Manchester City is amidst a remarkable season, poised for a potential back-to-back treble, an unprecedented feat. However, achieving this goal won’t come easy, especially with the intense competition in the Premier League title race. Pep Guardiola’s squad finds themselves locked in a tight battle with Liverpool and Arsenal.
Currently trailing the top two teams by just one point, City faces a crucial opportunity to surpass Arsenal in the standings during their upcoming clash on Sunday, a match of immense significance.
Having suffered defeat against Arsenal earlier in the season, City anxiously awaits the fitness status of five key players leading up to the match.
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‘Dream’… 21-year-old Man City gem now says he would love to work with Pep, he could replace Walker one day
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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‘The doctor said’… Pep Guardiola shares Kevin De Bruyne injury update after 1-0 win vs Brentford
Pep Guardiola has provided an update on the injury situation involving Kevin De Bruyne following Manchester City’s 1-0 victory against Brentford. The surprise decision to have the £400,000-a-week midfielder on the bench raised eyebrows, especially in a crucial game for City’s Premier League title race.
Guardiola’s choice not to start De Bruyne and substitute Jeremy Doku instead, despite the game being tied at 0-0 before Erling Haaland’s decisive goal, fueled speculation about a potential injury. Guardiola addressed the situation after the match, shedding light on De Bruyne’s suspected hamstring issue.
“We cannot use Kevin [De Bruyne] today because he has niggles in his hamstring position, I didn’t want to take any risks with him,” Guardiola explained, emphasizing a cautious approach to the star player’s fitness. Despite categorizing the concern as not serious, Guardiola stressed the importance of avoiding unnecessary risks, stating, “He’s okay, it’s just more caution and prevention that I think, but he didn’t feel comfortable. The doctor said it is a little risk, and I said, okay. After five months off, we didn’t take any risks about that over him.”
Guardiola’s decision not to risk De Bruyne during this crucial stage of the season is seen as a wise move. As Manchester City faces challenging opponents like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Aston Villa in March, preserving De Bruyne’s fitness becomes paramount. Given the midfielder’s significance to the team, ensuring his full recovery is crucial for City’s aspirations in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Fans hope for his swift return to action to minimize the impact of his potential absence in upcoming crucial fixtures.
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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.
