Manchester City transfer news

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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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