Tag Archives: Guardiola

Ex-Eaglets coach accuses Guardiola of betraying Iheanacho

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Kelechi Iheanacho’s lack of game time at Manchester City is a form of betrayal by manager, Pep Guardiola, according to coach Manu Garba, the former Nigeria U-17 coach, who gave Iheanacho his breakthrough at the 2013 World Youth Championship.

Iheanacho has missed the last seven games of Manchester City. He failed to make the matchday squad on five occasions and was twice left on the bench by Guardiola.

Even the injury to Gabriel Jesus hasn’t worked in his favour as many speculated and Garba believes the 20-year-old has not been fairly treated by the manager.

“He (Iheanacho) pulled out of the Nigerian team to the last Olympics in Rio on the orders of Guardiola, who also made the club sign an extension with him. Fast forward June to this day and he can’t get into the team,” Manu said.

“It’s normal for him to feel betrayed by the man, who made him sacrifice the chance to play at the Olympics with Nigeria. He is a good lad and will definitely prove people wrong in the future.”

Iheanacho was listed among the reserves in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League game against Monaco, but he never made it off the bench. Guardiola preferred Jesus Navas and Fernando when he needed goals in the game against Monaco.

Iheanacho’s Chances at City Slim – Guardiola

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stated that young striker Kelechi Iheancho must have to make improvements to get a slot in his team.

This is just as Barcelona and Tottenham are said to be monitoring the situation with a view of making a move for the Super Eagles striker. He has started only three Premier League games under Guardiola. With £27m Brazilian international Gabriel Jesus set to arrive in January, his opportunities will be limited further.

Leading scorer Sergio Aguero is at the top of the pecking order, with Guardiola preferring to play with a lone striker.

When asked what would have to happen to get the 20-year-old more first team opportunities, Guardiola said: “Change the coach maybe!

“Of course he deserves to play, but there are many, many others who deserve to play too.

“Our job is so uncomfortable for these kind of decisions.

“Normally when these guys don’t train good, when they are not nice guys with his team-mates, it doesn’t matter, but that is not the case with Kele.

“My advice is keep going, keep fighting, sooner or later everything is coming back, and of course he’s going to have his minutes,” he said.

“Until now he played good, but in the big teams sometimes that happens. You can play just 11 players and that’s all.”

Barcelona scouts are on the look out for Iheanacho. There is also an interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

Premier League: I made a mistake in freezing Yaya Toure out – Guardiola

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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has admitted he may have made a big mistake in freezing Yaya Toure out of the team.

 

Toure scored a match-winning brace, as City defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 on Saturday, after being left out for almost three months by the Spaniard.

 

The Ivorian midfielder will be unavailable when Guardiola travels with his team to face Borussia Mochengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday, as he was excluded from the squad for the competition.

 

“I’m here to take decisions. Maybe I make mistakes, but I have to take decisions and I respect that all the people cannot agree with me. That happened,” Guardiola said.

 

“I spoke in the last month, many times with Yaya because he was my player with Barcelona, I know him very well. So I know how he is like a player.

 

“As a player there is no doubt — if there was a doubt he would not be here. He is another guy to compete with our midfield players and increase our level.”

Iniesta Tips Man City To Compete For Champions League Glory

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Andres Iniesta expects Manchester City to be challenging for Champions League glory under Pep Guardiola.

Iniesta remains a fulcrum of the era of success Guardiola set in motion in 2008-09 at Barcelona, where the Catalan giants beat Manchester United in the Champions League final to complete a sensational treble.

Guardiola had the better of his latest clash with United in the Premier League on Saturday, as City made it six wins from as many competitive fixtures under his stewardship in a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.

Next up are Borussia Monchengladbach in Champions League Group C – a section City also share with Barca and Celtic.

“When the group was drawn it was inevitable that much would be made about Pep returning to Barcelona again – but that is not what this group is about,” Iniesta told said.

“It is a group with four very strong teams – and it would be disrespectful to make it all about Pep and Barcelona.

“What Pep has done for the club will always be remembered, but he is the coach of Manchester City now – and I believe with their quality and Pep’s leadership they will be a club that will be challenging for the Champions League this season.”

 

I Have Never Watched United Play Under Mourinho – Guardiola

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Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, has claimed that he has not yet watched Manchester United play, as the two teams prepare to face each other on September 10 at Old Trafford.
Both clubs have won their first three games of the Premier League campaign ahead of the Derby.

Guardiola, who will reignite his rivalry with United boss, Jose Mourinho, told reporters: “Still I didn’t see Manchester United playing, so now I have 10 days to see United, Borussia Monchehgladbach and other teams.

“We have to make an amazing performance to win at Old Trafford. I can imagine the atmosphere. I am looking forward to living that experience.

“Hopefully, they [City’s players] come back with no injuries and in a good mood and we can do it.”

Manchester City Sign Sane

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The 20-year-old winger has joined the Citizens from Schalke on a five-year deal for an initial fee believed to be in the region of £37m, which could rise to £42m based on add-ons

Manchester City have completed the signing of Schalke winger Leroy Sane on a five-year deal.

Sane had been linked with a number of clubs throughout the summer but has opted to move to the Citizens, with the Premier League club parting with a reported £37 million to secure the signature of the 20-year-old.

It is also understood that the deal could eventually rise to £42m due to add-ons.

Sane, who came through the youth ranks at Schalke, scored 13 goals in 57 senior appearances for the club and was also named in the Germany squad for Euro 2016.

And the young attacker has now revealed that he cannot wait to begin work under Pep Guardiola as the new Premier League season draws near.

“I feel really good, I’m happy to be here and happy that it has all worked out. Now I can settle here in Manchester and play for City,” he said.

“One of the reasons I decided to join City was Pep Guardiola; he convinced me to come here and that I can continue to progress. I know I will learn a lot under him and now I can take the next step in my career.

“I followed Pep at Barcelona and at Bayern where he achieved a lot and worked really well with young players.

“I think he can make me a more complete player. I think I will need a bit of time to start with because it’s another league and there’s a different style of play but I think I can adapt very quickly.”

Sane becomes Guardiola’s fifth signing of the summer, following the acquisitions of Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Aaron Mooy, and the Catalan coach has lavished praise on his latest recruit.

“He is a special talent, and an exciting player that I think our supporters will enjoy watching,” he added.

“He has great technical ability, is comfortable on the ball and there is much to admire about the way he plays football. He is fast, enjoys creating chances for others, works hard for the team and scores goals, too. He also has a very positive attitude and will fit in well with our squad.

“At 20, he is still developing as a player but he is already a member of the German national side and I think he will be a fantastic asset to our Club. We are very happy he decided to join us.”

Manchester United Target Pedro Can Play For Any Team In The World – Pep Guardiola

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The 28-year-old Spain international is a target for Louis van Gaal, and the Bayern boss believes the forward would be a success at Old Trafford

Manchester United target Pedro has the ability to play for “any team in the world,” according to Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola.

Pedro, 28, is reportedly being lined up by the Red Devils who have agreed to sell Angel Di Maria to Paris Saint-Germain for £44.5 million, 

Spain international Pedro has been frustrated by a lack of opportunities at Camp Nou and Guardiola – who promoted Pedro from Barcelona’s B side to the first-team squad – is confident the forward will succeed if he moves to Old Trafford.

“Pedro has played millions of games for Barcelona … so that shows the quality he has,” he told reporters.

“He is a world champion; he is a European champion; he has won the Champions League and many league titles.

“There is no doubt about his quality and he has the ability to play in any team in the world.”

Messi Isn’t Barcelona’s Only Piece Of Art – Luis Enrique

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Luis Enrique says Lionel Messi is not the only “piece of art” in Barcelona‘s ranks after his team tore Bayern Munich apart late on in a 3-0 win in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg.

Messi unsurprisingly stole the show as he continued his amazing season with a late double before Neymar made it three goals in 13 minutes in injury time.

However, the Argentine’s coach was eager to praise his entire side as they restricted Bayern to just a handful of chances and avoided conceding an away goal.

“Guardiola’s tactics were according to his style, his team and his philosophy,” Enrique said of his former team-mate. “And we played the same as we always do.

“Messi no longer surprises me. He has ambition and hunger, but I would not say Messi is the only piece of art at Barca. The work of the whole team was incredible on top of the fact we didn’t concede any goals.”

The Camp Nou win leaves Barca with one foot in the Champions League final and, though Enrique admits the showing could not have been any better, he is aware there are still 90 minutes for the Bavarians to conjure up a sensational shock.

“We are a little closer to the final now,” the head coach conceded. “It was the perfect result that takes us a little closer to Berlin, but we still have a second leg to navigate.

“I am enormously pleased with everything my players did. We defeated a team of huge ability. Their players barely had a sniff at goal and that’s just as pleasing. It was simply a brilliant result.”

Barcelona have a Liga clash at home to David Moyes’ Real Sociedad – whom they lost to in their first game of 2015 – to look forward to before travelling to face Bayern in next Tuesday’s second leg at the Allianz Arena.

We Want Mourinho, Guardiola, Others, Says Nigeria Sports Minister

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The Nigeria Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo, has told the Nigeria Football Federation that Nigeria only deserves first class Coaches like Stephen Keshi, Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho.

Briefing journalists, Mr. Danagogo said the NFF should search for a first class foreign coach in the mould of the aforementioned coaches in case Stephen Keshi refuses to sign a new contract with the Nigeria “And when we say the best hands, we should be looking at coaches in the class of the Jose Mourinho’s of this world, Pep Guardiola… Those are the kind of coaches we should be looking at.

“What I have urged the NFF to do is make sure that should Keshi not be given the job, a coach with a lesser pedigree than Keshi is employed. I have said we should encourage our local coaches,”

“Many have argued that presently Keshi is the best we have for now, while others are of the view that he has done his best…”

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