LONDON • Pep Guardiola's revitalised Manchester City face a potentially tricky challenge at home to Wolves today (tomorrow morning Singapore time) as they attempt to cut the deficit to Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points.
However, City have shown enough just two weeks into the new year to suggest that their uncharacteristic collapse in form last month is firmly behind them.
The English champions' slump was triggered after Chelsea ended their unbeaten streak in the league and they subsequently lost successive league games, against relatively modest opposition in both Crystal Palace and Leicester.
But a victory over the Reds to kick off the second half of the term has completely rejuvenated the mood at the Etihad Stadium.
Since then, two Cup routs in the space of four days - albeit against lower league clubs Rotherham and Burton - have indicated the return of the clinical edge that characterised their play during last season's record-breaking campaign.
It was a mood reflected by Kevin de Bruyne, who has been injured for most of the first half of their campaign, against Rotherham when he showed visible dissatisfaction at being brought off after an hour, even though City were already leading by five goals.
While media reports have hinted at his anger, with de Bruyne reportedly refusing to return to the bench to watch the remainder of their FA Cup third-round 7-0 win, instead opting to head straight down the tunnel, Guardiola refused to address the speculation, claiming he "did not speak with him" over the Belgium forward's reaction.
Despite his petulance, de Bruyne remains in line to start just his second league game of the term when City take on Wolves.
Sergio Aguero and captain Vincent Kompany, who have not played since the Liverpool match, look set to return to the first XI, and Guardiola confirmed his team had a clean bill of health as "the rest (except for Benjamin Mendy) are fit".
The Spaniard also felt City could maintain their chase for honours on four fronts even though they are unlikely to reinforce by dipping into the January transfer market.
He said: "Sometimes, we have done it but, normally, when you want to buy one player, it is for the next five or six years and, normally, it doesn't happen in this window.
"The big clubs don't buy important players for six months. If you don't have injuries and are satisfied with the squad, you go with them."
Despite declaring his happiness with his players, he warned that Wolves would be no pushovers and they had no margin for error.
Recalling how Nuno Espirito Santo's men held City to a creditable 1-1 league draw earlier in the season at Molineux, he added: "They are strong physically, (at) counter-attack, set-pieces. They defend well, deep, they control many areas (through Joao) Moutinho.
"(Ruben) Neves, he can shoot from a long way. They are newly promoted and doing incredibly well."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
MANCHESTER CITY V WOLVES
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, tomorrow, 4am
Antonio Conte (Italian pronunciation: [anˈtɔːnjo ˈkonte]; born 31 July 1969) is an Italian professional football manager and former player. He is the head coach at Serie A club Inter Milan . Playing as a midfielder , Conte began his career at local club Lecce and later became one of the most decorated and influential players in the history
Inter Milan name Antonio Conte as coach | football
Chelsea boss Sarri demands more from 'individual' Hazard LONDON: Eden Hazard must deliver more to realise his full potential and help dig Chelsea out of a slump in form, manager Maurizio Sarri
Chelsea boss Sarri demands more from 'individual' Hazard
Ryan Giggs has hit back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the Swede criticised the Class of '92 over their complaints about Manchester United, joking "obviously he knows more about the club than us".
Ryan Giggs hits back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after slamming Man
England have moved up six places to sixth in the latest FIFA world rankings. The Three Lions' brilliant run to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia has seen the nation rise to their highest
FIFA World Rankings - Wikipedia
Get more information about SINGAPORE FOOTBALL at straitstimes.com. Singapore fall short in bid to qualify for AFC U-23 Championship finals despite beating Mongolia 3-1. Mar 26, 2019, 7:41 pm
Hanging scoreboard at JCube's rink almost comes crashing down
Messi Torments Liverpool With 600th Barca Goal In 3-0 Win Agencies • May 02, 2019 • 1175 Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Print this article Email to friend
Messi torments Liverpool with 600th Barca goal in 3-0 win
Harry Kane starts for Tottenham alongside Harry Winks in the Champions League final, while Roberto Firmino starts for Liverpool. Kane starts after two months on the sidelines with ligament damage
Champions League final: Liverpool's Klopp & Tottenham's
Mauricio Pochettino has admitted he would "have to listen" to any approach from Real Madrid. Tottenham boss Pochettino has insisted he remains settled at Spurs having only signed a new five-year contract last month. But the former Argentina defender has been installed as the bookies' favourite
Pochettino happy at Spurs but would 'have to listen' to any
Home's Saswa is first casualty of SPL season After barely a quarter of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, Home United are the first team to part ways with their head coach as they announced the mutual termination of Saswadimata Dasuki's contract yesterday.
What They Said: Moyes on top four, Gerrard eyes title glory
Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen will see a neurologist on Thursday after suffering a horrific head injury during his side's Champions League semi-final defeat against Ajax.
Tottenham's Vertonghen to miss Bournemouth game after head injury
They'll need every part of the side to be in form to emerge with two positive results and Mane can be key to any success thanks to being on top of his own game, says the boss. Indeed, Klopp
Jürgen Klopp: We're not finished, so let's play and see what
Ramsey poised to sign five-year, €40m Juventus deal Independent.ie Aaron Ramsey will join Italian giants Juventus next summer after agreeing a deal which will pay him €40million over the next
Aaron Ramsey agrees five-year deal with Juventus | Daily Mail
0 comments:
Post a Comment