Manchester City Thread

[harrybarracuda]

Manchester City have strengthened their defensive options with the signing of Ruben Dias from Benfica.

The 23-year-old centre-back has agreed a six-year deal with Man City and joins for an undisclosed fee.

"To have the opportunity to join a club like Manchester City is a fantastic opportunity for me and one I couldn’t turn down," he told the club's official website.

Undisclosed fee = twice what he's worth.

[Edmond]

To have the opportunity to join a club like Manchester City is a fantastic opportunity for me and one I couldn’t turn down," he told the club's official website from his maid's new penthouse in Dubai.

Hmmm.

[Chittychangchang]

Blip over, City back to emphatic wins.
3-0 against Burnley.

[lom]

^ a win over Burnley, what an achievement!

[Chittychangchang]

Ruben Dias has 19 Portugal caps after captaining his nation at youth levelManchester City believe they have uncovered the heir to former captain Vincent Kompany with the signing of Ruben Dias from Benfica - so could he be the player to fix their defensive problems?
Portugal international centre-back Dias, 23, has joined Pep Guardiola's side for £65m in the wake of City's humbling 5-2 defeat by Leicester City on Sunday.

The 2018-19 Premier League champions finished 18 points behind winners Liverpool last season in their first campaign following club legend Kompany's departure.
City lost nine league games last term despite suffering only six defeats combined across the two previous title-winning campaigns - and six in Guardiola's first season in charge in 2016-17.
Dias has impressed in three years at Benfica, for whom he made 137 appearances, earning selection for Portugal's 2018 World Cup squad at just 21.
But is he the answer to Guardiola's concerns at the back?

• Football Daily podcast: City's Dias delight

Why City spent £65m to land Dias

It is no secret that signing a right-sided central defender has been a priority for Guardiola ever since Kompany's departure left a significant void in City's defence in May 2019.
The failure to secure an immediate replacement for their former skipper was, after all, seen as a major part of City's failure to challenge Liverpool for the title last season.
Guardiola frequently opted to use midfielder Fernandinho as a central defender over Nicolas Otamendi - who has moved to Benfica in a separate deal - and England's John Stones, while injuries have limited Aymeric Laporte to 15 league appearances since August 2019.
Sunday's defeat was unchartered territory for Guardiola, however, as it was the first time in his 686-game career as a manager that one of his sides had conceded five goals. It was also the first time in 438 home games that City have shipped five.
Speaking on City's poor defensive display against Leicester, Match of the Day 2 pundit Darren Fletcher said: "It is just basic defending but the gaps between each member of the back four were too big and there was a lack of communication.
"It looked like a back four that had never played together before - which it was - but it also looked like a back four that was lacking experience - which it definitely wasn't."

• Darren Fletcher's analysis in full

'Leader Dias is one of the best'

Dias played 35 times for Benfica since last August - more than any current Manchester City centre-back - scoring three goals and making 2,319 passes with a completion rate of 88.75%Replacing club legend Kompany, who led City to a first top-flight title since 1968 during his 11 years at Etihad Stadium - eight of which he spent as club captain - is a daunting prospect for anyone.
But Dias has already demonstrated leadership qualities far beyond his years.
Having captained Portugal's Under-19s at the 2016 European Championship, he went on to lead his nation at the U20 World Cup the following year before earning his senior debut at 21 in May 2018.
Now a regular starter, he already has 19 caps to his name and started in his country's Nations League final triumph against the Netherlands last summer.
Speaking on his compatriot's qualities, former Premier League manager Carlos Carvalhal told BBC World Service that Dias "is a leader", a "balanced, strong player" who maintains "100% concentration".
"It is why he played in the Benfica first team at 19, 20," he added. "He is a different character to [Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder] Bruno Fernandes, for example, because he is a defender - Dias is more effective talking to the people around him and he understands what the manager wants.
"After [a match], because he is so concentrated, he is always talking with his colleagues about how to be more effective. I think he will be great at Manchester City.
"Comparing the qualities and age of the boy, I think he is one of the best centre-backs at the moment."
Has Guardiola stumbled upon the right man?

Napoli's Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, 29, was Guardiola's top target, however City were not prepared to pay his £80m price tag - nor were they willing to meet Atletico Madrid's £78m valuation of Uruguay international Jose Gimenez, 25.
Having also ruled out Sevilla's Jules Kounde, and with one week of the summer transfer window remaining, all roads led to Dias.
At six years younger than Koulibaly and cheaper than Gimenez, Dias offers a long-term investment - with time very much on his side if he hopes to emulate Kompany's decorated stay, which included four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups.
His legacy at Benfica was evident as, after captaining and scoring for his side, he embraced his team-mates at the end of his final game on Saturday.

Dias' Portugal team-mate Jose Fonte told TalkSport:
"Ruben is one of my favourite young centre-backs. He's only 23, but he shows great maturity."He has a great work ethic. He wants to learn, he wants to improve. He observes the great defenders, he's interested in knowing the game. It's a great acquisition for Manchester City. They're getting a top, top player who wants to get better and that's very important."
'Dias and City face unbelievable level of scrutiny'

Dias has already tasted success at club and international level - winning the 2019 Nations League with Portugal and the Primeira Liga with Benfica - but can he now help deliver silverware at Manchester City?However, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, pundit Chris Sutton warned City's new big-money signing will be under intense scrutiny and pressure to instantly deliver in the Premier League.
"He has to come and prove himself and hit the ground running," Sutton said.
"It's going to be difficult for him because the scrutiny on him will be unbelievable. For his sake - and Manchester City's sake - you have to really hope that they've really done their due diligence on him and he's going to play well from the start - because you can imagine, if he misplaces a pass or someone dribbles past him, someone will say he's a waste of money.
"City have put themselves under pressure with the manner of their defeat against Leicester. There will be scrutiny and people will be looking and comparing and asking how City are going to touch Liverpool this season. If City want to win the league they must keep clean sheets, defend strongly and do it quickly."
'He was never City's first choice' - analysis

Rob Schofield, BBC World Service
Dias is the latest City recruit to have started life in Benfica's Seixal academy, but unlike compatriots Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo he won't be afforded a season to bed in.
Since Kompany's departure in 2019, City have needed an authoritative, combative, right-footed centre-back and the defeat by Leicester showed they cannot wait any longer.
Dias was not City's first choice. They wanted the finished article but, with their relationship with Napoli irreparable after the Italian club sold Jorginho to Chelsea in 2018, a deal for Koulibaly for less than £70m always looked unlikely.
This may prove better business though. Dias is six years younger, cheaper and offers City the opportunity to offload Otamendi, 32, at the same time.
Koulibaly's form has fluctuated a great deal depending on his defensive partner, while Dias has proven himself as a consistent performer in the three years since breaking into the Benfica first team, as well as a leader - which City sorely need.

[harrybarracuda]

Probably should have bought a goalie instead.

[Chittychangchang]

Tonights prediction City 4 Porto 2

[Chittychangchang]

Sergio!

[Chittychangchang]

City 3 Porto 1

The quad is on biatches

[Chittychangchang]

Big week for Manchester City's youth and women's teams...

[Chittychangchang]

The Blues dominating against Olympiakos tonight in the Champions league, one up already.

[Edmond]

women's team

Good luck to Foden, Sterling and Aguero.

[Chittychangchang]

Good luck to Foden, Sterling and Aguero.

Wanker

[harrybarracuda]

good luck to foden, sterling and aguero.

hahahahahaha

[Chittychangchang]

[Mendip]

^ Baht?

[Edmond]

^^ The price of toilet paper has really increased in this second lockdown!

[Chittychangchang]

Manchester City are pleased to announce that Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year deal with the Club.



MENS TEAM
Guardiola: City the perfect place for me to be a manager


The contract, which now runs to the summer of 2023, sees Guardiola’s commitment to City extended to seven years from his arrival in 2016.
Since joining Manchester City, Pep has had a transformational effect on the Club’s playing style and has guided the team to eight major trophies, setting a series of significant records along the way. In total, the team has won 181 of the 245 matches under his in charge – a win rate of 73.87 percent – winning a piece of silverware every 31 games he has overseen.
Pep’s current five-year stay is already the longest commitment he has made to a football Club since becoming a manager in 2008 – and this extension will see him overtake Joe Mercer and put him second on the Club’s list of longest-serving post-war managers.
Confirming the news, Chairman Khaldoon Mubarak said: “It is testament to the qualities of the man that Pep Guardiola’s passion and intelligent approach are now woven into the very fabric of the football we play and our culture as Club. That impact has been central to our success during his tenure and it is why I am delighted that he shares our view that there is so much more to be achieved both on and off the field.
“Pep’s contract extension is the natural next step in a journey which has evolved over many years. It is a product of the mutual trust and respect that exists between him and the entire Club. It also goes to the stability and creativity at the heart of our football operations. Importantly it is a validation of the football structure and philosophy that has been built over more than a decade and to which he has contributed so much.
“I’m sure all City fans share my delight in this new agreement and in anticipating the exciting opportunities that, with continued hard work, are there to be taken.”
And Guardiola spoke of his delight at signing the deal, saying: “Ever since I arrived at Manchester City I have been made to feel so welcome in the Club and in the city itself- from the players, the staff, the supporters, the people of Manchester and the Chairman and Owner. Since then we have achieved a great deal together, scored goals, won games and trophies, and we are all very proud of that success.
SHOP | OUR PREMIER LEAGUE TRAINING RANGE
“Having that kind of support is the best thing any manager can have. I have everything I could possibly want to do my job well and I am humbled by the confidence the Owner, Chairman, Ferran and Txiki have shown in me to continue for two more years after this season.
“The challenge for us is to continue improving and evolving, and I am very excited and about helping Manchester City do that.”
Everyone at Manchester City is absolutely delighted Pep has extended his stay with us and we wish him every success in the remainder of his time here.

GUARDIOLA – A RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT

In 11 full seasons as a manager, Guardiola has collected an incredible 29 major trophies.
He spent four seasons in charge of Barcelona, where he won 14 major trophies, including the Club’s first ever treble in his first year in charge.
After a year’s sabbatical in New York, he took the reins at Bayern Munich in 2013, where he added a further seven trophies to his CV whilst revolutionising the Bavarians’ style of play.
And after a season of transition in his first year at City, the 2017-18 campaign was the best in the Club’s history as Guardiola’s side set a plethora of new English top-flight and Premier League records, including winning the title with 100 points – the most ever collected.
In 2018-19 we became the first side to win a clean-sweep of domestic honours, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield. Indeed, our title win, achieved with 98 points, meant we were the first team in a decade to win back-to-back Premier Leagues.
His full record as a manager:
Barcelona (2008-12)
La Liga (3), Copa del Rey (2), Spanish Super Cup (3), Champions League (2), Super Cup (2), Club World Cup (2)
Bayern Munich (2013-16)
Bundesliga (3), DFB-Pokal (2), UEFA Super Cup (1), FIFA Club World Cup (1)
Manchester City (2016-present)
Premier League (2), FA Cup (1), League Cup (3), Community Shield (2)



Play Video
WATCH: Pep Guardiola: The Journey Continues





MENS TEAM
Foden scores twice as England thrash Iceland


CITY HAVE SET A SERIES OF SIGNIFICANT PREMIER LEAGUE MILESTONES UNDER PEP’S WATCH

Most points: 100
Most wins: 32
Most home wins: 18
Most away wins: 16
Most consecutive wins: 18
Most consecutive away wins: 11
Biggest title-winning margin: 19
Most goals: 107
Best goal difference: +79
The 2019-20 season saw Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, and Riyad Mahrez all score at least 10 goals - the first in the history of the Premier League five players from the same team have hit double figures.
PEP’S CITY TENURE SO FAR

Days: 1603 (1 July 2016 – 19 November 2020)
Played: 245
Won: 181
Drawn: 28
Lost: 36
Goals scored: 607
Goals against: 209
Goal difference: 398
Trophies: 8
Win percentage: 73.87%
Games per trophy: 30.625

[harrybarracuda]

Pep Guardiola is pleased to announce that he's conned another massive bag of cash out of the silly Arab for doing fuck all but spend the other big bags of cash.

[Joe 90]

[harrybarracuda]

Now it's going to cost them even more money to sack Guardiola.

[hallelujah]

Do you think he'll manage to keep them up this season?

[Joe 90]

Do you think he'll manage to keep them up this season?

Not the greatest of starts granted.

It's been a weird start to the season all round.

Could be worse though, we could have ole at the wheel

[harrybarracuda]

Not the greatest of starts granted.

It's been a weird start to the season all round.

Could be worse though, we could have ole at the wheel

chitty.....

[hallelujah]

Not the greatest of starts granted.

It's been a weird start to the season all round.

Could be worse though, we could have ole at the wheel

You might have a chance of beating us if you had Ole at the wheel.