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☆ More to come from record-breaking Haaland, says Guardiola
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 3 (Reuters) - Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has broken several records this season but the Norway international still wants to improve his game, manager Pep Guardiola said. Haaland on Sunday became the first player in England's top flight to score 50 goals in all competitions in a season since Tom Waring did so for Aston Villa in 1931. The 22-year-old is level with Alan Shearer and Andy Cole for a record-equalling haul of 34 goals in a Premier League campaign and Guardiola said there is more to come from the former Borussia Dortmund striker. "Always I said many times with Erling the future will be tough because you compare what he's done," Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday. "If he doesn't score the goals like he's scoring the people will say he's in a bad situation but he can still improve.

☆ Haaland breaks Premier League record as Man City reclaim top spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

West Ham remain in trouble in 15th place, four points above the relegation zone. West Ham, hampered by the absence of midfielders Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, defended valiantly with the colossal Angelo Ogbonna heading away cross after cross. West Ham still looked capable of adding a twist to the title script until Grealish released Haaland for his milestone moment. Foden then put the icing on his side's ninth successive league win with the 1,000th goal in Guardiola's City reign. As well as five league games left, City are in the semi-finals of the Champions League and FA Cup final.

☆ Manchester City’s New Definition of Failure: Anything Short of Three Trophies
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

MANCHESTER, England—From the moment Manchester City introduced Pep Guardiola as manager in the summer of 2016, the club knew it was guaranteed trophies. City was combining one of the most innovative coaches in the game with the brute force of unparalleled spending on talent. Seven gilded years later, Guardiola’s team is proving yet again how irresistible that mix can be. As the season enters its final month, Man City is just a handful of victories away from a sweep of three major trophies: the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the first Champions League in the club’s history.

☆ Man City have 'the mental strength' in home stretch, says Guardiola
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 2 (Reuters) - Manchester City have the mental strength to endure their packed schedule in the final stretch of the season as they target a possible treble of trophies, manager Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday. Everything is here, the mental strength, the best period we can live and we are not tired. I'm pretty sure he'll score more in the Premier League before the end of the season," Guardiola added. It is a surprise for us, but maybe not for him to do what he's done in this difficult league. Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh LawsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Trophies won't define City legacy, says Guardiola
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

City are now just two points behind leaders Arsenal but have played two games less, and could go top later on Sunday with a victory at Fulham. I think that managers and players cannot forget it, we fight for the title, but we cannot forget what we give to others." Guardiola has won 30 major trophies across his spells with City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, but said he is not bothered about where he will rank in debates about the best managers in football. "Honestly I don't know, I try to do my job like all the managers, but I'm not concerned about that. My concern is to live in the moment and yeah now is Fulham and the rest doesn't matter," Guardiola said.

☆ Erling Haaland scores his 50th goal of the season and equals an English Premier League record
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Arguably no player has made such an impact in his first season in the English Premier League. No Premier League player has ever scored as many. Only Everton’s Dixie Dean, who scored 63 goals in the 1927/28 season, has scored more goals in English football during a single top-flight campaign, according to the Premier League. The penalty was his 34th goal in the league, equaling Alan Shearer (1994-95) and Andy Cole (1993-94) for the most goals scored in a Premier League season. City still has hopes of completing the ‘treble’ as Pep Guardiola’s side remains in contention to win the league, the FA Cup and the Champions League.

☆ Premier League title race not over, says Man City's Guardiola
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

City travel to Fulham having won nine of their last 10 league matches, most recently a 4-1 win against leaders Arsenal on Wednesday. A win against the London side would lift City a point clear of Arsenal with a game in hand. The Spaniard said the title race is not over and City will be wary of the threat posed by 10th-placed Fulham. Now we go to Fulham against an incredible team," Guardiola told reporters on Friday. Guardiola said Dutch defender Nathan Ake is improving after picking up a hamstring injury against Bayern Munich but is yet to return to team training.

☆ Man City now in driving seat but Guardiola still cautious
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 28 (Reuters) - According to some of the headlines after Manchester City's crushing defeat of title rivals Arsenal this week the sky blue ribbons can already be fastened to the Premier League trophy. But City boss Pep Guardiola is too long in the tooth to assume a fifth league title in six seasons is now a formality. It was their seventh successive league win and left them two points behind Arsenal with two games in hand, having trailed by eight not long ago. The two clubs immediately above Saints, Everton and Leicester City, meet on Monday in a true 'six-pointer'. Liverpool are seeking a fourth successive win and, belatedly, have joined the Premier League party.

☆ Guardiola says destiny finally in Manchester City's hands
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MANCHESTER, England, April 26 (Reuters) - Manchester City wrestled control of the Premier League title race from Arsenal with a 4-1 thumping in their top-of-table clash on Wednesday, to the thrill of manager Pep Guardiola, who said destiny was finally in his team's hands. "The threat, Kevin-Erling, Erling-Kevin is so, so important," Guardiola said. Manchester City are also chasing the treble having booked their berths in both the FA Cup final and Champions League semi-finals. Asked whether he considers City one of the best teams in any league, Guardiola said: "If we play like today we are an incredible, competitive team. The biggest compliment, Guardiola added, is that Manchester City, who are chasing their third consecutive Premier League title, are always in the thick of it at the end of the season.

☆ De Bruyne rises to the occasion again for superb City
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Arsenal came into the match stuttering from three draws while City, like all the great teams, were girding their loins for the last big push when the trophies are decided. And it was the Belgian midfielder who set the tone and then maintained it as City really should have reached halftime four or five up instead of 2-0. As is becoming the norm, De Bruyne was withdrawn by manager Pep Guardiola, as ever, looking disgruntled at the decision, as Holden pulled one back for the visitors before Haaland ensured City finished on a high. De Bruyne revelled in that freedom and City looked much more of a goal threat than so often when they patiently probe up and down the flanks trying to manoeuvre themselves into dangerous positions. “We know what people will say, but it is still seven games,” he said.

☆ Rampant Man City crush Arsenal with De Bruyne double
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Pep Guardiola's relentless side ran riot as they made it 12 successive league wins against Arsenal with a masterful Kevin De Bruyne scoring twice and Erling Haaland also on target as City seized control of their destiny. De Bruyne fired City ahead in the seventh minute and City bombarded Arsenal's goal before John Stones deservedly doubled their lead with a header in first half stoppage time. Guardiola's City, who have trailed Arsenal for almost the entire season, will go top if they beat Fulham at the weekend. City sensed Arsenal's fragility and went for the jugular, tearing through the visitors lines at will. Haaland then forced another sharp save from Ramsdale before Arsenal finally threatened with Thomas Partey shooting narrowly wide.

☆ Manchester City now looks likelier than ever to win elusive Treble
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Manchester City comfortably beat Sheffield United 3-0 in the FA Cup semifinals. “I’ll talk to you about it after we have won the FA Cup and Premier League,” he told reporters after the FA Cup semifinal, per the BBC. “Before the final of the Champions League we will start to talk of the Treble. Can any team stop Manchester City this season? “One year you can do it – I don’t want to win one Champions League and after be in the bottom,” he aded.

☆ Arsenal desperate to hold off City charge in title showdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Arsenal still have a five-point lead with six games to play but City have two matches in hand and look irresistible having collected 25 points from the last 27 on offer. According to statistician Simon Gleave of data company Gracenote, Arsenal's draw with Southampton left them with a 21% chance of dethroning City, while Pep Guardiola's side now have a 79% probability of finishing top. "I cannot wait, these are the games you want to play," Arteta said in the wake of Friday's draw. Arsenal have lost their last seven meetings with City in all competitions and have not won at City in the league since 2015. City have chipped away at Arsenal's lead while also progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions League and on Saturday reached the FA Cup final after easing past Sheffield United in third gear.

☆ Guardiola issues rallying cry to fans as Man City host Arsenal in 'final'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 24 (Reuters) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged fans to turn up the volume in their top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday as his side look to take control of the Premier League title race. Arsenal have lost significant ground in recent weeks, with three successive draws leaving them five points clear of City but having played two games more. "Wednesday is a final against a team that has been the best team in England so far and is five points ahead of us," Guardiola told reporters. "The Premier League is 11 months working, working, working. After a 4-2 comeback victory over Tottenham Hotspur in January, Guardiola said fans had been "silent for 45 minutes".

☆ Soccer Mahrez hopes hat-trick will keep him at forefront of Guardiola's plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 23 - Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez is hoping that his historic hat-trick against Sheffield United in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final will keep him in coach Pep Guardiola's starting line-up in future games. "When you get an opportunity you have to prove to the coach that you deserve to play." Mahrez, 32, did not feature in either of City's Champions League quarter-final games against Bayern Munich, when Guardiola's team won 4-1 on aggregate. City, who are chasing a hat-trick of titles this season, will face either arch-rivals Manchester United or Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup final on June 3. Editing by Ahmed Mostafa, Osama Khairy and Clare FallonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Manchester City cruises into FA Cup final with 3-0 victory over Sheffield United
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Manchester City’s treble hopes remain alive after defeating Sheffield United 3-0 in the FA Cup semifinal, thanks to a hattrick from Riyad Mahrez. Still, City is one of the best teams in Europe while Sheffield United is fighting for promotion in England’s second tier – the Championship – but it was not an entirely one-sided game. And then five minutes later, he had a hattrick – the first in an FA Cup semifinal since 1958 – latching onto Jack Grealish’s cross and making no mistake with the finish. “It feels very good (to score a hat-trick),” Mahrez told ITV afterwards. It’s a good team achievement and we took the game seriously.”City will face either Manchester United or Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup final on June 3.

☆ Mahrez hat-trick sends Man City into FA Cup final
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - FA Cup - Semi Final - Manchester City v Sheffield United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - April 22, 2023 Sheffield United's Wes Foderingham looks dejected after Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason CairnduffLONDON, April 22 (Reuters) - Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick as Manchester City snapped their losing streak in FA Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 stroll over second-tier Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday. Championship promotion hopefuls United began brightly and frustrated City for most of the first half but Mahrez fired City ahead from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute. It was the first FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since Alex Dawson for Manchester United against Fulham in 1958. City have not conceded a goal and scored 17 in reaching their 12th FA Cup final in which they could face Manchester United in what would be the showpiece's first Manchester clash. "It is an honour to be in the FA Cup final on 3 June.

☆ Title-chasing Arsenal seek home comforts against Southampton
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

With an FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United on Saturday, Manchester City's next league game is Wednesday's potential title-decider at home to Arsenal. Arteta said his players must put all thoughts of the looming trip to the Etihad out of their minds until after the Southampton game. Newcastle have 56 points from 30 games with Spurs three points worse off having played a game more. Leicester, who appointed Dean Smith as interim manager last week, have 25 points from 31 games, with Southampton on 23 points and in danger of being marooned. Third-bottom Nottingham Forest (27 points), who are without a win in 10 league games, visit Liverpool on Saturday.

☆ City 'exhausted' ahead of FA Cup semi-final, says Guardiola
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 20 (Reuters) - Manchester City players are exhausted ahead of their FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United at Wembley this weekend, manager Pep Guardiola said, after his side knocked Bayern Munich out of the Champions League on Wednesday. Guardiola's side are also in the hunt for the Premier League title, sitting four points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. "The team is exhausted, so I don't know how we are going to recover to play against Sheffield United because we play on Saturday," Guardiola told BT Sport. "It's so demanding, so I don't know how we will arrive because now is a tough moment for the game on Saturday." Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UEFA Chamions League: Manchester City to face Real Madrid in semifinals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Manchester City took another step towards winning its first Champions League trophy after cruising to a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich on Wednesday to secure a 4-1 aggregate win in the quarterfinals. “I’m so happy for three years in a row to be in the Champions League semifinals,” City manager Pep Guardiola told reporters after the second leg at the Allianz Arena. The Norwegian striker pounced on a mistake by defender Dayot Upamecano to smash home a finish into the top corner of the net in the 57th minute – his 12th Champions League goal of the season. “I am very satisfied with both games against Manchester City and with the way we presented ourselves today,” Tuchel told reporters after the match. The Italian side will face fierce city rival AC Milan for a place in the Champions League final where the winner will face either Manchester City or Real Madrid in Istanbul on June 10.

☆ Manchester City reach Champions League semis with 1-1 draw at Bayern
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Soccer Football - Champions League - Quarter Final - Second Leg - Bayern Munich v Manchester City - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - April 19, 2023 Manchester City's Erling Braut Haaland celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Heiko BeckerMUNICH, Germany, April 19 (Reuters) - Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bayern Munich on Wednesday to cruise into the Champions League semi-finals with a 4-1 aggregate win that moved them a step closer to an elusive first title in the competition. City forward Erling Haaland, who had missed a first-half penalty, made amends in the 57th minute, drilling in his 48th goal in all competitions this season to kill off the tie. Losing finalists in 2021, Pep Guardiola's team had a 3-0 advantage from the first leg and soaked up considerable Bayern pressure before Haaland's goal. City will next play holders Real Madrid in the last four. Reporting by Karolos Grohmann Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Jittery Arsenal losing their grip with summit in sight
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Perhaps then the enormity of what was looming on the horizon -- a first league title since 2004 -- began to sink in. Liverpool roared back to draw 2-2 and were unlucky not to claim all three points as Arsenal visibly shrank. But Arsenal have offered up the sort of gifts that Pep Guardiola's ruthless side are unlikely to reciprocate as they seek a fifth Premier League title in six seasons. GAME MANAGEMENTArteta's face at the final whistle said it all and he knows that Arsenal have lost control of the title race. "There is a moment where you could go 3-1 up after 50 minutes and probably the game is over.

☆ Haaland at it again as Manchester City cut gap to Arsenal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, April 15 (Reuters) - Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland reached yet another milestone in his incredible debut season in the Premier League when his two goals helped his side to beat Leicester City 3-1 and move to within three points of leaders Arsenal on Saturday. With Arsenal in action at West Ham United on Sunday, Manchester City seized their chance to apply more pressure by dismantling 19th-placed Leicester before halftime. City now have 70 points from 30 games with Arsenal on 73. Villa have 50 points, with Tottenham on 53 and fourth-placed Manchester United and Newcastle United both on 56. Newcastle and Manchester United, who face Nottingham Forest on Sunday, have played fewer games than Villa and Tottenham.

☆ Haaland continues to set records in win over Leicester City
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MANCHESTER, England, April 15 (Reuters) - Erling Haaland continued his jaw-dropping assault on the Premier League on Saturday as he netted a first-half brace to equal Mo Salah's single-season goal-scoring record in Manchester City's 3-1 victory over beleaguered Leicester City on Saturday. Haaland increased his haul to 32 goals to tie Salah's mark for a 38-game season - and the 22-year-old Norwegian scoring machine has eight games still to play. Pep Guardiola sat out his star striker for the second half at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, giving him some rest before the second leg of their Champions League showdown with Bayern. Guardiola's side, who are unbeaten in 14 matches in all competitions, trail leaders Arsenal by three points with a game in hand in their breakneck race for the Premier League title. Reporting by Lori Ewing, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Manchester City Gets One Step Closer to the Trophy It Wants Most
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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