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Tag: Man City

  • BREAKING: Man City’s will partake in Champions League as CAS overturns ban

    Manchester City are now eligible to participate in European competitions after the won the appeal against the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) two-years ban.

    Recall that City were sanctioned by UEFA’s club financial control body (CFCB) for breaches of club licensing and financial fair play regulations but City have always vigorously denied any wrongdoing and their appeal against the punishment was heard over three days by the CAS last month.

    After hearing evidence over the course of three days in June, CAS have now overturned the suspension – meaning City are free to compete in the Champions League next season.

    Guardiola’s men cemented second place in the Premier League with a 5-0 win over Brighton on Saturday.

    This also means that Manchester United, Chelsea and Leicester City will slug it out for the two Champions League slots left to make it to Europe’s biggest tournament next season.

    Source: www.mynigeria.com

  • Ghanaian midfielder Ernest Agyiri has been released by Man City

    English Premier League giant, Manchester City has parted ways with Ghanaian midfielder Ernest Agyiri according to reports.

    The 22-year-old, who has ended his loan spell at Cypriot side Enosis Neon Paralimni FC, joined the Eastland side from Ghanaian Right to Dream Academy in 2016.

    But he was immediately shipped out on loan to Norwegian side Valarenga on a 2-year loan between 2016 and 2018.

    The former Tubize loanee signed a contract extension that will keep him at City until summer 2021.

    But the English side has opted to part ways with the talented Ghanaian after a four-year stint where he failed to make a single appearance in the senior team.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Coronavirus: Man City v Real Madrid and Juventus v Lyon called off

    The second leg of Manchester City’s last-16 second leg Champions League tie against Real Madrid, scheduled for Tuesday 17 March, has been postponed.

    The decision, confirmed by Uefa, comes after the Real Madrid squad went into quarantine because of coronavirus.

    The second leg of Juventus’ last-16 tie against Lyon has also been postponed on the same date.

    Juve’s squad will spend two weeks in quarantine after defender Daniele Rugani tested positive for the virus.

    A Uefa statement said: “Following the quarantine imposed on players of Juventus and Real Madrid, the matches will not take place as scheduled.”

    City’s Premier League game with Arsenal was postponed on Wednesday as a precautionary measure.

    Pep Guardiola’s side hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg against Real in Spain on 26 February, while Juventus trail Lyon 1-0 after the first leg in France.

     

    Source: BBC 

  • Klopp thought matching Man City’s winning-streak record was impossible

    Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he “never thought it was possible” for his side to equal Manchester City’s record of 18 consecutive Premier League wins.

    The league leaders joined City in an English top-flight record with a 3-2 victory over West Ham on Monday.

    City won 18 straight games between August and December 2017.

    “It’s so special. The numbers are incredible, so difficult. I said we wanted to write our own stories, create our own history,” said Klopp.

    “Obviously, the boys took that really seriously and that is all cool but just not too important at the moment.

    “We are just in the situation and want to recover and prepare for the next game.”

    The last time Liverpool dropped points in the league was in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United on 20 October 2019.

    Victory over West Ham at Anfield, where keeper Lukasz Fabianski suffered a nightmare, took Liverpool to within four wins of their first league title in 30 years.

    Liverpool took an early lead when Fabianski failed to deal with a routine Georginio Wijnaldum header but David Moyes’ side replied through Issa Diop’s header and then substitute Pablo Fornals swept West Ham into the lead nine minutes after the break.

    But Fabianski inexplicably allowed Mohamed Salah’s shot to squirm through his legs in the 68th minute and Sadio Mane turned in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s lob with nine minutes left to complete the comeback.

    It means Liverpool are 22 points clear of defending champions City at the top of the table.

    “I couldn’t have wished for a better position to go into these last 11 games,” Klopp added. “I never thought it was possible but each one of [the victories are] really difficult.”

    What other records have Liverpool got this season?

    – Liverpool have won their past 21 home Premier League games, equalling the English top-flight record for consecutive home wins, set by the Reds themselves between January and December 1972 under Bill Shankly.

    – Klopp’s side can amass 112 points this season – no title-winning team has achieved that in England.

    – This is now Liverpool’s longest unbeaten run, beating the 37 that concluded in 1894.

    – Liverpool’s last defeat in the league came at Etihad Stadium against Manchester City on 3 January, 2019. They’ve only dropped 10 points in total since then.

    – The last time Liverpool failed to score was in the 0-0 draw at Merseyside rivals Everton on 3 March, 2019.

    – The earliest Premier League title win was achieved by Manchester United when they claimed victory in 2000-01 on 14 April. If the Reds keep winning, they could win the title in March.

    – Liverpool have the best-ever tally at this stage of the season by a side in any of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues – England, France, Italy, Germany and Spain.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Klopp shocked by Man City’s Champions League ban

    The German coach was taken back by the news that his side’s rivals will be absent from Europe for the next two seasons.

    Jurgen Klopp says he was shocked by the news of Manchester City’s two-year suspension from the Champions League and says he sympathises with coach Pep Guardiola.

    City were suspended and fined £25 million ($33m) for breaching Financial Fair Play rules, though the club will appeal against UEFA’s decision.

    City said they were “disappointed but not surprised” by the punishment, but Friday’s announcement that Liverpool boss Klopp in shock.

    “It was a shock. Complete wow,” Klopp said when asked for his reaction.

    “The only thing I can say is about football. What they have done on the football pitch is exceptional. The rest, I don’t know. You believe the people you work with, that’s how it is.

    “I really feel for them, Pep and the players, but that is how it is. They can appeal so we will see what happens then. It is obviously serious. But the football they played was exceptional and will always be exceptional.”

    While their rivals will be absent from Europe’s premier competition next season, Klopp’s team confirmed their place with a 1-0 win over Norwich on Saturday.

    Sadio Mane’s goal just 12 minutes before the end of the clash at Carrow Road stretched their winning streak to 17 top-flight games and their advantage at the top of the table to 25 points.

    Klopp was not entirely satisfied with his side’s performance as they gave away too much space against the hosts.

    “It was a difficult game for different reasons. The wind, the organisation of the opponent and the way we played first half made it tricky for us,” he told Sky Sports.

    “The distance between the line was too big, too early with the long ball, no second player around to collect the second ball. It was not exactly like we wanted to do.

    The counter press was not there because we didn’t push up enough, so football. We still had nice situations, good set pieces but not really much more.

    “Fabinho coming on was very important for the organisation. Saido was fresh and he helped us to win the game, which was outstanding. I have to watch the goal back but I’m pretty sure it was a fantastic finish.

    “I could tell in all the players faces that they weren’t nervous, they were enjoying it, and if one team was going to score it was going to be us. We protected against the counter attack well too. It’s really all about these wonderful football players.

    “The gap is so insane, I don’t really understand it. I’m not smart enough. I’ve not had that before. It’s outstanding, it’s so difficult. I go back into the changing room and we chat about the things and then I’m like oh, but congratulations. We won the game, another three points.”

    Source: Goal.com

  • BREAKING: Man City banned from Champions League for two years

    Manchester City have been banned from competing in the Champions League for two years.

    UEFA handed down the punishment, which includes a €30 million fine (£25m/$33m), to the Premier League giants for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

    A statement read: “The Adjudicatory Chamber, having considered all the evidence, has found that Manchester City Football Club committed serious breaches of the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations by overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016.

    “The Adjudicatory Chamber has also found that in breach of the regulations the Club failed to cooperate in the investigation of this case by the CFCB.

    “The Adjudicatory Chamber has imposed disciplinary measures on Manchester City Football Club directing that it shall be excluded from participation in UEFA club competitions in the next two seasons (ie. the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons) and pay a fine of € 30 million.

    “The decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber is subject to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). If Manchester City Football Club exercises that right the full reasoned decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber will not be published prior to publication of the final award by the CAS.”

    “As noted by the Adjudicatory Chamber, the club has the right to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Therefore, UEFA will not be commenting further on this decision at this stage.”

    More to follow…

    Source: goal.com

  • Liverpool equal Man City home wins record

    Liverpool equalled Manchester City’s record of 20 consecutive wins at home in the Premier League with an emphatic victory over Southampton at Anfield.

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the opener just after half time – his second goal in as many league matches – when he drilled the ball low into the bottom corner.

    Reds’ skipper Jordan Henderson made it 2-0 on the hour mark with a calm finish after being set up by Roberto Firmino.

    Henderson then played in Mohamed Salah for Liverpool’s third and the Egypt forward added a fourth from close range in the last minute.

    The scoreline was harsh on the visitors, who matched Liverpool for much of the first hour with Danny Ings going close in the first half and Shane Long also denied by Liverpool keeper Alisson.

    The victory extends Liverpool’s unbeaten run in the league to 42 games and they now sit 22 points clear at the top of the table with second-placed Manchester City not playing until Sunday.

    It was Southampton’s first away defeat in five games and they fall to 11th place.

    Title gets closer, unbeaten run rolls on

    Liverpool’s wait for a first league title in 30 years will surely end this season. They have one hand on the trophy and the other is moving steadily closer with every fixture.

    It is only 1 February but Liverpool are 22 points clear at the top of the Premier League table, unbeaten in 42 games, have conceded just one league goal in their last 10 matches and have 73 points from 25 games – a top-flight record.

    Before Saturday, only City had won more consecutive games at home in the Premier League, between March 2011 and March 2012.

    With only 13 matches left, it is increasingly surely only a question of whether Liverpool can remain unbeaten for the season rather than if they end their drought.

    Nevertheless, their performance in the first half against Southampton was nervous and suggested the visitors could have a chance to inflict a first defeat on Jurgen Klopp’s side.

    Sloppy passes, mistakes at the back and a lack of intensity going forward meant the Saints had opportunities to score and were barely stretched at the back.

    Southampton, spearheaded by top-scorer Ings in attack, finished the half as the better team, going close through the former Reds striker as well as Long and Moussa Djenepo.

    But Liverpool, no doubt invigorated by a half-time talk from Klopp, were quick out the blocks in the second half and as soon as they scored the victory that was expected before the match felt inevitable.

    The scorer of that opener, Oxlade-Chamberlain, is starting to regain the form he demonstrated prior to picking up a serious knee injury while Henderson was magnificent again in controlling the midfield. They were solid at the back with Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk’s centre-back partnership continuing to flourish.

    The Reds were without the injured Sadio Mane, but Firmino and Salah delivered the goods; the Brazil striker produced a hat-trick of assists to take his total to 51 in all competitions for the club, while Salah scored twice.

     

    Source: bbc.com