Tag: Manchester City

UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Review — Tuesday (Match Wrap, Breakdown and Post-Match Quotes)

The 2023-24 UEFA Champions League entered into the quarter final phase and it delivered.

The first leg of the first set of two games were settled in Madrid and London.

Defending champions Manchester City travelled to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu to face the record winners of the competition Real Madrid.

A thrilling contest was expected and a thriller of a show was put on.

Bernardo Silva opened the scoring 120 seconds into the game, outsmarting the Madrid defence and Andriy Lunin in goal from a direct free kick.

However, on 11 minutes, Madrid equalised as Eduardo Camavinga’s shot from outside the area bounced off City’s captain on the night Ruben Dias and Los Blancos took the lead two minutes later, after Rodrygo Goes sprinted from the left hand side of the halfway line, getting the better of Manuel Akanji and Stefan Ortega Moreno in goal, to give the hosts the advantage in the first 45.

With their backs against the wall, City had to respond and that they did in the 75th minute.

Phil Foden netted a bolt out of the City blue to level matters and two minutes after, Josko Gvardiol also scored with a brilliant effort to put the visitors ahead.

However, in what was a game of goals and great goals at that, Federico Valverde left his mark with a superb volley from a Vinicius Junior cross – the Brazilian’s 10th assist in Europe this term – to ensure there is all to play for in the second leg at the Etihad.

One man who has been criticized for his overall output when he is not putting the ball in the back of the net is Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian had just 20 touches – losing possession with seven of those touches (35%), one shot, no takeons and misplacing three of his nine passes.

Pep Guardiola will definitely need his poacher firing in the return leg.

3-3 it finished in Madrid.

Speaking after the game, Carlo Ancelotti spoke of his team, saying: “I think we competed well. We have to believe. It was a very close match. We have to have the same attitude on the return leg.

“The plan was to surprise City with Vinicius as a 9 and Rodrygo on the left. I think the plan worked. I’m satisfied.

“When we pressed high, we played better. When our energy levels dropped down, City were better. We need to have the same attitude at Etihad. If we compete at the Etihad, then maybe we can make something good happen.

“We learned a lot from last year’s defeat at Etihad, I think it showed tonight.

“We wanted to win, of course. It was a fair result. We controlled the game well and I am satisfied with the performance. Our counter attacks were great.”

In London, Arsenal welcomed Bayern Munich to the Emirates – in what was the Gunners’ first quarter final appearance in well over a decade.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been in imperious form in the Premier League, giving hope that they could cause an upset against the team they faced last in their previous season in the competition – in what was a 5-1 loss to the German giants.

Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock with a well placed effort in the 12th minute but the lead did not last long as former Gunner Serge Gnabry restored parity after defensive miscommunication.

Arsenal has conceded just four goals in 2024 but their defensive lapses in this contest continued as they gave away a penalty in the 32nd minute after a brilliant solo run from Leroy Sane and Harry Kane made no mistake from the spot to give the Bavarian the lead.

Arsenal kept on searching for the leveller and their efforts were rewarded as Leandro Trossard became the first player to score in his first four consecutive home games for the North London club in the Champions League.

All to play for in Munich in the second leg.

Arteta faced the media after the game and gave his opinion of what transpired.

“The game had different moments. We started really well, we were dominant, didn’t concede anything. We scored a really good goal and after that is the moment of the game when Ben [White] is in front of [Manuel] Neuer and if it was 2-0 it would have been a very different game.

“They scored and it created some uncertainty, the second goal was unusual for us to concede but it is the Champions League, you make a mistake and get punished.

“We allowed them the spaces to run and they were very dangerous but even at 2-1 we tried to make a rhythm, we were composed and didn’t try to rush things and the changes had an impact on the game.

“I have a lot of belief we can go there and beat them. We have to prepare really well.”

UCL Quarter Final first leg results;
Real Madrid 3-3 Manchester City
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich

Fixtures for Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Paris Saint-Germain vs FC Barcelona – 8:00pm (Parc Des Princes)
Atletico De Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund – 8:00pm (Wanda Metropolitano)

Guardiola Fires Back At Roy Keane, Disagrees With Haaland Criticisms

Pep Guardiola has responded to criticisms targeted at Erling Haaland, stating that his poacher remains “the best striker in the world”.

Haaland came under fire for his performance, from pundits alike, against Arsenal in City’s goalless draw at the Etihad.

One particular opinion was Roy Keane’s – who labelled the Norwegian’s overall play as a “League Two player” when he is not scoring the goals.

Despite being the top scorer in the Premier League this season with 18 goals, Keane feels Haaland should be able to do much more – a sentiment Guardiola refused to agree with.

“I’m not agreeing with him, absolutely not.

“He is the best striker in the world and helped us to win what we won last season. He’s exceptional.”

Guardiola also weighed in on criticisms aimed at players, especially when it comes from former footballers.

The Spaniard added: “I’m surprised when it comes from former players.

“Journalists I understand but former players, I’m surprised.

“It’s like former referees criticising referees… memory disappears quick.”

City, sit third on the standings, are set to play host to top four chasers Aston Villa on Wednesday as they aim to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool whom they are three points behind.

“We Both Want To Win. I Will Prepare The Game To Win It” – Arteta Speaks On Friendly Rivalry With Guardiola Ahead City Clash

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed his admiration for Pep Guardiola while also admitting his sentiments will not get in his way of charging his troops to victory when Arsenal visit Manchester City in a crucial Premier League clash on Sunday.

The Gunners boss also stated he would want his side to enjoy the moment in the game against a City side, whom he insists have raised the bar in world football.

Arteta, who was Guardiola’s assistant at City before becoming Arsenal boss in 2019, spoke highly of his relationship with the former Barcelona manager while also citing that sitting in opposite dugouts would alter their relationship for 90 minutes.

Arteta was an assistant under Guardiola at City before taking the managerial reins at Arsenal, and the two Spaniards’ friendship goes back to their days as players. Sitting in opposing dugouts, however, has meant a change in their relationship.

“It has to change, [but]my admiration for him certainly not,” Arteta said of Guardiola in his pre-match press conference.

“My opinion is he is the best coach in the world by a mile and he’s one of the nicest people I have met in football.

“But our roles at the moment are where they are and it has to adapt to the situation. Probably I would prefer to [beat] somebody else that I don’t have those feelings [of friendship], but it is not a choice.

“We both want to win. We know each other very well and I will prepare the game to win it.”

Triumph at the Etihad will see Arsenal end a nine-year winless run at the home of the defending champions and boost their hopes of claiming the title.

The North London outfit have been in fine form, winning their last eight games on the bounce and scoring 33 goals.

However, Arteta maintains that his charges have to keep up with City, encouraging them to “enjoy the moment” on Sunday evening.

“We’ve done a lot already to be in the position that we are and now we have to embrace and enjoy the moment and go for it,” Arteta told reporters.

“City have raised the bar in this league, I think in football in general, to a level that hadn’t been seen before.

“And that’s the beauty of the sport, that makes you better, that challenges you more and you have to keep up with that pace. And that’s what we are trying to do.”

In what is looking like a title race for the ages, with 10 games to go, Arsenal sit top of the standings on goals difference as they have amassed an equal 64 points with second placed Liverpool and Man City sit third with 63 points.