Tag Archives: Pep Guardiola

Manchester City star accuses Pep Guardiola of telling “lies”

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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

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

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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.”

Manchester City legend identifies Chelsea star Guardiola must stop to win clash at Etihad

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Shaun Goater has identified the key Chelsea player his side must stop to ensure the two-time reigning champions get back on track in the Premier League.

The Manchester City legend does see any of the Blues frontmen like Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic as a major threat Pep Guardiola should work on.

He pinpoints the brilliance of Jorginho as the major reason for the success of the London club so far this season.

The midfielder was much-maligned in his debut season at Stamford Bridge under Maurizio Sarri but Goater insists that the playmaker has become the number one man to stop this weekend.

“Jorginho has been brilliant. He is huge in the transition and how they play,” Goater, who was speaking on behalf of GentingBet, told football.london.

“When they transition the play from back to front he is critical during those moments. Man City must stop him because he provides the supply for Abraham and the wingers.

“He provides that directly but also indirectly as well. The pass he gives into the eight and ten then goes into the wide players and Tammy.

“It’s crazy because it looked like Chelsea fans didn’t like him a year ago. He looks really good in that role and position.”

Photo Credit: premierleague.com