Rayan Cherki showed his class to inspire Manchester City to a come-from-behind 3-1 win at Swansea as Pep Guardiola's side booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. The French playmaker was City's top performer in an underwhelming display overall against the Championship side, who took the lead through a spectacular goal from Goncalo Franco.
Pep Guardiola sees the Stoke City model being followed "more and more" in the Premier League, as several teams are picking up Tony Pulis' old tactics. The Manchester City boss believes the English top-flight has fallen in love again with Pulis-style football, where long throws and set-piece chaos decide games more than skill or possession. However, the Catalan coach remains defiant and claims that he will not change his philosophy. Instead, he vowed to nullify that threat using his own methods, which will involve adopting an "aggressive response".
Things are starting to get serious in the EFL League Cup - also known as the Carabao Cup - and we'll soon have just eight teams battling it out for glory.
James Trafford found himself in the bizarre situation where he was both bought and replaced by Manchester City during the same transfer window this past summer, starting the 2025-26 season as the main man between the sticks but promptly dropped. Pep Guardiola is still an admirer, though, ultimately tipping the goalkeeper for a big role with England in the future.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips won't feature in his starting lineup for their upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Swansea City, despite the midfielder returning to action in the same competition against Huddersfield Town in September. Phillips is hoping to get more game time after featuring for just seven minutes for the Cityzens in the 2025-26 campaign.
Manchester United flop Andre Onana has responded to words of praise from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as he continues to revive his career on loan at Trabzonspor. The Cameroonian goalkeeper, whose time in England was defined by blunders and plummeting confidence, is now experiencing an upturn in form in Turkey. He is quietly piecing his career back together, thousands of miles away from the glitz of the Premier League, and his performances are beginning to remind fans why he was once one of Europe’s most sought-after stoppers.
'Give Erling Haaland the ball and he will score' had proved to be a pretty effective tactic for Manchester City over the previous two months, but Aston Villa have exposed its flaws. They found a way to blunt the Norwegian's edges on Sunday, ending Haaland's run of scoring in 12 matches in a row for club and country while also becoming the first team to keep a clean sheet against Pep Guardiola's side in nine games.
Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City have reportedly sent scouts to monitor Bayern Munich’s 17-year-old sensation Lennart Karl, who continues to impress under Vincent Kompany. The Premier League giants are keeping close tabs on the prodigious attacker, who is represented by ex-Chelsea star Michael Ballack, after his stunning rise through Bayern’s ranks and recent first-team heroics.
Only one Premier League match is likely to be staged on 26 December this season, with the beloved tradition of watching football on Boxing Day set to be all but abandoned. While the dates and times of the Christmas fixtures are still to be finalised, a new report indicates the English top flight are being forced into a difficult position over the long-standing tradition.
Unai Emery gave his honest verdict on Harvey Elliott after he left the Liverpool loanee out of Aston Villa's matchday squad for the third game in a row against Manchester City on Sunday. The Villans clinched all three points against Pep Guardiola's side courtesy of a first-half goal from Matty Cash as they moved up to eighth in the Premier League table, tied on points with reigning champions Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola has moved to address Erling Haaland injury fears after Manchester City fired a blank at Aston Villa on Sunday. City saw a five-game unbeaten streak end at Villa Park as Matty Cash's first-half strike proved to be the difference between the two sides in the Midlands. Defeat saw City lose further ground in the title race, with leaders Arsenal picking up a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho has been branded as an "embarrassment" after being subbed on and off in the same game. Fans also called out Sancho's "awful behaviour" after he appeared to give the cold shoulder to Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery on the touchline, having only been given 45 minutes of action in their 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday.
Manchester City remain level on points with arch-rivals Manchester United and six adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday. Pep Guardiola’s side headed to the West Midlands unbeaten across their last nine fixtures in all competitions, but a solitary strike from Matty Cash proved to be the difference in a match that saw Erling Haaland draw a blank for just the second time this season.
The Premier League has been warned that “all hell could break loose” once the verdict in Manchester City’s long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga is finally delivered. Heavyweights from the Etihad Stadium are still waiting on an official ruling there, following an independent hearing, meaning that various potential punishments for the Blues continue to be speculated on.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has finally settled one of football’s biggest debates — Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe? The Italian shotstopper, who has shared dressing rooms with both superstars in recent years, offered a clear verdict on who hits the ball harder. Having experienced their brilliance up close, Donnarumma’s insight carries unique weight in a discussion that continues to divide everyone.
Pep Guardiola has bought a new home for himself in Barcelona as his divorce from wife Cristina Serra is almost finalised. The Manchester City boss has chosen a spot in Pedralbes, the neighbourhood where he and Serra bought their first home, and will use the place to escape from the madness of the Premier League as the pressure of managing in elite football never ceases.
Youth football is in Pep Guardiola's blood. He emerged from Barcelona's famed La Masia academy and then took his first steps as a coach after being appointed manager of the Catalans' B team all the way back in 2007. When he became first-team coach at Camp Nou one year later, he promoted the likes of Sergio Busquets and Pedro, plus the returning Gerard Pique, as Barca swept to the treble in style.
Manchester City are reportedly monitoring the progress of highly-rated Koln forward Said El Mala but face stiff competition for his signature from a number of European heavyweights. The 19-year-old has been in fine form for the Bundesliga side in 2025-26, leading to several members of Europe’s elite to register their interest in signing the winger.
Pep Guardiola gave a tongue-in-cheek response when discussing the ever-changing narrative surrounding the Premier League title race, joking Liverpool are now “done” following their recent run of poor form. The Manchester City manager delivered the wry take when recalling how his side were written off following a start to the season which saw them lose two of their opening three games.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have been told they should “fear” in-form Manchester City striker Erling Haaland as the Premier League title race hots up. The Norway international has been in remarkable form for club and country in 2025-26, with one Premier League legend declaring he may just be in the midst of one of the greatest individual seasons of all time.
The American conglomerate that owns Premier League outfit Burnley completed a majority takeover of Espanyol earlier this month. In a recent interview, Alan Pace, the American businessman overseeing the sporting operations at both clubs, cited Manchester rivals City and United's example while explaining his ambitions and why success will follow Espanyol, even if it takes time.
Vincent Kompany’s contract extension with Bayern Munich has sparked fresh debate over his long-term ambitions, with former player Dietmar Hamann suggesting the Belgian coach could have a Manchester City exit clause. While Bayern insist the deal shows “commitment and continuity” with Kompany, speculation grows over whether the Belgian could one day succeed Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City's youth academy is one of the most productive talent factories in the world, although the reality is the vast majority of graduates end up having to seek their fortune away from the Etihad Stadium. Phil Foden is the pride and joy of City's youth system, but for many years he was the exception that proved the rule.
With the title race having already swung back and forth while the top-four and relegation battles are as open as they have been for a few years, the Premier League is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. Sure, the odd match still follows the formbook, but a number of teams are proving tough to pin down and figure out what to expect from them on a game-to-game basis.
Manchester City
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