football
Guardiola confidently addresses Manchester City’s failure to maintain composure, which led to their significant collapse in Madrid.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed concern over his team’s inability to maintain composure when defending a lead after Real Madrid mounted a dramatic late comeback to secure a 3-2 victory in the first leg of their Champions League play-off. The match was held at the Etihad Stadium, where City initially seemed poised for a win.
This season, City’s performance has diminished drastically from the high standards they have set during Guardiola’s illustrious nine-year tenure, with the recurring issue of conceding late goals plaguing the team. In fact, City has allowed a staggering eight goals in the last 15 minutes of their past five Champions League matches. This troubling trend has also cost them dearly in the group stage, where they surrendered leads against Feyenoord and Paris Saint-Germain. Following this latest setback, hopes of advancing to the last 16 have been severely jeopardized, particularly with the second leg looming at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu on February 19.
“I am not skilled enough to instill the necessary composure in the team to navigate these situations effectively,” Guardiola reflected after the match. “The stark reality is that we are lacking stability. This pattern has repeated itself far too often.”
Erling Haaland showcased his goal-scoring prowess by giving City the lead on two separate occasions during the match, first with a precise strike and then again shortly after Kylian Mbappé had leveled the score. However, City’s defensive frailties were laid bare in the closing stages as a series of mistakes led to their downfall. Goalkeeper Ederson made a critical error when he poorly cleared the ball, inadvertently redirecting Vinicius Junior’s shot into the path of Brahim Diaz, who slotted the ball home to equalize. Moments later, Vinicius capitalized on hesitant defending from Rico Lewis, sprinting down the pitch before setting up Jude Bellingham, who simply tapped the ball into an unguarded net, sealing the thrilling comeback for Madrid.
“After taking a 2-1 lead, we let it slip away, just like it has happened so many times this season against teams like Feyenoord, Sporting Lisbon, Brentford, and Manchester United,” Guardiola lamented. “In the end, we were the architects of our own downfall, and at this level, such mistakes can be incredibly costly. This is not the first occurrence of this.”
City defender John Stones voiced the collective emotions in the dressing room, highlighting Guardiola’s call for greater accountability from his star-studded squad so that they could lift themselves out of this rut. “There’s a palpable sense of anger and frustration,” said Stones. “We need to find a way to close out games more effectively. The manager has stressed the importance of taking responsibility for our actions on the pitch. When we encounter difficult moments, we must rise to the occasion. Today, we had a fantastic opportunity to head to the Bernabéu with a 2-1 lead.”
This matchup continues a fierce rivalry, as it marks the fourth consecutive season that City and Madrid have clashed in the Champions League. Madrid has come out on top in two of the previous three encounters, with the winner from each tie historically going on to lift the prestigious trophy. In contrast to their previous visits to Manchester—where City often dominated possession and chances—this time it was Madrid who created the majority of scoring opportunities. Star players Mbappé, Bellingham, and Vinicius were unexpectedly wasteful in front of goal until the dramatic finale turned their fortunes.
“It was a commendable performance by our side, and despite having numerous chances, we should take satisfaction from the result,” stated Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. “We didn’t deserve to be trailing 1-2. We were a constant threat, and ultimately the win was merited.”
This victory was even more significant for the 15-time European champions given the daunting circumstances—they traveled to Manchester without their entire first-choice defensive lineup. David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, and Dani Carvajal were all sidelined due to injury, prompting Ancelotti to field midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde in the backline, alongside young prospect Raul Asencio. “The four defenders, who had never shared the pitch together prior to this match, managed to deliver a strong performance because the entire team worked cohesively defensively,” Ancelotti added with pride. “When faced with such emergencies, this group demonstrates remarkable sacrifice. I was genuinely surprised by how much commitment the team displayed in this critical moment.”
Ivan Toney has voiced his anger after finding his car broken into during his time in London. The England international, who currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, is enjoying his summer break in the UK.
His visit took a turn for the worse when he discovered his black car with both its front and rear windows shattered. Toney took to Instagram to post a photo of the damage, captioning it: “This is why I hate London.”
The incident occurred while Toney was in the city for the Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park, where he was seen with fellow footballers Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho. It remains unclear if any belongings were stolen from the vehicle, or where exactly in London the break-in took place. Crime continues to be a pressing concern in various boroughs, with over 950,000 crimes reported in the capital last year. Former Metropolitan Police officers have criticized the effectiveness of law enforcement, suggesting that criminals act without fear of repercussions.
Toney’s experience reflects a wider issue, as phone thefts and gang-related youth crime are also rising across the city. Public transport hasn’t been immune either, with over 31,000 offences recorded on London’s network between January and August last year.
The 28-year-old forward made a £40 million move to Al-Ahli from Brentford last year, rapidly making an impact by scoring 30 goals in his debut season. Despite the recent car incident, it’s still uncertain if Toney will be called up for England’s upcoming matches. He was part of the squad for the June fixtures against Andorra and Senegal but had limited playing time, mostly sitting on the bench during the 1-0 victory over Andorra and only briefly playing in the 3-1 loss to Senegal.
England will face Andorra again at Wembley in September, followed by matches against Serbia, Wales, and Latvia in the following months. Whether Toney features in the lineup remains to be seen.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the call-up of University of Connecticut forward Chioma Okafor to participate in the Super Falcons’ training camp in Lisbon ahead of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), as reported by www.aclsports.com.
Okafor has officially decided to represent Nigeria internationally, putting to rest any doubts about her dual nationality. With a Nigerian father and a Malawian mother, the 20-year-old ultimately chose the Super Falcons after discussions with both football associations. The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) confirmed her choice and extended their best wishes for her international career.
Renowned for her speed and scoring skills, Okafor plays collegiate football in the United States. Her inclusion is anticipated to enhance Nigeria’s offensive line, as the nine-time African champions aim to regain their continental title.
The Super Falcons are set to commence their training camp in Lisbon soon, with a friendly match against Portugal lined up, followed by another game against Ghana’s Black Queens in Morocco. Okafor’s selection heralds an exciting new phase in her career, with a potential debut on one of Africa’s most significant football platforms.
SOURCE: aclsports.com
Manchester United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, expressed on Tuesday that the absence from Champions League football might actually benefit the club as he works on reviving the storied team. Speaking to the press in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Amorim reflected on United’s disappointing season, where they finished 15th in the Premier League, marking their worst performance since 1974.
The team missed out not only on a prestigious Champions League spot but also the financial rewards that come with it after their defeat to Tottenham in the Europa League final last week.
“I believe that not being in the Champions League could be an advantage for us to enhance our performance, to prepare for matches better, and to establish the core group we need for the future,” said Amorim, who took over from Erik ten Hag during the season but struggled to turn things around.
“It’s beneficial for us to utilize the absence of European games,” he added, lightening the mood when his phone alarm went off during the press conference ahead of Wednesday’s friendly against a Southeast Asian XI.
Given the financial constraints in acquiring players for his desired formation, Amorim faces a significant challenge in returning United to the upper echelons of football next season. “Right now, our goal is to win the first game. We have a lot of work ahead this summer to prepare the team,” he noted.
“When you’re Manchester United, there’s an expectation to be at the top. However, we need to grasp the current context,” he said. He emphasized the importance of focusing on immediate goals: “I don’t want the team to think big; let’s just aim for winning the first game and then take it from there.”
Amorim hinted that he might provide opportunities for fringe players during their upcoming friendly match. The club hopes that their friendly matches in Malaysia and a game against Hong Kong on Friday will generate necessary revenue, with reports indicating that the trip could bring in approximately $10 million (£7.8 million) for the club.
Midfielder Mason Mount expressed his excitement upon arriving in the humid Kuala Lumpur after a quick departure following a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday. He noted that fans greeted the team at the airport, ready to take pictures and welcome them to the country. “We got off the plane, and there were hundreds of people waiting for us. We’re thrilled to be here and looking forward to the game tomorrow,” he shared.
Kuala Lumpur is expecting highs of 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) this week, with thunderstorms forecasted on game day at the 84,000-capacity Bukit Jalil national stadium.
AFP
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