 2016, travel to City’s training ground in a £28,000 Nissan Leaf.
    He crashed a £200,000 silver Bentley like this one
    Pep also mangled the mirrors of his £80,000 black Mercedes GLECredit: 2014
    The Premier League boss managed to fill a diesel Range River with petrol

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      Man City’s Brazilian ace Yan Couto has been called the ‘next Dani Alves’ and has starred on loan at Girona this season

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      THERE is a Brazilian legion at Manchester City, and we’re not talking about Ederson, Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus.Fluminense ace Kayky is the latest talent from South America to sign on the dotted line for Pep Guardiola’s side.
      Man City youngster Yan Couto, currently on loan at Girona, is an exciting right-back in the mould of Dani Alves and CafuCredit: Getty
      Brazilian youngster Couto is also an U17 World Cup winnerCredit: Getty
      And he could be joined by exciting Palmeiras wonderkid Gabriel Veron, who has been linked with both Manchester clubs.
      But, somewhat under the radar, was the signing of Yan Couto – easily done when you understand his nickname is ‘The Flash’ in 2020.
      Dubbed the ‘next Dani Alves’ the marauding right-back is typical of Brazil’s defenders of the past in that he loves to gallop forward.
      And the 18-year-old has taken his talents to Spanish second division side Girona this campaign, where he has starred.
      CITY SHELLED OUT
      For the moment, City seem invested in spending money on potential.
      And when scouts alerted them to exciting Couto, who made his debut for Cortiba aged just 17, they had to make a move fast.
      With Barcelona circling, the Premier League giants pulled the trigger on a move worth an initial £5million.
      That figure could double, should he play a certain amount of games for the first team.
      City paid £5m for Couto, a fee that could double if he makes the first teamCredit: Getty
      Couto was talent-spotted at the age of 10 by Brazil club CortibaCredit: Instagram / @yan.couto
      “The clause is to [play] five Champions League or Premier League games in five years,” he told Gazeta Do Povo.
      “I hope I can do it, then the amount doubles. I think it is very possible and Coritiba will get the other part of the fee.”
      HE’S A WINNER
      Despite his tender years, Couto has already tasted success with his country.
      In 2019, he was a key member of Brazil’s victorious U17 World Cup winning side.
      His performances even earned him the nickname ‘The Flash’ and comparisons to past stars Cafu and Dani Alves.
      What stood out most with his game was his blistering pace, offering an attacking threat from the right.
      The defender created more chances than any other player at the U17 World Cup, including an assist for Lazaro’s late winner in the 2-1 victory over Mexico in the final.
      “I’m a modern right-back,” Couto has said of his game.
      A modern full-back, Couto leaves England youth star Harvey Elliot in his wake with his paceCredit: Getty
      In 2019, Couto was one of Brazil’s U17 team’s key components in their World Cup winCredit: Instagram / @yan.couto
      Fans have nicknamed Couto ‘The Flash’ because of his blistering speedCredit: Instagram / @yan.couto
      “As a Brazilian player, I’m skilled technically, quick and consistent defensively. I help the team a lot in defence.
      “My strongest point is the offensive side. I’m an attacking full-back who helps the team to create chances.”
      LOAN STAR
      Couto has spent the current campaign on loan at City’s sister club Girona, who play in the Spanish second tier.
      The move was to help the youngster acclimatise to European football, which was his dream to play in.
      “I always loved watching European football,” Couto said.
      “Because of the time difference, I used to wake up early in the morning so I could watch the Premier League, La Liga or Serie A.
      “It was always a dream to come to play here one day.”
      Couto has been gaining valuable first team experience at City’s sister club Girona in the Spanish second tierCredit: Getty

      Couto could light up the Etihad next season, if he’s given a chanceCredit: Instagram / @yan.couto
      After a slow start, Couto soon forced himself into the first team – and has 18 appearances to his name this term, with three assists.
      And he scored his professional goal in a win over Las Palmas back in March.

      In June, he turns 19 and will be back in Manchester. But Couto is under no illusions that he will able to walk straight into the first team.
      “I think I still have to improve a lot to be able to play for them. Man City is one of the best teams in the world, so I need to reach a high level,” he said.
      “I still need to develop in many areas of my game to be able to play for them one day.”
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      Man Utd flop Di Maria out for revenge on English football after nightmare spell when PSG face Man City

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      MANCHESTER was not a happy time in either the life or the career of Angel Di Maria.He was, of course, in the red of United. But now he stands between the sky blue of City and their dreams of reaching a debut Champions League final.
      Angel Di Maria has a point to prove when he faces off against Man City in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      Di Maria, meanwhile, has pedigree in the tournament. He was a key part of the Real Madrid side that won the trophy in 2014.
      And last year he came close to saving Paris Saint Germain in their first ever final, putting centre back Marquinhos clean through on goal when PSG were a goal down to Bayern Munich.
      Manuel Neuer blocked that one and Bayern held on to win. Earlier this month Di Maria gained revenge on Bayern in this year’s quarter finals. Now comes his moment to gain revenge on English football.
      His relationship with England in general, and with then-United coach Louis Van Gaal specifically, was not a happy one. The 33 year old Argentine is entitled to the view that he was not treated with due respect.
      Pundit and former star Graeme Souness, for example, criticised the end product of his solo bursts – an argument easily dismissed by the fact that Di Maria was the king of the assists in last year’s Champions League.
      Souness went further, dismissing Di Maria as `a kidder.` The former Liverpool maestro, is, of course, fully entitled to his view.
      But this one seems strangely perverse. It is surely absurd to believe that a kidder could have survived at the top level for so long, accumulating league titles in Portugal, Spain and France.
      It would mean that Di Maria has been able to deceive a lot of quality people, including those who have been playing against him.
      Di Maria struggled to get to the grips with the English gameCredit: Dave Pinegar – The Sun
      A strained relationship with Louis Van Gaal didn’t help Di Maria’s causeCredit: Getty – Contributor
      As well as his many achievements at club level, Di Maria has also had a considerable influence for Argentina – and especially on the career of Lionel Messi.
      The biggest title that Messi can boast for his country is the 2008 Olympic gold medal, when Di Maria raced away to score the only goal of the final against Nigeria.
      A few years later came those three finals lost in quick succession – the 1-0 defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup, and then losses to Chile after a penalty shoot out in the finals of the Copa America in both 2015 and 16.
      Every time, the absence of Di Maria was crucial. In 2014 he scored the late goal that won the second round match against Switzerland, helped set up the only goal of the quarter final against Belgium, scored early by Gonzalo Higuain.
      Soon afterwards he pulled up with a muscle injury and limped out of the competition. Argentina did not score another goal in the World Cup.
      He limped out of the 2015 Copa in Argentina’s second game, and lasted less than an hour of the 2016 final before the injury curse struck once more.
      The simple conclusion is that Messi has been most effective for Argentina when Di Maria has been on the field, opening up the pitch with his pace, closing down spaces with his spirit of sacrifice.

      Lionel Messi has been at his best for Argentina thanks to Angel Di MariaCredit: AFP

      This perhaps sheds light on one of the striking characteristics of Angel Di Maria – an absence of ego.
      He seems happy to do whatever the team needs, to operate as part of the supporting cast, be it to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
      He may be one of the most under-rated players of recent times – and Manchester City will under-estimate him at their peril.
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      Goteburg 1 Man City 2: Gareth Taylor hails City’s ‘resilience’ as Georgia Stanway nets 50th club goal

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      GARETH TAYLOR praised Manchester City’s grit as they battled to a 2-1 win after being caught cold by Göteborg. 
      But the City boss reckons his side – who had 18 shots on target – could have had a bigger lead ahead of their second leg clash with the Swedish champs. 

      Georgia Stanway equalised for Manchester City against Göteborg on her 130th appearance for the club

      Taylor said: “We’re not going to dress it up. We should have had an improved result than what we finished with. 
      “But after the kind of start that we had, I thought the girls showed really good resilience, we controlled the game and gave them limited opportunities. 
      “But potentially we should have been going back with a bigger cushion,
      “And that is what we said to the girls afterwards. 

      “We told them don’t underestimate this opposition especially on their own pitch as they are very dangerous.” 
      Göteborg had been off for a month coming in this game, with their season ending in November.
      But any expectations of the hosts being rusty were blown away in the second minute with skipper Vilde Boe Risa latching on to a rebound to give them an early lead.

      Manchester City go into their second leg with Göteborg with an away goal advantageCredit: Rex Features
      However, City, who appeared stunned in the opening ten minutes, took control midway through the first half. 

      And the visitors grabbed a deserved a 39th-minute equaliser with Georgia Stanway rifling in her 50th goal in a City vest, much to her boss’s delight. 
      Taylor said: “The girls rib Georgia a bit for the amount of shots she has and her return. 
      “It was a great goal and a great finish. We’ve really challenged her.
      “That’s what we were looking for tonight, that kind of finish. Her energy was good.”
      The second period began in the same vein as much of the first with Stanway,  Chloe Kelly and Janine Beckie causing problems down the flanks. 
      And Taylor’s side got the lead and win they deserved with Sam Mewis heading in her third goal of the season on her Champion’s League debut.

      USA star Sam Mewis netted her first Champions League goal on her tournament debutCredit: PA:Press Association

      Arsenal are up next for Taylor’s side ahead of their tantalising second leg clash with the Swedish title-holders. 
      Sam Mewis said: “Göteborg are a great team, but we know we could have put more goals away. 
      “We want to take care of business and go through to the next round.”

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      Man City blunder keeper Claudio Bravo set for Real Betis transfer as Pellegrini eyes solution for leaky defence

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      CLAUDIO BRAVO could sign for Real Betis once his contract at Manchester City expires, according to reports.
      The Chilean goalkeeper, 37, agreed a short-term extension to take him through to the end of City’s Champions League campaign in June but he now looks set to leave the Etihad.

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      Claudio Bravo could move to Real Betis once his Man City deal expiresCredit: Alamy Live News
      Bravo will link up former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini at Betis, as his fellow Chilean bids to shore up La Liga’s second-worst defence, according to Goal.
      The Seville outfit conceded 60 goals in 2019-20 as they finished 15th in Spain’s top division.
      Bravo’s arrival at the Benito Villamarin could signal the end for Betis’ current No 1, ex-Wigan and Everton keeper Joel Robles.
      Bravo joined Man City from Barcelona in 2016 for a reported fee of £17million.

      After a difficult first season in Manchester, in which he had the worst save percentage of any goalkeeper in the Premier League with 54.1 per cent, he was replaced by Ederson as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice.

      Despite this, Bravo has played an important role as Ederson’s back-up in the last three seasons with 17 appearances in all competitions this term.
      The former Real Sociedad goalkeeper has been linked with Arsenal, Celtic and New York City FC in recent months but he now appears to be eyeing a move back to La Liga.
      Bravo has travelled with the rest of the Manchester City squad to Lisbon ahead of the Champions League last eight mini-tournament, with City taking on Lyon in the quarter-finals on Saturday night.

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      Man City vs Bournemouth FREE: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time, team news for Premier League clash

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      MANCHESTER City look to see out the Premier League in style as they take on Bournemouth at the Etihad.
      Second-placed City have just had their Champions League ban overturned meaning they will be able to compete in European football next season.

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      City will be looking ahead as they are still in contention of winning two trophies this seasonCredit: Tom Jenkins
      Bournemouth gave their chances of survival a boost with a win over Leicester at the weekend.
      The 18th placed club are not out of the woods yet, on 30 points and still three points away from 17th placed Watford. 

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      Bournemouth still have a long way to go after a win over Leicester boosted their survival chancesCredit: Getty – Pool
      When is Man City vs Bournemouth?
      This Premier League clash is set for Wednesday, July 15.
      Kick-off at the Etihad is at 6pm BST.
      Manchester City have a stellar record against Bournemouth having won all of their nine Premier League games against them
      Which TV channel and live stream can I watch it on?
      The game will be available to watch on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event 
      Coverage begins at 5:45pm BST
      How can I watch it for free?
      The game has been selected to be put on Sky’s free-to-air PICK channel
      Pick is available on channel 11 on Freeview, channels 144 and 147 on Freesat, channels 159 and 895 on Sky and channel 165 on Virgin Media
      What is the team news?
      Pep Guardiola has reported that there are no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Bournemouth game.
      Sergio Aguero remains sidelined until the end of the season as he continues his rehabilitation after knee surgery.

      Nathan Ake sustained a groin injury during their win over Leicester as could miss the rest of the season.
      Joshua King’s hamstring injury is still being assessed and Adam Smith will miss the rest of the season due a head injury. 
      Chris Mepham and Simon Francis still remained sidelined due to knee injuries.
      Match odds

       Man City to win – 1/7
      Draw – 7/1
      Bournemouth victory – 17/20
      Both teams to score – 1/2
      C. Wilson to have 2 or more shots and to score in the second half – 17/2
      *All odds from Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication. More

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      Pep Guardiola jokes Liverpool ‘had drank a lot of beers in last week’ in title celebrations after Man City thumping

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      PEP GUARDIOLA joked Liverpool “had drank a lot of beers in the last week” after they slumped to 4-0 defeat at the Etihad.  While the Merseysiders may have been suffering a slight hangover after their title celebrations Guardiola insisted they are still “remarkable champions”. Pep Guardiola joked Liverpool ‘had drank a lot of beers in […] More