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      Juventus 2 Man City 0: Premier League flop scores stunner to leave Pep Guardiola’s side facing elimination in 22nd

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      MANCHESTER CITY really do have a mountain to climb to get back to where they once were.This game – played in the shadow of the Alps – showed just how far they have fallen since the end of October.Juventus added to Manchester City’s misery in the Champions LeagueCredit: ReutersJuventus star Dusan Vahovic scored the winner in the second halfCredit: RexWeston McKennie sealed the win for Juventus against Man CityCredit: ReutersMan City’s woes continued in the Champions LeagueCredit: AFPDusan Vlahovic’s header – which somehow squeezed past Ederson – and Weston McKennie’s volley mean it is now one win in 10 for Pep Guardiola’s menSeven of those have been defeats and now the boss has to pick his weary troops up for Sunday’s Manchester derby.In recent years, they have made light work of the Champions League groups – effortlessly gliding through.Yet when the competition returns in a month’s time, a finish in the top 24 is by no means guaranteed.Read More on FootballTheir next game is at old foes Paris Saint-Germain, who also need the points – followed by a home game against Club Brugge.From kings of Europe 18 months ago to scrambling to make the Last 16 play offs is a sobering fall from grace.And right now City look completely devoid of confidence – shipping goals alarmingly at the back while struggling to take their chances at the other end.It has been a nightmare six weeks for Pep – who don’t forget signed a new two-year contract in the middle of all the chaos.Most read in Champions LeagueBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSA trip to Turin might look daunting but Juve have lost four their last six European games at their Allianz Stadium.Thiago Motta’s men started out a couple of places behind City in the table – clinging on to a place in the play-offs by their fingertips.Beleaguered Man City boss Pep Guardiola involved in bizarre interview when discussing Rico Lewis red cardGuardiola recalled his first-choice keeper Ederson, who had paid the price for his erratic display in the last Champions League game against Feyenoord.That result – when they threw away a three-goal lead in 15 astonishing minutes – had left their place in this tournament beyond January in some doubt.Pep had once again had to patch up his team – playing Rico Lewis as a left back after his eventful day at Selhurst Park on Saturday.City were seeing plenty of the ball which is what Guardiola had asked of them before the game – suggesting they needed to go back to basics.But they were struggling to create much and at the other end they were relieved to see a shot from Kenan Yildiz drift just wide.The Turkish winger also showed City skipper Kyle Walker a clean pair of heels on more than one occasion.First-half strugglesEngland defender Walker can no longer rely on his pace as he used to and this time he had Ruben Dias to thank for making a key block.Meanwhile, City failed to record an effort of note in the opening half hour – the first time that has happened in a European game in four years.Erling Haaland saw an effort blocked by Teun Koopmeiners before it ricocheted into the grateful arms of Michele di Gregorio.The pair were face to face again moments later as the Norwegian ran onto a trademark pass from Kevin De Bruyne.He tried to lift it over the home keeper who got enough on it to keep it out and the best chance of the half was gone.The City boss would have been pleased with the amount of possession his team had – but slightly concerned how little they had created and how pedestrian they looked at times.Juventus get the leadMeanwhile after shipping seven goals in their previous two matches in this competition, at least they had kept the home team at bay.Guardiola knew failure to win here would have put their hopes of finishing in the top eight and qualifying automatically for the Last 16 almost out of the question.A two legged play-off in February is the last thing a squad that has already stretched by injuries needs.Not surprisingly, City’s best moments came from De Bruyne and his low cross soon after the restart found Ilkay Gundogan – but the German’s tame effort was blocked.And the two misses proved costly with Juventus taking the lead as Federico Gatti’s acrobatic effort was pushed away by Ederson.Josko Gvardiol made a hash of clearing his lines and Yildiz swung the ball back over.Another Gvardiol errorVlahovic got up highest and while Ederson scooped it around the post, goaline technology said it had already crossed the line.It was a matter of millimetres but it was a poor goal to concede and another error by Gvardiol, who is having a miserable time right now.City knew they had to snap into action and they did – but Juventus were throwing everything in the way to protect their lead.Bernardo Silva saw a good chance blocked while De Bruyne’s long-range effort fizzed just past the post.Di Gregorio dived full stretch to push Gundgan’s effort from the edge of the box around the post.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut as they pushed for an equaliser they were caught on the break as sub Timothy Weah – son of former City player George – broke down the right.His cross made its way to US international team-mate McKennie whose volley had too much on it for Ederson. 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      Meet Pep Guardiola’s little-known brother who signed Iniesta and Fernando Torres and could offer Man City boss a new job

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      PEP GUARDIOLA is known throughout the world of football as one of the most successful managers of all time.However, while his younger brother, Pere, does not make the same international headlines as the Manchester City boss, he is making his own waves in European football.Pep Guardiola’s younger brother Pere, is making waves of his own in the world of footballCredit: AFPGuardiola is the chairman of plucky Spanish minnows GironaCredit: SEG FootballGuardiola, second from right, has made a name for himself away from coaching and player like his brother hasCredit: GettyAt the age of 48, Pere – pronounced Pera – Guardiola, five years his brothers junior, has helped transform the fortunes of Spanish club Girona.The Catalan club earned a historic spot in the Champions League after finishing third in La Liga last season and will face six-time winners Liverpool in the competition tonight.The minnows have the highly-coveted coach Míchel, and despite only returning to the top flight in 2022, Guardiola believes the club is an incredibly attractive prospect for players.Speaking to Yahoo Sports, he said: “Girona is a very good place for football. The weather is great. The region is good. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”The club itself has a pressure because we live 24-hour football, but the environment and the history there is not that pressure like with big clubs.“But we are starting to have history and we are starting to put pressure because we know the level we want to reach and if we are not doing that we need to question ourselves. “That means this environment is very nice for the lovers of football and there is always a chance for anyone to one day come to Girona and play for Girona or coach Girona. Because the environment is calm.”Guardiola has even joked to his brother that “the day you get bored, you can come and coach Girona,” although he acknowledges this is more of pipe dream than a realistic reality.The two brothers grew up together in the small town of Santpedor, located between Girona and Barcelona, and have a shared philosophy and passion for the beautiful game.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe credits much of this philosophy to the pioneering player and manager Johan Cruyff, explaining: “OK, in the end, this is a bit Barca philosophy, of Cruyff.”Things don’t happen because they just happen. Things don’t just go the way you think because you have better skills. ‘I won fair and clean,’ says Jose Mourinho as he hits back after Pep Guardiola dig “Things happen because there is a kind of pattern – knowing that if you have a player better than the opponent then you will have more chances. We should never forget it is about the players.”I grew up eating this every day. The coach and sporting director and structure of the club is very important but we need good players. “That doesn’t mean expensive players, but players who can fit in. And we help them to be better.”Because if we don’t play good football it is like throwing a coin in the air. One day you can win; one day you can lose but most of the time you are going to struggle. “Trying to play good football, to control all the departments on the pitch, is going to bring you closer to the win.”However, while Pep was able to make his name as a player at Barcelona, Pere was an attacking midfielder in the lower leagues but soon made a name for himself in football agency by signing up some of Spain most prodigious talents.Guardiola explained: “I was good at getting people together, making things happen, getting them to agree. “I realised when I was growing up that I could do this. I was good at getting the right side to agree with the left side and I enjoyed it and did OK.”I was with Nike for 10, 12 years and started by getting young players to wear Nike boots. I signed Andres Iniesta when he was 14, I signed Fernando Torres when he was 14. “I grew up with them and ended up managing Ronaldo Nazário’s and Ronaldinho’s careers. One was in Madrid and the other was in Barcelona. “Every week, it was Monday, Tuesday in Madrid, Wednesday, Thursday in Barcelona, because I was managing both of them. All of this experience helped me. Then I started my own company as an agent.”When I got to Girona I had scope that definitely helped me to know what’s going on, what agents are thinking, what players are thinking. Now this is one of the things I have done that I like the most.”Guardiola’s involvement with Girona started in 2015 when the club was in danger of going out of business. And he admits he was not looking at the club for investment until then sports director Quique Carcel suggested the idea.But during his time working with the club as an agent, he “started falling in love” before he thought “why not” and purchased the club to save them from insolvency.City Football Group then invested in the club in 2017 with a 47 per cent stake, though with Girona now competing in the same competition as the star team of the franchise, that relationship now has to change.Guardiola said: “City were investing in clubs and we spoke with them and said they could have part of the club in a place where they know.”In the beginning, we could help form the players and then one day they could play for Man City or be sold, like Pedro Porro who went to Sporting. It was to have a stepping-stone club…”Now we are completely separate, but we were always quite independent.”We need to generate a very good squad. We need to see the money and how it is invested – part of it is in the squad, in the new stadium, in the training ground, in the academy. “In the end, we need to forget what people say outside of this. We need to do our plan and we need to keep going.”He added that the long-term goal was to be in La Liga for the next 15 years, with Champions League participation despite their struggles this season being a huge bonus.Despite backing from City Football Group, Girona have been frugal and invested their money wisely, with two of the teams current stars being former Manchester United stars Daley Blind and Donny van de Beek.On the duo Guardiola said: “We have a coach and we play in a way that not everyone fits but some people can fit. “That means that Daley Blind, for example, is a perfect player for us and we are a perfect platform for him. “Van de Beek is a bit like this. He went to United and was unlucky, losing momentum with different coaches and different players and got injured. “He was in teams that were struggling to play attacking football and he needs that type of football. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Now we are in a position that our football fits him very well, the Spanish league fits him very well, knowing that he needed time. “He had two, three years without really playing and every day now you can see he is improving.”While working as an agent for Nike he signed Spanish legend Fernando Torres and Andres IniestaCredit: Getty – Contributor More

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      Pep Guardiola set to throw ‘new Lionel Messi’ straight into Man City squad in desperate bid to reignite failing season

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      PEP GUARDIOLA will throw the ‘new Lionel Messi’ straight into Manchester City’s creaking squad next month.Argentine starlet Claudio Echeverri, 18, arrives from River Plate — a year after a £12million deal was completed.Pep Guardiola is taking drastic action to tackle Man City’s plightCredit: GettyClaudio Echeverri is arriving from Argentinians River Plate to help CityCredit: GettyCity agreed to let him stay in his homeland for another season while  the South American giants hoped to keep him even longer.But boss Guardiola has decided he wants to be able to call upon the attacking midfielder during the second half of the campaign.So Echeverri is moving to England in the new year to spend the rest of the season training with the first team.He will be available to step in straight away but is likely to need time to find his feet in his new surroundings.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLCity had previously considered sending the teenager to one of their sister clubs to gain some European experience.That remains a possibility for the summer if the feeling is he is still not ready to challenge for a spot in Pep’s team.But the Etihad boss admitted at the weekend he is desperately short of options after a pile-up of injuries.And Echeverri will be given every chance to show he can play a part in the set-up.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe reigning Premier League champions beat off competition from around the world as they clinched the signing of the Argentina Under-17s captain last winter.His position and style have seen him compared to his country’s World Cup-winning skipper and Barcelona legend Messi — who Guardiola helped mould into a superstar at the helm of the Spanish giants.’Who the f*** do you think you are?’ Man City told after ‘making outrageous bid for Lionel Messi by accident’Echeverri broke into River’s first team 18 months ago and has been playing regularly for them since.His arrival comes in the wake of the news that the  hearing into the 130 breaches of Financial Fair Play rules levelled at City by the Premier League is now over.A three-man panel, who have heard both sides over the last three months, will now consider the evidence before writing up the report.While the earliest an outcome is expected to be known is spring, there are fears it could run into next season.The hearing began on September 16 at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London and was originally scheduled to take ten weeks.It has overrun by around a fortnight but it is understood closing statements were heard at the end of last week.Abu Dhabi-owned City are also  accused of failing to co-operate with the investigation — which began in 2018 — of their alleged breaches of FFP.READ MORE SUN STORIESIf they are found guilty, they could face a huge points deduction which may condemn them to relegation.But both sides would have the option to appeal against the decision if they are not satisfied — meaning it could be several more months before any such   penalties are imposed.What will happen to Man City?MAN CITY began the season as favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?Lipton: Yes…. probably! It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.Custis: Why is that?Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future. More

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      Genius Cole Palmer is the simple reason Chelsea are in a Premier League title race and Man City are not

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      THERE is one common reason linking the facts that Chelsea are in the title race and  Manchester City are not. Cole Palmer.City are an ageing squad in desperate need of a world-class youngster to give them freshness and spark.Cole Palmer is Chelsea’s main man and just what old club Man City needCredit: AlamyEtihad chief Pep Guardiola must rue Palmer’s departure more than everCredit: GettyPalmer ran out of patience at Man City when they signed Jeremy DokuCredit: GettyThat player should have been Cole Palmer.Chelsea were a chaotic club in desperate need of an on-field leader to build a team around.That player is Cole Palmer.Pep Guardiola’s decision to allow Palmer to join Chelsea looked highly questionable even last season, when City were winning a fourth straight title and the young  Mancunian he released was the stand-out player in a wildly inconsistent Blues team.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLNow that Palmer is the stand-out player in an excellent Chelsea side, and now that City have suddenly imploded — winning just once in nine games — that chicken is well and truly roosting.And yes, yes, the Rodri injury. But City’s extraordinary collapse is not all about the absence of their Ballon d’Or-winning midfield anchor.Etihad chiefs are this week  trumpeting the tenth anniversary of their City Football Academy, which has “developed 40 players for the men’s senior team and generated fees of up to £300million”.City boast that “seven Premier League clubs and 12 Championship sides currently have a player from the CFA”.Most read in FootballHe was so influential in Sunday’s 4-3 comeback win at SpursFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSWhich is all well and good, except that Palmer — one of two world-class players to come through the CFA, along with Phil Foden — is currently tearing it up for a team higher in the table than City.And for an initial fee of £40m, which now looks an absolute steal.These mistakes happen in football. It’s just that they usually happen to Chelsea and certainly not to Guardiola.Look around at Chelsea’s main rivals and you’ll find Kevin De Bruyne, flogged by Chelsea aged 22, who has been Manchester City’s best player for years.And you’ll find Mo Salah, shipped out by Chelsea aged 23, who has been Liverpool’s best player for years.You’ll also find Declan Rice, rejected by Chelsea aged 14, who  is now the £105million midfield heartbeat of Arsenal.When Jose Mourinho was Chelsea boss he didn’t think De Bruyne or Salah were useless. Just not good enough for his first team at that point and certainly not future  Footballers of the Year.It’s the same with City and Palmer — who got my vote as Footballer of the Year above City’s Foden, who won the award because most voters seemed to think it was more impressive to be a great player in a great team than be a great player in a bad team.Guardiola rated Palmer so highly that, while other promising City youngsters were loaned out, he was jealously guarded by the Etihad boss, drip-fed first-team football and asked to remain patient at City, just as Foden was.Yet by the summer of last year, Palmer was 21 and ready to be a major Premier League footballer.Guardiola had promised him substantially more football and all looked well last August when Palmer netted a stunning goal at Wembley in the Community Shield against Arsenal and scored again in the European Super Cup against Sevilla.But the following week, City spent £55.5m on Jeremy Doku — who, while not a like-for-like player to Palmer, was another attacking player, the same age as Palmer, who City rated with a higher transfer value.This arrival surprised Palmer and his advisers, and was the straw that broke the camel’s back when it came to the player deciding he wanted to leave.Palmer notched two penalties at Spurs, including this Panenka effortCredit: AlamyChelsea chief Enzo Maresca has got the best out of PalmerCredit: RexGuardiola didn’t want him to go but didn’t want to keep a player against his will when he knew his first-team chances would remain limited at City last season.Also, the Doku transfer meant City needed to balance the books  to comply with those ever-pesky  Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules.Doku is a decent player — a bums-off-seats winger who may improve significantly but, at present, lacks end product and is often a substitute.He is certainly not in the same class as Palmer, whose two penalties and one glorious assist helped Chelsea close on leaders Liverpool with a statement comeback victory at Spurs on Sunday.After that 4-3 win at the  Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca — who had worked with Palmer as a coach in City’s academy — was glowing about his talisman.Especially interesting was Maresca’s admission that Palmer, who has scored 12 spot-kicks out of 12 in the Premier League, doesn’t practise penalties.The idea of not practising penalties is remarkable in the modern age.England didn’t practise penalties and they kept losing shootouts. Under Gareth Southgate, they practised and studied them pretty much to PhD level and started winning shootouts.But according to Maresca, Palmer is “not normal”. He is “not like us”.Normal players practise and get better. Even very good players practise and get better.The absolute best — the innate, blessed, ice-cool, off-the-cuff geniuses — are different.The strange thing is that Guardiola — an undoubted genius himself — didn’t realise he had an actual genius in his squad.For Manchester City, and for Chelsea, that is the difference.Ashworth exit so excruciatingMANY highly successful businessmen have gone into football and ballsed it up – but Sir Jim Ratcliffe is taking this trend to new limits.Sir Jim, literally the most successful businessman in England, has gone into Manchester United, England’s biggest football club, and, within a year, has made the biggest imaginable pig’s ear of it.This summer’s decision to hand Erik ten Hag a new contract and a huge say in transfer policy, only to sack him nine games into the season, was embarrassing enough.But now the exit of Dan Ashworth – the world-class sporting director poached from filthy-rich Newcastle United in a supposedly almighty coup – just five months into his role, is truly excruciating.Ashworth had an excellent track record of appointing managers – Gareth Southgate at England, Graham Potter at Brighton and Eddie Howe at Newcastle.Yet Ratcliffe apparently ignored Ashworth’s advice when appointing Ruben Amorim.Perhaps, Amorim will be a hit, perhaps not.But Ratcliffe’s blunders over Ten Hag and Ashworth have cost United around £25million.The multi-billionaire Ineos chief is currently trying to claw back some of his own immense wastage by charging children £66 to watch United and by sacking swathes of hard-working club staff. And that there is capitalism in motion, baby.’Smallest’ clubs hit treble top for bosses THIS summer, Bournemouth sold their star man, Dominic Solanke. Brentford flogged their goal machine, Ivan Toney. And Fulham cashed in on their best player, Joao Palhinha.Yet all three clubs – probably the three ‘smallest’ in the Premier League – have improved and sit in the top half of the table, looking down on several bigger, wealthier sides.Immense credit should go to managers Andoni Iraola, Thomas Frank and Marco Silva.Brentford have thrived despite Ivan Toney’s big-money exit to Al-AhliCredit: GettyChesterfield promoting Blues is a new spinFOOTBALL clubs don’t actually need expensive PR gurus.Win matches and people in the media will generally write and say positive things. Lose matches, and people in the media will generally write and say negative things.Yet Chelsea are apparently hiring a blue-chip spin doctor, Nerissa Chesterfield, who was director of communications in Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street regime. Which went well.Perhaps she can help to ship out all those unwanted members of Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’. To Rwanda, maybe?READ MORE SUN STORIESCornering the marketLET’S not be snobbish about Arsenal’s reliance on set-piece goals.If it was good enough for Stoke City, it should be good enough for the footballing chatterati of Stoke Newington.Bukayo Saka’s corners are a major factor in Arsenal’s goal tallyCredit: Rex More

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      Man City’s hearing over 115 alleged Premier League financial rule breaches CONCLUDED as D-day edges closer

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      THE hearing into the Premier League’s charges against Manchester City has concluded, according to reports. City were slapped with a whopping 115 charges over alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play rules back in February.Manchester City were hit with 115 charges of alleged Financial Fair Play breaches last yearCredit: GETTYThe hearing into the club’s alleged breaches of FFP rules began in SeptemberCredit: GETTYThe Premier League and City have completed their closing arugmentsCredit: PACity have vehemently denied the charges and have been fighting their corner at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre since mid-September.But according to reports, the hearing has come to a close.That’s according to The Daily Mail, who claim both parties have made their closing arguments.A three-man panel will now go away and deliberate the evidence before delivering the verdict anticipated around the world.READ MORE ON MAN CITYBut it won’t come any time soon due to the sheer scale of the evidence involved.It could take MONTHS before the Premier League giants learn their fate.City’s alleged rule breaking is said to have taken place over a 14-YEAR period.They were initially hit with 115 charges, although they were increased to 130 following an an administration issue.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWhat will happen to Man City?MAN CITY began the season as favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?Lipton: Yes…. probably! It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.Custis: Why is that?Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future.City have been accused of failing to accurately report their finances over a nine-year period from 2009-10 and 2017-18.It’s also alleged they failed to provide all the details about former manager Roberto Mancini’s pay packets between 2009-10 and 2012-13.Pep Guardiola responds to ‘sacked in the morning’ chants at Anfield from Liverpool fans The charges also relate to their alleged failure to disclose full player salaries between 2010-11 and 2015-16.In addition to their alleged financial wrongdoings, City have been accused of failing to co-operate with the Prem’s investigation.The investigation only began after the material alleging the club’s breach of the rules was published in Germanmagazine Der Spiegel in 2018.If found guilty, City could be hit with huge financial penalties and a points deducation.They could also be RELEGATED if they’re found to have committed the most serious charges.The club will likely appeal any verdict which doesn’t go their way, meaning the final decision may not be made until the end of NEXT SEASON.City have repeatedly denied the allegations since they were first published and recently stated they have “irrefutable evidence” to exonerate themselves on any wrongdoing.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe Etihad club have stated they’re looking “forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”Pep Guardiola’s troops will be back in action on Wednesday night, travelling to Turin to take on Italian giants Juventus in the Champions League. More

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      Furious Pep Guardiola confronts referee after Man City draw with Crystal Palace and red card that can’t be overturned

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      FUMING Pep Guardiola confronted the referee on the pitch following Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.The reigning champions lost more ground in the title race as they were held to just a point at Selhurst Park by Oliver Glasner’s side.Rico Lewis was sent off for a second yellow card after this challenge on Trevoh ChalobahCredit: ReutersAn angry Pep Guardiola confronted referee Robert Jones after the gameCredit: PADaniel Munoz had given Palace the lead after just four minutes before Erling Haaland looped a header into the goal on the half hour mark.The second half then saw Maxence Lacroix head home a far post corner before Rico Lewis netted the second equaliser for City.But the England international went from hero to zero as he was sent off by Robert Jones with a second yellow card for a challenge on Trevoh Chalobah even though it appeared he had come off worse.VAR could not overturn the decision – which was the first red card of Lewis’ career – due to it being a second yellow card rather than a straight red.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe only time VAR is permitted to intervene for a second yellow card is when there is a belief the card should be upgraded to a straight red.City stars on the pitch were adamant the decision was an error and confronted Jones both at the time and after the game.However, manager Guardiola also took to the pitch after the game to speak to the ref and assistant refs.He was seen with his hands in his pockets saying something to them before walking away.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSSpeaking after the game, the Spaniard said: “So proud of the team. I liked everything of the team, how we fought. We have a lot of problems with our squad.”We fought incredible. We came back twice. It’s a difficult place to come. We struggled in the beginning. We gave everything and we take a point.Pep Guardiola responds to ‘sacked in the morning’ chants at Anfield from Liverpool fans “Long balls, second balls, they’re stronger than us. We started the second half a bit sloppy. After 2-1 we reacted well.”We lost another player defensively for the next game for a second yellow card.”With Liverpool’s clash at Everton postponed due to Storm Darragh, City’s point in London moved them to eight behind the league leaders. More

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      Crystal Palace 2 Man City 2: Rico Lewis scores and then sees red as Man City lose yet more ground on Liverpool

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      PEP GUARDIOLA cannot get a break. Even when he gets a break.Yet as Manchester City’s Prem misery deepened at Selhurst Park, the sense that even the Catalan magician knows the title is a lost cause was hard to shift.Rico Lewis saw red after a tackle on Trevoh ChalobahCredit: PAPep Guardiola saw his team drop points once againCredit: AlamyCity stars confronted the referee after the gameCredit: ReutersBut Crystal Palace were worth their point earned by goals from Daniel Munoz and Maxence LacroixCredit: GettyIn normal circumstances, finding a way to battle back on terms twice and dominating long periods would have been a sign of City slowly starting to find their feet.But these are not normal circumstances.Not when City have lost four of the previous five league matches to have been blown off title pace before they walked into the teeth of Storm Darragh.And dropping more points, as well as seeing Rico Lewis sent off for two cautions in the space of a quarter of an hour when they should have been pushing for the winner, added to City’s winter woes.read more in footballThere is something wrong with City. Badly wrong.Everyone can see it. Everyone HAS seen it.Yes, at times they can briefly recapture that swagger and poise, can appear on the cusp of regaining their confidence.But it only takes the next mistake to rip that veneer of self-belief away and display the gaping vulnerabilities.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMistakes that continue to emerge under pressure, that allowed Daniel Munoz and then Maxence Lacroix to twice put Palace ahead.In the end, after terrific replies from first Erling Halaand and then, before his dismissal, Lewis, those moments were not enough to earn Palace their first home win over City since 2015 – before Guardiola took the Etihad helm.’I won fair and clean,’ says Jose Mourinho as he hits back after Pep Guardiola dig There are reasons, of course. The City missing list is seemingly limitless – and growing with every passing week.Guardiola, already without John Stones, Nathan Ake, Mateo Kovacic and long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb, travelled down to the capital without both bronchitis victim Phil Foden and Manuel Akanji.But there cannot be ANY excuses for a team with City’s financial resources.Injuries are simply part of football and it has been Guardiola’s choice to drop Ederson and play Stefan Ortega in goal.What was an additional factor, though, were the conditions, teeming rain and the threat of 50mph-plus winds.Not that the conditions were responsible for the opener, inside four minutes.Jean-Philippe Mateta span off the lazy Josko Gvardiol to play a return to Will Hughes.The midfielder spotted that Lewis had switched off, allowing Daniel Munoz – played onside by Ruben Dias – to run in on goal.Munoz obliged, his drive flicking the inside of Ortega’s glove on its way to the net.Appeals for a VAR reprieve, led by Dias, correctly fell on deaf ears at Stockley Park.Initially, it looked darker for City as Haaland, of all people, wasted two chances to put them back on terms.The first was just three minutes later, when Kevin de Bruyne played perfectly in behind the Palace backline.You would have put your house on Haaland. Instead, he smashed into the face of the onrushing Dean Henderson.Then Haaland shrugged aside Maxence Lacroix to find de Bruyne but overran the return pass, allowing the home defence to hack clear.Ismaila Sarr spooned over from the edge of the box fro Palace before Henderson’s left-hand upright denied Ilkay Gundogan’s volley, with Savinho frustrated as he steered the rebound wide of the other post.But after a brilliant block by Dias prevented Jefferson Lerma making it two after Munoz shrugged off Lewis’ attentions and linked up with Sarr and Mateta, City did equalise.Nunes flung in a ball to the back post where Haaland rose as high as a skyscraper, out-jumping both Henderson and Marc Guehi – back wearing the regular armband after the week’s rainbow furore – and raising his left arm as his header floated into the far corner.Instead of waiting to be congratulated, Haaland urged his team-mates to join him for an impromptu huddle inside the PALACE box before they returned to their own half.Lacroix just prevented De Bruyne’s low cross finding Haaland in front of goal before the interval.City were starting to play, Palace forced deep. Only for Guardiola’s men to cause themselves more damage.Hughes, gifted the ball 30 out, saw his shot deflected behind but jogged over to take the right-wing corner.It looked a routine, middle of the six yard box inswinger.But Ortega was stuck like a statue, Walker got caught underneath the ball, and Lacroix cashed in, thumping home an unstoppable header from close range.Another defeat would have been true crisis.Instead, Palace were unpicked after a drop ball, quick passes between Gundogan, de Bruyne and finally Bernardo Silva creating the opening for Lewis, running through the channel, to lash high right-footed past the stranded Henderson.No celebrations for this goal either – City knew a point was not enough.Henderson clawed away a deflected Savinho effort, Haaland’s header was touched over the bar and you expected the storm to overwhelm Palace.But Lewis, booked for dissent soon after his goal, slid in to send Chalobah flying inside the Palace box, a needless foul that sent them down to 10.READ MORE SUN STORIESIf anyone was going to win it after that, it was Palace. 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      Shocking moment furious Pep Guardiola has to be held back from fan as he tries to confront him in street

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      THIS is the shocking moment Pep Guardiola had to be held back from angrily confronting a fan.Footage has emerged of the under-pressure Manchester City manager being berated while walking through the street.Pep Guardiola was filmed confronting a fan in the streetCredit: GettyAnd the clip shows the 53-year-old SNAPPING after appearing to snub the man.Guardiola is seen walking along a street in Manchester city centre wearing a dark grey suit and black tie.He was accompanied by what appeared to be his son Marius and another man.The cameraman shouted at the former Barcelona gaffer: “F***ing hell mate, just because you lost.”READ MORE ON GUARDIOLAAn incensed Guardiola immediately turned around to confront the person but was restrained by his security guard.But the irate Catalan tried to make another beeline for the cameraman, saying as he was held back: “Do you know what is lost?”Do you want I sign? I’m gonna sign it?”The cameraman replied “No it’s fine” before Guardiola tried to confront him for the third time.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSGuardiola was eventually calmed down and walked away from the scene.The footage appears to have been shot in Chapel Street in Salford and fans have speculated it was filmed in the aftermath of last season’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United.Five Man City disasters that led to Pep Guardiola scratching his OWN face before ‘self-harm’ apologyPep Guardiola’s troops were a whopping 11 points behind Liverpool following their 2-0 defeat at AnfieldCredit: REXPep pictured at the 2024 FA Cup final, after which its believed the footage was filmedCredit: GettyIn the footage, Guardiola appears to be wearing the same suit he wore when Man City lost 2-1 to Manchester United.City have denied claims the row happened after this month’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool.Defeat at Anfield left the defending Premier League champions a whopping ELEVEN points behind the Merseysiders.But they reduced the gap between themselves and Arne Slot’s side on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the Etihad.The victory ended a seven-match winless run for City and relieved some of the pressure on Guardiola’s shoulders.He said: “We needed it. The club, the players, everyone needed to win.“But it is just one game and in three days we are at Selhurst Park, where it has always been difficult.“We played good. We still conceded some transitions and missed some easy things and lost some passes that you have to avoid.READ MORE SUN STORIES”But in general, the most important thing was to break this routine of not winning games and we won it.”City will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, travelling to south London to take on Crystal Palace.But they reduced the gap to nine points on Wednesday night thanks to a 3-0 win over Nottingham ForestCredit: PA More