Manchester City Thread

[malmomike77]

Yes yes the weight of history won it Syb.

[cyrille]

Villarreal had a player who wasn’t good enough for Arsenal.

If City had drawn Villarreal they’d almost certainly be in the final.

The quality of opposition can never be discounted as a factor in a team’s performance.

[Bonecollector]

One word for that occurrence, brutal.

[cyrille]

First attempt on target from RM was in the 92nd minute.

[harrybarracuda]

First attempt on target from RM was in the 92nd minute.

Quite a feat considering they scored in the 90th (+1)

[harrybarracuda]

Should really post this in case Chitty missed the game and wants to catch up. He's not been here all day, maybe he's really busy, sorting out his sock drawer or something.

[cyrille]

90th (+1)

OK, 90th.

You get the point.

[harrybarracuda]

Another fascinating read, I'm sure all of my fellow TDers will thoroughly enjoy it

Manchester City crashed out of the Champions League in heartbreaking fashion as Real Madrid produced an astonishing late comeback at the Bernabeu to book their place in the final against Liverpool.
City were leading 5-3 on aggregate heading into the final minute of the 90 but Rodrygo's quickfire double sent the game to extra-time before Karim Benzema's penalty completed the turnaround.


Why do Pep Guardiola's side continue to collapse at key moments on the European stage? Why did they start to go long in extra time? And did Kevin de Bruyne really go missing when it mattered?

And the trend didn't stop when he made the move to Manchester. In 2017, two goals in eight minutes against Monaco saw City crash out at the last-16 stage. A year later, they were dumped out by Liverpool in the quarter-finals after conceding three goals in 19 minutes. In 2019, Tottenham scored two goals in three minutes to stun Guardiola's side, and in 2020 City were undone by Lyon in the last eight with two goals in eight minutes.


Surely, though, with back-to-back finals in sight, conceding three times in six minutes against Real Madrid on Wednesday night is the biggest collapse of all.
Guardiola has won this competition before, but you begin to wonder if he will ever win it again.


Nothing illustrated Manchester City's desperation quite like the number of balls they sent skyward in the closing stages of the match. They contested nine aerial duels in the second period of extra-time - almost as many as the 10 in the previous hour and three quarters.
Ederson typified the shift in approach. This is a goalkeeper who has completed every single pass he has attempted in half a dozen Premier League games this season. He has a passing accuracy of 88 per cent. In Madrid, that dipped to 64 per cent. Late on, it was 50 per cent.


The football that made them favourites was gone. This was not Guardiola's game. Their pass success dipped to 71 per cent in that second half of extra-time. Players were robbed six times in the final 20 minutes. That had not happened once in the opening 20 minutes.
There was utter panic and it was all so unlike Manchester City. Even when behind in the Premier League they would continue to pass the ball, trusting in their methods. Here, swept up in the occasion, crippled by the chaos, they became just another desperate team.


Kevin de Bruyne played a crucial role in City's first-leg victory at the Etihad Stadium, scoring the opening goal and setting up Gabriel Jesus for the second, but the Belgian was accused of failing to step up to the plate at the Bernabeu.
His evening ended prematurely as he was substituted for Ilkay Gundogan after just 72 minutes, his early withdrawal - at a pivotal point in the game - illustrating that he had failed to live up to his usual standards.

De Bruyne had the luxury of being rested for City's last game, the 4-0 win over Leeds at Elland Road, but he looked off the pace at times, his usual close control a little looser than we have come to expect.


Still, though, it would be unfair to pin City's failure to progress on him. He left the field early and City scored their opener soon afterwards, but the stats showed De Bruyne still contributed in an attacking sense.
In fact, despite his early withdrawal, he created more chances (three) than any other City player - including the delightful scooped pass to release Bernardo Silva for an early effort saved by Thibaut Courtois - and also ranked second for dribbles (three) and shots (two).
Perhaps he was not quite himself, but City had bigger problems elsewhere.


Daniele Orsato will not be popular with the blue side of Manchester for some time. The referee led an all-Italian team of officials on a difficult night in the Bernabeu which he appeared to want over as soon as possible.
The City bench had already been enraged when only three minutes of added time was signalled at the end of extra-time - six minutes were added at the end of the 90 - after Real had consistently attempted to break up play.


The hosts did their best to run the clock down as centre-back Eder Militao twice received treatment from the physios during the second half of extra-time before eventually being subbed in the 115th minute.
Thibaut Courtois also did his best to delay any City attacks by taking his time over restarts as did the other Real players when the ball went out of play. None of them were booked for timewasting.
But to compound matters, Orsato whistled for full-time 10 seconds early with the ball at the feet of City goalkeeper Ederson as he was about to launch it back up field for one final attack.


Benzema hit another treble in a 3-1 first-leg victory at Chelsea to put them in control of the tie yet the Blues turned it round at the Bernabeu, taking a 3-0 lead to move 4-3 ahead on aggregate. However, Rodrygo pulled one back with 10 minutes left to force extra time before Benzema netted to give Real an incredible 5-4 aggregate victory.
Yet Real were still able to take their epic Champions League journey to new heights in the semi-finals. They trailed Manchester City after 94 seconds in the first leg all the way until the 91st minute of the second tie.
City won 4-3 at the Etihad and were then leading 5-3 on aggregate heading into added time before Rodrygo unbelievably scored twice in two minutes for 5-5 and extra time. Then Benzema kept his cool from the penalty spot to complete yet another unthinkable Real comeback.


It was apparent from the outset that Real Madrid's main offensive weapon - at least until Rodrygo appeared off the bench to turn the tie - would be Vinicius Junior rather than Karim Benzema. But Kyle Walker had the pace and the nous to cope with that threat.
Time and again, he was up to the challenge in the opening 45 minutes. But as the game progressed and Walker's questionable fitness became more of an issue, it became clear that the England full-back would be unable to see out the evening. Could City adapt?
Oleksandr Zinchenko came on after 72 minutes with Joao Cancelo switching sides. The first goal came after Benzema pulled away from the Portuguese at the far post and hooked the ball back into the path of Rodrygo to score. City lost control after that.

Man City suffer Champions League heartache again: What went wrong for Pep Guardiola'''s side? | Football News | Sky Sports

[malmomike77]

Chit may have knocked himself out banging his head on his bar in the shed, if he's lucky he won't even remember they lost, if he's even luckier he'll forget he supports them at all.

[harrybarracuda]

Chit may have knocked himself out banging his head on his bar in the shed, if he's lucky he won't even remember they lost, if he's even luckier he'll forget he supports them at all.

I expect a lot of them have been busy all day shopping online for commemorative champions league final shirts in Liverpool colours.

[Reg Dingle]

[malmomike77]

Dill, should i triple capt Debrowner, Syb seems incapable of making a decision

[harrybarracuda]

Still no sign of chitty, shame is a powerful demon.

[malmomike77]

Chitty will be one of the 3,000 at the emptyhad on Sunday watching citeh get beaten 3-0 by newcy

He may also have bet the house on tge 80th minute on Citeh winning the CL.

[Joe 90]

Bellends the fooking lot of you!

Dill you really need to change your avatar or we are gonna fall out

Yes we were going to Paris but now it's looking like Blackpool...

How many times did they fall over,?

WTF 6mins added time.

WTF 3mins left then ref blows his whistle at 2 mins.

Corrupt, corrupt, corrupt!

Bollocks to the Bin Dippers and Real Madrid..

We woz robbed!

[PAG]

^Salut.

[Joe 90]

Fast forward to 1 minute for the dig at Liverpool!

What a legend

[harrybarracuda]

I bet you were nervous in injury time chitty.

[cyrille]

Dill, should i triple capt Debrowner, Syb seems incapable of making a decision

Has it crossed your tiny mind that I just don’t really give a toss, numpty?

And you’re asking random posters, but it’s me ​who’s indecisive??

[malmomike77]

^ well its a bit late now isn't it. Sheeesh.

[Joe 90]

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says "everyone knows the situation" regarding the club's move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.

The 21-year-old striker's £63m transfer from the Bundesliga side is understood to be close to completion.

Sources in Germany have told BBC Sport the deal is agreed.

"Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City have told me I am not allowed to say anything until the deal is completely done," Guardiola said on Tuesday.

The Spaniard said that he could not discuss the incoming signing for legal reasons.

Guardiola, when asked about Haaland at a news conference, said: "I cannot talk. I am sorry. We will have time to talk.

"Everybody knows the situation. I shouldn't talk because I don't like to talk about the future or next season."

When asked what impact a new number nine would have on the Premier League champions, Guardiola said: "We have a number nine now.

"New players always helps to be a stronger team. But not one defender or striker will solve our defensive or scoring problems.

"The club always has to have a vision for the future. The decisions the club makes I am aware and supportive of 100%."

Monday Night Club: Klopp & Pep talk rivalry as Haaland looks set for City
City are refusing to respond to the widespread reports that the Haaland deal is done.

It is thought that virtually all parts of the transfer are agreed, with City only needing to trigger the clause to activate the transfer.

The transfer would be one of the biggest of the summer.

Sports agent Mino Raiola had been involved in the discussions prior to his death, with associates taking the process on to its conclusion.

Even though City are within touching distance of a second successive Premier League title achieved without an orthodox centre-forward, boss Pep Guardiola has always stressed his desire to have one.

City tried hard to get Harry Kane from Tottenham last summer but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy refused to sell.

And, with Kane having two years left on his contract, Haaland is an easier deal to conclude given his release clause.

He has scored 92 league goals in 121 appearances for Molde, Red Bull Salzburg and Dortmund.

Last year he became the youngest player to reach 20 Champions League goals.

'The perfect fit' - analysis
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club

"What a player. What a statement to the rest of the teams around. It is the perfect fit.

"I don't think apart from Kane right now there is a better fit.

"Now City have got a Plan B. Right now as a young player, City is a great destination for him."

Former Blackburn Rovers and Celtic striker Chris Sutton

"Under Pep Guardiola you would think he will develop but will he be the signing that wins City the Champions League?

"The expectation will be so great because of what he has achieved so far but he is only 21 and he may take a little while to fit in, but he has all the attributes.

"The guy is an absolute monster physically - people bounce off him. He is a wonderful finisher for such a tall guy, he has great feet, is good in the air and holds it in well.

"He will get better and better and in that respect I think he is going to the right club with the right coach."

[harrybarracuda]

The plastics drop another 200M for one player.

[malmomike77]

#makingsportaffordable

#corruptFA

[malmomike77]

Well there's one thing for sure he's been keeping his powder dry for hair sponsorship opportunities - wft does he think he looks like.

I am going to enjoy seeing him taken apart by defenders in the PL - not sure he understands what he's sold himself into. I think i'll look to see if any odds are given for him missing 3 months + with injury in 22/23









i can't see Chitty emulating his new hero even if he could, certainly not with a Harrington

[harrybarracuda]

#makingsportaffordable

#corruptFA

I thought they're setting up some special body that will tackle FFP?

(Also, the moon is made of cheese).