Pep Guardiola claims Man City only trained for ‘25 minutes’ before Liverpool clash
Pep Guardiola has claimed that he has not properly trained his Manchester City players in his seven years at the Etihad Stadium – despite winning five Premier League titles, the Champions League and a treble. And the Catalan said it is impossible to work with his players on the training pitch now without risking injuring them, because the fixture list is so packed. Guardiola said City are instead learning from their past after revealing they only did 20 or 25 minutes work on the pitches at the Etihad Campus to prepare for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool, while they had a shorter pre-season than everyone else to give players time off after winning two finals in June. “In seven years I don’t train,” he said. “Maximum 35 minutes. We don’t train. They started pre-season 15 days before… do you know what 15 days is? We played the FA Cup final and the Champions League final. They had 15 days more with the new players. We didn’t do one day [of] tactical [work]. The day before, we train… it is the same for Jurgen [Klopp, the Liverpool manager], I’m pretty sure. We did 10-15 minutes with the ball and 10 minutes defensively.” City face RB Leipzig in the Champions League next and Guardiola is worried that if he tries to work with his players, he will lose others. Midfielders Kevin de Bruyne, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are injured while the ill Jack Grealish also missed the Liverpool game, as he only named six outfield substitutes. “Before Tuesday it will be 10 minutes on the pitch, moving in that way,” Guardiola added. “We cannot train. If we train, we don’t have players for the next game. We don’t have them. That’s why we have to learn from the past: just understand what you have to do. The press, who jumps. This is what we absolutely rely on.” Guardiola joked that, instead of time on the training pitch, his players absorbed his message from his good looks. “Because I’m really good. I’m a handsome man, I seduce them,” he smiled. “No, today we have the TV images, we talk individually. I spoke with Ruben [Dias] and Kyle [Walker] about what happened at Chelsea [in the 4-4 draw]. They can make mistakes but just understand it. If they lose the ball, they lose the ball. But it’s about where and when you move, the spaces. Today [Saturday] was so good. I know what I’m talking about.” John Stones was an unused substitute on Saturday and Guardiola said the defender needs more time before he returns to the starting 11 or he may break down again. He explained: “He feels good but we want to give him one or two weeks to have proper strength training sessions. John is so important for us, I like him playing when he’s completely ready. He’s going to train, partially or complete, with us. His legs especially, to be sure that when he comes back he is stronger. And we then use him, we need him.” Read More Man City boss Pep Guardiola taking safety-first approach with John Stones Terry Venables inspired a generation to dream and left England wanting more Opposing managers happy with a point as Manchester City and Liverpool draw
2023-11-27 15:47
When the Chargers' defense improves, the offense commits 4 turnovers and the losing streak grows
The Los Angeles Chargers’ defense has been their primary problem for most of this increasingly unpleasant season
2023-11-27 15:23
German export sentiment improves in November - Ifo
Sentiment among German exporters improved in November, although only a few sectors expected exports to increase, according to
2023-11-27 15:22
Avoiding relegation was Girona's goal this season. Now the Spanish title contender has bigger dreams
Girona’s chief executive was hoping at the start of the season that his team could simply avoid relegation from Spanish soccer's top tier
2023-11-27 14:59
Zay Flowers catches and runs for TDs, Ravens force 4 turnovers in 20-10 win over Chargers
Rookie Zay Flowers had a touchdown catch and ran for a game-sealing score late in the fourth quarter, Baltimore’s defense forced four turnovers, and the AFC-best Ravens beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-10
2023-11-27 14:22
Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson confronts, appears to shove fan during loss to Eagles
Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson confronted Eagles fans and appeared to shove one of them in the waning moments of Buffalo’s loss on Sunday night
2023-11-27 14:21
Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga scores only goal as LAFC knocks out Seattle 1-0 in MLS playoffs
Denis Bouanga scored his fourth goal of the MLS Cup playoffs in the 30th minute, goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau made seven saves, and defending champion Los Angeles FC advanced to the Western Conference final with a 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders
2023-11-27 13:49
Roman Josi has goal and 2 assists, Predators beat Jets 3-2 for 5th straight victory
Roman Josi had a goal and two assists to help Nashville beat Winnipeg 3-2 on Sunday night, extending the Predators’ winning streak to five and ending the Jets’ run at five
2023-11-27 12:57
Jokic has near triple-double, leads Nuggets over Spurs, 132-120
Nikola Jokic had a season-high 39 points to go with 11 rebounds and nine assists, and the Nuggets spoiled the Denver debut of Victor Wembanyama with a 132-120 win over San Antonio
2023-11-27 12:27
Darius Garland scores 24 points as the Cavaliers defeat the Raptors 105-102
Darius Garland had 24 points and eight assists and Max Strus scored his 20 points in the third quarter, helping Cleveland Cavaliers to a 105-102 victory over the Toronto Raptors
2023-11-27 11:58
Dynamo blank Sporting KC 1-0 to advance to Western Conference Final
Defender Franco Escobar scored a first-half goal, Steve Clark posted a clean sheet and the Houston Dynamo beat Sporting Kansas City 1-0 to advance to the Western Conference Final
2023-11-27 11:52
Pitcher Kenta Maeda and Detroit Tigers agree to a $24 million, two-year contract, AP source says
A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that free agent right-hander Kenta Maeda and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a $24 million, two-year contract
2023-11-27 11:29