Manchester City Thread

[Joe 90]

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has urged Erling Haaland to focus more on feeling relaxed than scoring goals.
City resume their Champions League defence on Tuesday at FC Copenhagen in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Haaland recently returned from two months out through injury and Guardiola feels the prolific Norwegian has been preoccupied by quickly getting among the goals again.
"He is defined on goals, but it is not just scoring a goal," Guardiola said.
"As much it's how he is clapping, encouraging his mates and the first intense press. This is what we need from Erling.
"But we cannot forget he has been two months out. Back to the dynamic is not easy.
"He's a huge competitor who wants to score goals. OK, we know that, so relax.
"If we don't score today, or if he doesn't score in 10 minutes, it's OK. In the process he has to try because the team always wins when they overcome bad moments."
Guardiola felt Saturday's Premier League win against Everton was a good example, with Haaland having a quiet first half before scoring twice in the second half to secure the 2-0 win.

[Joe 90]

Pre match trophy tour..

[Joe 90]

[cyrille]

Pre match trophy tour..

How typically low key and modest.


Surely the locals will have been as impressed as everyone in the UK.

[harrybarracuda]

"This is how much we cheat".

[Joe 90]

Erling Haaland scored five goals as Manchester City secured a place in the FA Cup sixth-round with a superb 6-2 victory at Luton Town.
And it was team-mate Kevin De Bruyne that assisted each of his first four goals as City made light work of a tricky tie at Kenilworth Road.
Haaland took his tally to 27 goals for the season with his first hatric away from the Etihad Stadium as he equalled the Club record for most FA Cup goals in a single game.
The night was wrapped up by Mateo Kovacic when he added a sumptuous sixth in front of the jubilant away supporters to round off the win in style.

[Joe 90]

Roll on the derby on Sunday

[harrybarracuda]

Hal won't be watching it - he says.



I might not be watching it as I'm up early on Monday to drive down to Hua Hin.

Just score a hatful in the first half and I can maybe peek until half time and still get a good nights sleep.

[Joe 90]

I fear that Utd will bang 10 past City!

I can't bear too watch it.

[david44]

I'll stick my neck out and go for the draw?

Manchester City vs. Manchester United: Live stream, TV channel. In the United Kingdom, the match can be seen on Sky Sports. Fans in the United States can watch live on Peacock

No Spoiler headlines please as I hope to stay awake but may watch on catch up

So Please Chitty no posts of dancing in the street nor

hal

"Emptyhad in tears as Ten Hag's ten man heroes pull off a draw"

[Bettyboo]

^ City won, 5-1. Rashford played crap. Anthony didn't score, pass, create anything or track back (he was one of their better players). The captain, Fernado, fell over a lot and pulled faces (some Swedes in the crowd felt so sorry for him that they wrote a song about it).

[Switch]

It would be typical of City to lose this one. Utd playing crap. City on form thanks to the return of De Bruyne, and Haaland scoring for fun.

[Joe 90]

v

[Joe 90]

Pep Guardiola hailed Phil Foden as the "best player in the Premier League right now" after his second-half double ensured Manchester City came from behind to beat Manchester United at Etihad Stadium.
In a game packed with international stars, it was two local boys who provided the key moments.

The visitors had led through Marcus Rashford's sensational eighth-minute strike from 30 yards.
However, in a contest City dominated, Foden took centre stage.
There was an element of controversy over his second-half equaliser. United boss Erik ten Hag was booked for arguing his side should have had a free-kick in the City half when Rashford went down under Kyle Walker's challenge.
Contact was minimal and within seconds Foden had curled a superb shot past Andre Onana.
Foden then burst away from a static Casemiro to score City's second from Julian Alvarez's return pass before Erling Haaland rounded off the scoring in stoppage time, after the Norwegian earlier missed an open goal from barely three yards.
"It is the amount of games he is playing," Guardiola told Match of the Day about Foden.
"He was always a talented player but now he is more mature and understands more the game, especially defensively. He can play middle, right, make moments and cut inside, play in the left, scoring from the left.
"What can I say? He is the best player in the Premier League right now for the amount of things he does. Unbelievable."
It was City's sixth win in seven meetings against United, who suffered their 11th Premier League defeat of the season.
More importantly, the result means Pep Guardiola's side move to within a point of leaders Liverpool before next week's trip to Anfield.

[harrybarracuda]

before next week's trip to Anfield

Anyone know a good sports bar in Hua Hin?

[Edmond]

England looking good for the summer.


Foden Belli Saka behind Kane, in front of Rice and umm, err, Mount. *looks around shiftily *

[Joe 90]

Anyone know a good sports bar in Hua Hin?

London bar

The owner is called Paul a Brummy and his wife Looney Tune.

[helge]

The Norwegian star was on trial at FCK, but not everyone wanted him: 'Too bad for them'


In 2016, Erling Haaland was on trial at FC Copenhagen. On Wednesday, he awaits as an opponent when the Danish champions face Manchester City in the Champions League.

OF
Mathias Hauge Jacobsen


There are the good decisions and then there are the ones that are under discussion.

One of the last we can probably call it, as FC Copenhagen in 2016 did not strike and took advantage of the opportunity to secure a young Norwegian named Erling Haaland.

I think some people at the club wanted me, but not everyone, so it didn't happen. Too bad for them, but maybe good for me.

ERLING HAALAND, MANCHESTER CITY STRIKER

Thus, the striker, who is currently under contract at Manchester City and is considered one of the world's very best footballers, explains that there were bids for him from the Copenhageners eight years ago, where he was on trial at the club.

"I think some people at the club wanted me, but not everyone, so it didn't happen. Too bad for them, but maybe good for me," Haaland said at the press conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match against FC Copenhagen.

"I should have switched to their U19 team, and of course I was interested in that. That's why I went to trial training. Ståle Solbakken was head coach [of the senior team, ed.], and I got a shirt from him with "Haaland" on it. I still have it at home," says the Norwegian.

'Like the club'


Instead, the trip went to Molde back home in Norway, and it was perhaps very good, as he himself puts it.

Since then, the now 23-year-old Norwegian has not looked back, but has instead beaten balls into goal on the assembly line at first Molde, then Red Bull Salzburg, then Borussia Dortmund and now also for Premier League and Champions League champions Manchester City.

Since his arrival in the summer of 2022, he has scored 80 goals in 84 appearances, and perhaps that is precisely why Haaland does not hold a grudge that it never turned into a trip in the white FCK shirt.

"I like the club to be honest. It's a nice club. I also have some friends who live in Copenhagen. They are behind the goal for a lot of games. They enjoy it and I like the club."






In February 2017, Erling Haaland moved from Bryne to Molde. That move could potentially have been to FC Copenhagen instead. (Photo: © Svein Ove Ekornesvag, Associated Press)
However, FC Copenhagen should not expect to feel Erling Haaland's feelings for the club when Manchester City face the Danish champions on Wednesday evening.

Here it is about a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League competition, to which only one of the two sides can advance.

In this endeavour, the English have the best starting point after they won the first leg in Parken with 3-1 three weeks ago.

[Joe 90]

[helge]

No comments on City v Real Madrid ?

Any predictions, Joe ?

[Joe 90]

No comments on City v Real Madrid ?

Any predictions, Joe ?

That is the worse possible draw for us!

I predict a lot of diving from those wankers.

A bias referee naturally.

City will get at least two yellow and maybe 1 red card.

[cyrille]

Hopefully that dwarf tw@ Foden.

Who should actually be banned from the CL because his goal celebration violates UEFA rules.

[Bettyboo]

I don't like the current look of the table:






The two top teams and two other strong teams on the same side of the draw:

[Joe 90]

FFS Stones off injured playing a shitty friendly against Belgium.
Thank fvck Pep has told De Bruyne to pull a sickie as we have the Gooners on Sunday.

[cyrille]

The word ‘expulsion’ seems to be trending.