Manchester City star accuses Pep Guardiola of telling “lies”

Joao Cancelo has reportedly delivered an explosive rant against his parent club Manchester City, in which he accuses manager Pep Guardiola of telling ‘lies’.

The Portuguese international is currently on a season-long loan at Barcelona, after spending the second-half of last year at Bayern Munich.

Reports had suggested that Guardiola was unhappy with Cancelo’s reaction to being dropped from City’s starting XI during their Treble winning season.

However, in an interview with Portuguese publication A Bola, the 29-year-old has taken exceptions to Guardiola’s claims.

He said: “Lies were told! I’ve never been a bad team-mate for them and you can ask either (Nathan) Ake or Rico (Lewis). I don’t have any superiority or inferiority complex towards them, but that’s the manager’s opinion.

“I stayed because it’s not true. I think Man City were a bit ungrateful to me when they said that, because I was a very important player in the years I was there.

“I never failed in my commitment to the club, to the fans and I always gave everything. I remember a time when I was robbed and attacked and the next day I was playing at the Emirates against Arsenal.

“These are things you don’t forget, I left my wife and daughter alone at home, terrified. People will only remember this because Mister Guardiola has much more power than me when he says something and I prefer to keep to myself.”

Cancelo insisted that he ‘wishes’ everything goes well at Man City but also adds that he made the right choice to leave on loan in January 2023 – despite missing out on the Treble.

He said: “Certain things dictated that I was loaned last year to Bayern Munich. I have no regrets, even if City won the Champions League. I feel like I made the right choice, that I went to a club that really wanted me, even before renewing my contract. It was a club that gave me a lot in the six months I was there.”

After his time with Bayern Munich, he joined Barcelona on loan where he has taken on a lower salary given the club’s financial issues.

Cancelo will return to Man City this summer though it appears likely that he will leave the club.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed their plans to keep Cancelo next season, though the club’s financial situation could pose an obstacle.

Photo Credit: FCBarcelona/ X

(VIDEO) Mac Allister equalizes! 50’… Liverpool 1-1 Man City

Nathan Ake, at left-back, under pressure and he underhits the pass back to keeper Ederson, Nunez pounces on it, reaches it first and is clearly brought down by the Brazilian.

Ederson picked up a knock in the process of conceding the spot-kick and he was booked as well.

A big delay between the foul and the penalty actually being taken as Ederson needed some treatment. Alexis Mac Allister wasn’t fazed by any of that, a nicely-struck penalty which beats the keeper’s dive.

Anfield erupts and we have parity. Ake looks sheepish after that poor pass back to Ederson caused all the issues.

(VIDEO) John Stones scores! 24′ Liverpool 0-1 Man City

City draw first blood and it’s the unlikely figure of John Stones!

That looks like a corner routine of absolute genius. De Bruyne played it in low to the front post, Nathan Ake pushed Alexis Mac Allister out of the way and Stones made the dart to turn it home past Kelleher.

If they’ve been working on that all week, then hats off to them!

Photo Credit: premierleague/ X

Kyle Walker reveals “war of words” between Man City, Liverpool stars ahead of Sunday crunch clash

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has revealed that talk of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Erling Haaland’s war of words has been ‘floating around the Etihad club’s changing room’ this week.

It comes ahead of his side’s crunch clash against Liverpool this weekend that could have huge huge ramifications for the Premier League title race.

But there has been plenty of drama in the build up to Sunday’s tie at Anfield, with Alexander-Arnold taking a pop at Man City, claiming that his side’s success ‘means more’ than Man City’s recent silverware haul. His also implied that City had bought their way to 14 major trophies in the Pep Guardiola era.

His comments struck a nerve with Haaland, with the striker hitting back at the Liverpool full-back in an interview with Sky Sports on Thursday.

The Norwegian said: ‘Haaland sarcastically responded, saying: “I’ve been here one year and I’ve won the Treble and it was quite a nice feeling. I don’t think he knows exactly this feeling.”

With only three days until the two teams collide on the pitch, Walker was asked whether he had seen what Alexander-Arnold had said, on Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE podcast on Friday.

‘I’m not even getting involved in that,’ Walker said, before adding, ‘It’s been floating around the changing room today.’

Ruben Dias also had his say on Alexander-Arnold’s comments this week, delivering a brutal response to the Liverpool full-back’s claim.

‘We’ve won a lot in this club, especially last year with the Treble. I think it’s pretty certain between us, between our fans, how much it meant to all of us,’ Dias told BBC Radio Manchester.

Guardiola, meanwhile, diffused tensions over the Liverpool defender’s trophy dig, during his pre-match press conference, wishing Alexander-Arnold a speedy recovery from a knee injury that has kept him sidelined for nearly a month.

Ahead of Sunday’s huge clash in the title race, Jurgen Klopp lauded Guardiola as the ‘best manager in the world’ before rising to the defence of his full-back.

“It’s just how he feels. How we feel and I have absolutely no problem about that,” the Liverpool boss said on the comments.

The England full-back also lumped praise on Sunday’s opponents, claiming: “I’ve never won there,” Walker admitted. “Never won there with no team.”

(Watch Video) Haaland scores! Man City 3-1 Man United

Erling Haaland has his goal, and Manchester City have their win!

Manchester United choose injury time as the point at which to play out from the back, and it goes horribly wrong.

Raphael Varane gives Sofyan Amrabat an awkward pass, and he in turn is quickly dispossessed by Rodri.

The Spaniard has the simple task of picking out an unmarked Haaland, who brings the ball under control before seamlessly steering it beyond Andre Onana and into the bottom corner.

Photo Credit: premierleague/ X

(Watch Video) Foden scores again! Man City 2-1 Man United

Phil Foden at the double!

It’s another fine Manchester City goal, this one that is well worked from the left.

The City forward exchanges a smart one-two with Julian Alvarez, bursts away from a tiring Casemiro, and fires across Andre Onana into the bottom corner.

The boy from Stockport, he’s one of City’s own, and he may well have just won them the Manchester derby!

Photo Credit: premierleague/ X

(Watch Video) Foden equalizes! 58’… Man City 1-1 Man United

A wonderful equaliser from Phil Foden!

For all Manchester City’s pretty passing, it has taken another sensational strike to bring the champions level in the derby.

Cutting inside and along the 18-yard line, the England forward took aim with an absolute rocket of a shot into the top left corner.

Immediately, Manchester United players turn to confront referee Andy Madley about a supposed foul on Marcus Rashford moments earlier, but the forward went down far too easily under a challenge from Kyle Walker as the visitors looked to break.

The goal stands, and it’s back to all-square.

Photo Credit: premierleague/ X

(Watch Video) Rashford hits thundebolt! 8’… Man City 0-1 Man United

What an extraordinary hit from Marcus Rashford!

A long clearance upfield from Andre Onana catches Manchester City out with Bruno Fernandes played onside by a dozing Nathan Ake on the near side.

The Manchester United captain then does brilliantly to hold the ball up, turn, and lay it back into the path of Rashford.

What follows is sensational; the England forward takes the shot on first time from 25 yards, it flies past Ederson, and crashes into the net off the crossbar.

The strike silences the Etihad! It silences the haters! And it has United in front!

An absolute stunner – in more ways that one.

Photo Credit: premierleague/ X

Pep Guardiola aims dig at Mauricio Pochettino’s comments after Man City draw

Pep Guardiola has seemingly had a dig at comments made by Mauricio Pochettino after Manchester City’s draw with Chelsea.

City were held to a 1-1 stalemate at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League. Raheem Sterling opened the scoring for the London club in the first half, and it took a Rodri strike in the final minutes of the contest to rescue a point for Guardiola’s team.

The draw means City are now four points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table. City’s game in hand comes against Brentford in midweek, before travelling to face Bournemouth next weekend.

Pochettino spoke to BBC Match of the Day after the game, where he explained how “pleased” and “proud” he was of Chelsea’s performance. The remarks from Pochettino were put to Guardiola, and the City boss appeared to aim a dig at the Chelsea manager.

“Good, congratulations,” Guardiola told BBC Match of the Day when informed of Pochettino’s comments. “If he believes that, that is good for his team.”

“We knew it [Chelsea would be a challenge],” Guardiola added. “That was a good game.

“We played incredible in the second half. The first half was not our levels but to compete against them teams you have to play 90 minutes not just one half.”

Pochettino explained why he was happy with Chelsea’s performance against City, particularly in the first half. The former Tottenham Hotspur boss went on to label City as the best team in world football with his analysis of the performance.

“I’m so pleased. I told the players I feel so proud,” said Pochettino. “In the last three games we’ve started to create a very good spirit. That’s the way we want to build our team. Today was a very good opportunity to show we’re going where we want.

“The first half was really, really good. We only conceded one chance – against a team like Manchester City who, for me, are the best team in the world.

“In the second half they force you to go deep, but we created chances to score the second goal and things could have been different. It’s important that the players realise that football is really competitive and to reach the level we want, we need to suffer.”

Man City receive double injury blow amid Arsenal, Liverpool League title battle

Manchester City may be without defender Josko Gvardiol and midfielder Mateo Kovacic for their Champions League match against FC Copenhagen, as both were missing from Monday’s open training session.

Kovacic was not part of City’s squad that won 2-0 against Everton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, while Gvardiol was an unused substitute. Both players were not part of the group that trained on Monday ahead of Tuesday night’s round of 16 clash against the Denmark side.

It’s unclear how long both players will be out for, although any injury is a blow to City as they are currently embroiled in a Premier League title fight with Arsenal and Liverpool. Sergio Gomez also looked to be absent from the session.

Man City are favourites to win against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday, despite a goalless draw at the Parken Stadium in the group stage last season. “They had a group against Bayern Munich, against United, against Galatasaray, they go through one of the toughest groups,” said Guardiola.

“Manuel [Akanji] suffered the lack of rhythm and John [Stones] a bit, second half they felt better. When they move inside last season was incredible, now it is not so fluid. Why? They were injured and when you are injured you don’t have the rhythm you need.

“How they run, how they train every day, how they compete, it is still there. We won all the games in the Champions League. The team I have the feeling they still want it and as much as we want it, it will be a problem for the opponents.”