The 21-year-old, currently on loan at Girona, has consistently been seen as a promising talent, and truth be told, he has proven himself in Spain.
Yet, the lingering question has always been whether Couto could ultimately excel at the Etihad Stadium.
Pedro Porro, another skilled right-back signed by Girona in 2017 before his transfer to City in 2019, found himself loaned out to Real Valladolid and Sporting CP before being sold to the latter in 2022.
Despite Porro’s evident talent, showcased in Portugal and later for Tottenham Hotspur, he fell short of meeting the standards for the Sky Blues.
Yan Couto expresses a “dream” to play under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. However, the Brazilian’s situation may differ from that of the Spurs defender, as a report in late January suggested he is seen as the long-term successor to Kyle Walker at City.
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Danny Murphy names ‘the only’ hope Arsenal and Liverpool have of beating Man City to the title
Manchester City is pursuing their fourth consecutive Premier League title this season, but pundit Danny Murphy suggests that Arsenal or Liverpool could thwart their dominance. The 2023/24 title race is intensifying, with City’s recent win over Brentford narrowing the gap to just two points among the top three teams.
Erling Haaland secured the lone goal in the game at the Etihad Stadium, marking a more satisfying evening for him compared to the previous match against Chelsea. The title race may go down to the wire this season, with City, Arsenal, and Liverpool emerging as strong contenders.
Despite being the bookies’ favorites, City has shown defensive vulnerabilities this season. Players like Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Kyle Walker, and Ederson have not performed as well as last season, and new signing Josko Gvardiol is adapting to English football in his debut season. City has conceded 26 goals in the league, two more than Liverpool and four more than Arsenal.
Danny Murphy points out that City’s defensive frailties provide hope for Arsenal and Liverpool. According to Murphy, a notable change in City’s system has made them more vulnerable this season. Last season, they often deployed a full-back in midfield to create an extra midfielder. However, this season, the tweak involves a central defender, either Akanji or Stones, moving into midfield from a central position, making them more susceptible.
Former City manager Stuart Pearce also suggests that the high defensive line could be exploited by other teams. City’s defensive struggles this season are evident, and adjustments are needed to regain the solidity they displayed in the second half of the previous season.
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Tim Sherwood shares who he reckons will win the PL title – Arsenal or Man City
Tim Sherwood has weighed in on the Premier League title race between Arsenal and Manchester City. Currently, City trail Arsenal by just one point, but they have a game in hand. Following their recent 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, City now have only four matches left in the season. As the race heats up, Sherwood, a pundit well-versed in Premier League triumphs, has offered his insights on this crucial battle at the summit.
Sherwood drops title verdict
In a recent video posted on the Premier League website, Sherwood shared his thoughts on how he believes the rest of the title race will unfold.
He stated, “I anticipate Arsenal winning their last three matches, but I doubt it will suffice. My prediction is that Man City will clinch victories in their final four games.”
Sherwood added, “While Tottenham historically poses a challenge for Man City, judging from their performance today [in the 3-2 loss to Arsenal], if they afford City the same opportunities, they’ll be vulnerable to exploitation.”
Manchester City boasts a record of 24 wins, seven draws, and three losses in their 34 league matches, scoring 82 goals and conceding 32.
In contrast, Arsenal has secured victory in 25 out of 35 games, with five draws and five losses, tallying 85 goals scored and 28 conceded.
City need to be perfect to win the title
As Sherwood highlighted, one of City’s upcoming challenges involves a trip to north London to face Tottenham Hotspur among their remaining four fixtures.
Thankfully for City, they dispelled their previous struggles at this venue by securing a 1-0 victory against Ange Postecoglou’s side in the FA Cup earlier this season.
Moreover, City possesses the experience of closing out Premier League campaigns with a string of victories, a crucial factor, as Sherwood pointed out, if they aim to claim another trophy.
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‘You’d walk there’… Wayne Rooney admits he would absolutely love to work with £378,000-a-week Man City man
Wayne Rooney has expressed his openness to the idea of serving as the assistant manager under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. This revelation comes in the wake of John Eustance’s departure from Birmingham City, which left the team in a relegation battle after Rooney took charge.
Currently without a managerial position, Rooney admitted on The Overlap’s Stick To Football podcast that if given the chance to work alongside Guardiola, he would embrace the opportunity. In his own words, “It depends [on if I would ever be an assistant manager]. If Pep Guardiola comes in and asks me to be his assistant, you’d walk there.” Rooney acknowledged the influence of managers like Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, suggesting that learning from their approaches could contribute to his own development as a manager.
Rooney’s potential collaboration with Guardiola, a controversial prospect considering his legendary status at Manchester United, where he is often hailed as one of the club’s greatest-ever players, reflects his eagerness to refine his managerial skills. Despite the historic rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City, Rooney’s acknowledgment of Guardiola’s managerial prowess underscores the profound impact the latter has in the world of football management.
