Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered a staunch defence of Erling Haaland, claiming the striker occupies "the most difficult position on the planet" after another scoreless outing against West Ham. The Norway international has seen his usually prolific output stall in 2026, a stark contrast to his blistering start to the campaign.
Kylian Mbappe has handed Real Madrid a fitness boost after completing a normal training session with the rest of the first-team squad on Sunday. The forward has been working through a fitness programme to overcome a persistent knee problem that kept him out of recent domestic action, but his presence in Valdebebas suggests he is closing in on a return to first-team action.
Manchester City are weighing up a sensational summer swoop for Tottenham Hotspur right-back Pedro Porro as the reigning Premier League champions look to finally replace Kyle Walker. With Spurs currently fighting a desperate battle against relegation, Pep Guardiola's side are ready to capitalise on a potential mass exodus by bringing the Spanish defender back to the Etihad Stadium.
The numbers behind Erling Haaland's recent performances make for grim reading by his own sky-high standards. After a blistering start to the campaign that saw him net 19 times in his first 17 Premier League appearances, the goals have dried up significantly. The striker has now managed just three goals in his last 12 league outings, a run of form that has left pundits stunned.
Kylian Mbappe will reportedly board the plane with the Real Madrid squad this Monday as they travel to England. Desperate to avoid just watching from the sidelines, the forward is pushing to be available for Alvaro Arbeloa in this decisive Champions League last-16 second leg against Manchester City. After missing recent action, the Frenchman is eager to help his side navigate the Etihad cauldron and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has never been one to shy away from tactical scrutiny, often acknowledging the noise surrounding his team selections. Following the stalemate at the London Stadium, the spotlight has fallen firmly on his handling of Rayan Cherki, whose impact as a substitute stood in stark contrast to the starters' output.
Manchester City’s pursuit of another Premier League crown took a devastating hit on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham United. Despite dominating possession, the Blues failed to secure the three points needed to keep pace with a relentless Arsenal side who sit comfortably at the summit.
Manchester City’s hopes of recapturing the Premier League crown took a significant hit against West Ham, leaving them trailing Mikel Arteta's Arsenal by nine points. While City still hold a game in hand over the Gunners, the stalemate at London Stadium felt like a missed opportunity to pile pressure on title-chasing rivals. Despite the growing gap and City’s recent inconsistency, Pep Guardiola remains adamant that the race is still alive.
Arsenal continues to lead the way at the top of the Premier League table after a hard-fought victory over Everton, but the headlines were stolen by 16-year-old sensation Max Dowman. The Hale End product became the youngest-ever goalscorer in the history of the competition after coming off the bench to seal a late win for Mikel Arteta’s side, much to the delight of his team-mate Viktor Gyokeres.
Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday evening as the Premier League trophy appeared to slip through the fingers of Pep Guardiola's side. Bernardo Silva scored for City but they were almost immediately pegged back by Konstantinos Mavropanos, with Arsenal taking full control of the title race.
Sandro Tonali remains a man in high demand across the European elite, and his representative, Giuseppe Riso, has suggested that the Newcastle star is exactly where he needs to be to facilitate a future move to the very top of the English game. Riso addressed reports linking the former AC Milan midfielder with heavyweights such as Arsenal and Manchester City, noting that the plan upon leaving Italy was always to elevate Tonali into the bracket of "stellar" global talents.
Alan Shearer has sharply criticised Pep Guardiola after Manchester City suffered a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid. Shearer expressed his surprise at the line-up, which indicated Guardiola's preference for an attacking style of play when facing a team of Real Madrid's stature away from home. The Newcastle United legend says City "got what they deserved" in the end, given their tactics and approach to the game.
Pep Guardiola has sensationally claimed he has been "massacred" for his tactical decisions following Manchester City’s humbling 3-0 Champions League defeat at the hands of Real Madrid. The Catalan coach, evidently feeling the heat after the first-leg collapse at the Bernabeu, delivered a marathon four-minute response to questions about his team selection, even going as far as to mimic gunshots with his fingers to describe the wave of online criticism he has faced.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has officially ended a surprising four-year drought by being named the Premier League Manager of the Month for February. Despite City’s relentless dominance and trophy hauls in recent seasons, the Catalan tactician had famously not picked up the individual monthly accolade since December 2021, marking a significant gap for a coach of his undisputed standing in the English game.
Speculation has mounted over Ousmane Dembele’s future after his agent met Manchester City, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has moved to clarify the truth. While the Ballon d'Or winner attracts Premier League interest, Romano reveals no talks are underway, leaving fans to wonder if the star stays as the cornerstone of Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain project.
James Milner has, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, explained how blending old and new school approaches have helped to make him a history-making Premier League legend. The ex-England international is a three-time title winner, with various other trophies to his name, and is still going strong at 40 years of age after mixing talent with technology.
Joan Laporta has hit out at presidential rival Victor Font for claiming he could sign Erling Haaland for Barcelona. The incumbent president accused Font of lying after the Manchester City striker's representative denied any contact with the Catalan club.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have reportedly entered the race to sign Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva, challenging Juventus for his signature. The 31-year-old is set to leave the Etihad this summer, with a switch to MLS now emerging as one of his free transfer options.
The most significant move in the race for the Barcelona presidency was made by Victor Font, who contacted Manchester City directly to bring Erling Haaland to the Blaugrana.
Erling Haaland's agent Rafaela Pimenta has responded to Victor Font's claim that Barcelona are "working on" a potential transfer deal for the Manchester City striker. Font, who is currently running against Joan Laporta for the Barcelona presidency, has suggested that Haaland could be lured away from the Etihad Stadium, but Pimenta has sought to quash any speculation over his future.
The Premier League's quest to secure a fifth Champions League qualification spot again for next season was dealt a hammer blow this week following a string of disastrous results on Europe's elite stage. UEFA’s European Performance Spots (EPS) are awarded to the two nations whose clubs perform best across all three major European competitions, but the English top flight is suddenly looking over its shoulder.
Antonio Rudiger once again proved why he is the ultimate fan favourite at the Bernabeu following Real Madrid’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Manchester City. While many of the game's biggest stars would try to avoid fan attention after such a high-stakes Champions League clash, the Germany international embraced supporters, celebrating wildly in his car for those who had blocked his exit from the stadium.
Manchester City
