Man City's Raheem Sterling Racially Abused on IG After Social Media Boycott
May 6, 2021
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on May 1, 2021 in London, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling
was the target of racist abuse on Instagram just two days after
English football clubs and players held a boycott of social media.
The Athletic provided a statement from
Facebook, which owns Instagram and removed the racist comment Tuesday:
"The racist abuse sent to Raheem
Sterling is unacceptable and we do not want it on Instagram. We have
removed the comment and taken action against the account that posted
it. As part of our ongoing work in this space, we'll soon be rolling
out new tools to help prevent people seeing abusive messages from
strangers.
"No single thing will fix this
challenge overnight but we're committed to doing what we can to keep
our community safe from abuse."
Sterling is already the third player
who's received racist messages on social media since the start of the
boycott, joining Stoke City's on-loan winger Rabbi Matondo and Swansea City's Morgan
Whittaker, per The Athletic.
Abuse of the Manchester City star has
led to several bans in recent years.
In July 2019, Chelsea banned six fans,
including one for life, following an investigation into racist abuse
directed toward the England international in a December 2018 match at
Stamford Bridge.
In January 2020, the Manchester
Magistrates' Court banned two City supporters for five years for
racist abuse of Sterling during a December 2018 fixture against
Bournemouth.
Sterling spoke out against racism in an
interview with the BBC's Emily Maitlis (via Jack de Menezes of The
Independent) in June.
"I know this might sound a little
bit cheesy, but the only disease right now is the racism that we are
fighting," he said. "This is the most important thing at this
moment in time because this is something that is happening for years
and years. Just like the pandemic, we want to find a solution to stop
it."
The Premier League announced a
six-point plan Friday at the start of the social media
boycott, which included getting tech companies to ensure "real-life
consequences for online discriminatory abuse."
EPL Chief Executive Richard Masters
also made a statement about the boycott:
"The Premier League and our clubs
stand alongside football in staging this boycott to highlight the
urgent need for social media companies to do more in eliminating
racial hatred. We will not stop challenging social media companies
and want to see significant improvements in their policies and
processes to tackle online discriminatory abuse on their platforms.
"Football is a diverse sport,
which brings together communities and cultures from all backgrounds
and this diversity makes the competition stronger. No Room For Racism
represents all the work we do to promote equality, diversity and
inclusion and tackling discrimination."
Manchester City clinched a berth in the UEFA Champions League final with a victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the
second leg of the semifinals Tuesday.
Sterling and the Citizens return to
action Saturday to face Chelsea in Premier League action. The clubs
will meet again May 29 in the UCL final.
Champions League Final 2021: Date, Venue, Predictions for Manchester City vs. Chelsea
May 5, 2021
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Reece James of Chelsea is challenged by Aymeric Laporte of Manchester City during the Semi Final of the Emirates FA Cup match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Wembley Stadium on April 17, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
It's an all-English final in the Champions League.
Chelsea beat Real Madrid by a 3-1 aggregate score in the semifinals Wednesday, one day after Manchester City secured a 4-1 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain to reach the first Champions League final in club history.
For the eighth time, two teams from the same country face each other in the Champions League final ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/dmtwp4ubBT
Now, the Premier League sides have a date in Istanbul.
Champions League Final Information
Date: May 29 at 3 p.m. ET
Venue: Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul
TV Info: CBS, Paramount+
Manchester City will likely enter as the favorite since it has been arguably the strongest squad from Europe's five major leagues. Nineteen points also separate City from Chelsea in the Premier League table.
But the Blues came away as 1-0 victors when they met in the semifinals of the FA Cup. Hakim Ziyech's 55th-minute goal was the decisive moment in the match.
That result, along with Chelsea's run to the Champions League final, are evidence of how much things have improved at Stamford Bridge under the watch of Thomas Tuchel. The German's impact on the side has been immense.
Chelsea rode its luck in a big way when it won the 2011-12 Champions League, best illustrated by Fernando Torres' 92nd-minute winner in the semifinals against Barcelona and Didier Drogba's equalizer in the 88th minute against Bayern Munich in the final.
This time around, the club is one of the most in-form in Europe alongside Manchester City. Chelsea's collective strength going forward is balanced by a stifling defense, with N'Golo Kante the invaluable fulcrum between the two.
Having said all of that, City and Pep Guardiola are on the precipice of achieving the primary objective Guardiola assumed when he arrived in 2016.
Against PSG in the semifinal, Manchester City struggled in the opening 45 minutes of the first leg. From halftime of that fixture on, it was a far different story as the Parisians wilted in the face of City's patient, sustained attack. PSG, which was without Kylian Mbappe, didn't have a single shot on target in the second leg.
The arrival of Ruben Dias has almost single-handedly addressed what was City's most glaring problem as well. The Sky Blues conceded the second-fewest goals (35) in the Premier League last season, but too often their back four would get exposed in critical moments.
With Dias leading the line, City has surrendered just 24 goals in 34 PL fixtures.
The Ruben Dias effect at Manchester City:
▪️Average a goal conceded every 2 games ▪️Won 37 Drawn 6 Lost 3 in games he’s played ▪️EFL Cup 🏆 ▪️Premier League ⏳ ▪️First #UCL final appearance in club’s history
City hosts Chelsea on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET in the Premier League. In light of Wednesday's outcome, it could be a fascinating chess match between Tuchel and Guardiola if either manager chooses not to reveal too much about his preferred strategy for the Champions League final. Guardiola in particular can afford to play his cards close to the chest with the league title all but sewn up.
Later this month in Istanbul, the return clash is a toss-up.
If this were written for the silver screen, Timo Werner would cap off a frustrating campaign in heroic fashion by scoring the winning goal to bring home Chelsea's second UCL title.
Given both the club's performance the stakes of the occasion, it's impossible to look past Manchester City.
Manchester City Beat PSG to Advance to UCL Final Behind Riyad Mahrez Brace
May 4, 2021
Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides second goal during the Champions League semifinal second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain at the Etihad stadium, in Manchester, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City is through to the Champions League final for the first time in club history.
Thanks to a brace from Riyad Mahrez, the Premier League leader advanced past Paris Saint-Germain by a 4-1 aggregate score following a 2-0 second leg Tuesday at Etihad Stadium in Manchester.
Paris Saint-Germain experienced a setback in the form of an injury to one of its best players. A calf problem forced Kylian Mbappe to watch the start of the match from the bench. The French forward remained there for the duration of the evening.
The state of the pitch made it a little more difficult to string together passes for quick attacking moves. Ederson found the way to solve the problem when he launched a long ball ahead to Oleksandr Zinchenko. That triggered a sequence culminating in an 11th-minute goal from Mahrez.
Time and again, City got in the way of PSG's attempts on goal, blocking nine shots and holding its opponents to zero attempts on target. Ruben Dias in particular was excellent as the tone-setter for the back four. The Portuguese defender has had a massive impact in his first season at the club, not unlike how Virgil van Dijk almost single-handedly raised Liverpool's leaky defense when he arrived.
Mahrez removed any doubt about the outcome when he got himself into acres of space for a simple finish from a cross by Phil Foden on 63 minutes.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 4, 2021
Angel Di Maria added to Paris Saint-Germain's woe as he earned a red card for stamping on the foot of Fernandinho in the 69th minute.
By unraveling in the second half of the first leg, Paris Saint-Germain left itself with a difficult task Tuesday night. That still would've been true if Mbappe started from the outset, and his absence only added to the struggle.
Mauricio Pochettino tabbed Mauro Icardi to operate out of the No. 9 role. While the Argentine star has scored seven goals across 18 Ligue 1 appearances, this was a match in which PSG was unable to play to his strengths.
Mauro Icardi had fewer touches (13) than any other player on the pitch in the first half against Man City, including both goalkeepers. 👻
Keeping Edinson Cavani instead of allowing his contract to expire was probably unrealistic given how tough it would've been to appease everyone in the attack. But one can't help wonder whether PSG would've been better Tuesday with Cavani leading the line in Mbappe's place.
Losing in the semifinals is a bitter pill to swallow given how desperate the club is to taste European glory for the first time. Between a tighter-than-expected title race in Ligue 1 and the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, this has been a tough season for the Parisians, though.
With the benefit of a full offseason to work with his players, Pochettino should have the squad in a much stronger place next year.
Manchester City, on the other hand, are on the precipice of achieving what ownership desired when it brought Pep Guardiola aboard in 2016. City's dominance in England has yet to fully translate in the Champions League, and that might finally change.
What's Next?
City awaits the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Chelsea and Real Madrid. The Blues earned a 1-1 draw with Madrid in the first leg, which gives them a slight edge on away goals.
Manchester City's Pep Guardiola Slams Super League Plans: 'It Is Not Fair'
Apr 20, 2021
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola stands during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London, England, Saturday, April 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, Pool)
"It is not a sport where success is already guaranteed or it doesn't matter if you lose," Guardiola said Tuesday, per Rob Dawson of ESPN. "I said many times—I want the best competition. It is not fair when one team fight, fight, fight at the top and cannot be qualified because it is just for a few teams."
Under the current UEFA format, teams have to qualify for the Champions League based on results in their domestic leagues the previous season. The newly proposed system would have 15 permanent members in a 20-team competition, with the "founding clubs" remaining at the top level regardless of standing.
While his club would benefit from the new system as a permanent member, Guardiola remains critical.
"It is not a sport where the relation between effort and success does not exist," he said.
Manchester City is at the top of the Premier League table and one of the four semifinalists for the 2021 Champions League title. However, the Premier League has proved its parity this season, with Leicester City and West Ham United each entering Tuesday in the top four trying to earn a spot in next year's UCL.
Meanwhile, Manchester City must be concerned about the blowback following the Super League announcement, both from fans and the sport's governing bodies.
Jesper Moller, a member of the UEFA executive committee, said this week Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid would all be thrown out of the current Champions League semifinals, per DR Sport (via Joe Prince-Wrightof NBC Sports).
UEFA President Alex Ceferin alsosaidthe players who take part will be banned from competing for their national teams in the FIFA World Cup and European Championship.
Manchester City Bests Borussia Dortmund, Will Face PSG in Champions League Semifinal
Apr 14, 2021
Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City at the Signal Iduna Park stadium in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, April 14, 2021. (Federico Gambarini/Pool via AP)
For the first time in five years, Manchester City is headed to the UEFA Champions League semifinals after a 2-1 win overBorussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday.
City won 4-2 on aggregate and will take on Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal.
Phil Foden sealed the team's spot in the next round with a go-ahead goal in the 75th minute.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 14, 2021
Manchester City scored both of its goals in the second half. The first was not without controversy, as Dortmund's Emre Can was whistled for a penalty in the 55th minute when the ball appeared to simultaneously hit his head and outstretched arm.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 14, 2021
City found itself in a bind early after Jude Bellingham got Dortmund on the board with a goal in the 15th minute, making history in the process.
⚫️🟡 Jude Bellingham (17 years, 289 days) becomes the second-youngest player ever to score in a knockout game, after Bojan Krkić in 2008 (17 years, 217 days)#UCLpic.twitter.com/yzRvgZ4ign
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 14, 2021
The first-half score was also a nice bit of payback for Bellingham, who had a goal disallowed in the first leg when Dortmund was whistled for a penalty in the lead-up.
Since Dortmund also got a goal in the first leg on the road, Bellingham's score would have been enough to send the team into the semifinal if the score had held.
City got off to a slow start before turning on the jets late in the first half. They had an opportunity to even things in the 32nd minute when Riyad Mahrez got a shot past Marwin Hitz, but Bellingham was able to clear the ball before it crossed the line.
The first half was an onslaught by City as it had 61 percent possession and nine shot attempts, but only one was on target. They were moving at a rapid pace and tried to catch Dortmund's defense off guard.
Manchester City was moments away from settling for a tie in the first leg last week until Foden's goal in the 90th minute made it a 2-1 final.
Trailing at the half is an unusual place for City to be this season, but the few times it has happened before Wednesday, they've struggled to make up the deficit coming out of the intermission:
🆚 West Ham 🤝 🆚 Tottenham ❌ 🆚 Manchester United ❌ 🆚 Leeds ❌ 🆚 Borussia Dortmund ❓
Dortmund tried moving back on the offensive after Mahrez's goal tied the score 1-1. Mats Hummels had a header attempt from the center of the box that sailed just over the top of the goal.
Time eventually ran out for Dortmund, though it put forth a terrific effort against a juggernaut opponent.
Coming into this match, City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged there was no way for him to end the day on a high note.
“This is a business, and business is business. Business is winning,” Guardiola said during a Tuesday press conference. “If we don’t win, I will be a failure. If we win, it will be ‘Oh, how good is Pep.’”
That's a byproduct of being in charge of a team with as much talent and resources as the Sky Blues.
Wednesday was the biggest hurdle for Guardiola to clear as he seeks his first Champions League title with City.
With the Dortmund job done, focus will turn toward PSG in the semifinal at the end of the month.
What's Next?
Dortmund/Manchester City will play Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal on April 27 or 28.
Manchester City Tops Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in 1st Leg of UCL Quarterfinals
Apr 6, 2021
Manchester City's Phil Foden, left, challenges for the ball with Dortmund's Mateu Morey during the Champions League, first leg, quarterfinal soccer match between Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
It was stressful, but Manchester City got the first step of the job done and is well on its way to the Champions League semifinals.
Kevin De Bruyne scored in the 18th minute and Phil Foden added the winner in the 90th for City to earn a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. The two sides will meet again April 14 at Signal Iduna Park.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2021
De Bruyne's goal carried the match deep into the second half before Marco Reus tied the score in the 84th. It seemed Dortmund would be able to escape with a draw, but Foden found the back of the net on City's last deep attack to salvage the win for the favorites.
While City controlled the match and held possession for 62 percent of the match, Dortmund will walk away with some hope after scoring an away goal against the Premier League club.
Many supporters of the German side may even say Dortmund should have walked away with a draw. An official made a controversial foul call on Jude Bellingham in the first half that wiped away a sure goal. On replay, it was clear Bellingham made contact with the ball to get it past City keeper Ederson and then was free to strike the ball through the net.
However, the official called Bellingham for a foul, saying he contacted Ederson when in fact the opposite was true. It was Ederson who made contact with Bellingham when he was attempting to play the ball.
It was a frustrating result for a Dortmund side that likely could have gotten some momentum with a win over a red-hot City. Dortmund entered Tuesday with just one win in its last five matches, and it currently sits a disappointing fifth in Bundesliga as a result.
City is running away with the Premiership, sitting with a 14-point lead in the table and now winners of six straight matches.
Dortmund's frustration carries a little less merit after it gave up the final goal in the waning seconds, but there is nevertheless still hope heading into the second leg.
Manchester City's Match vs. Everton Postponed After Multiple COVID-19 Positives
Dec 28, 2020
Manchester City's Ferran Torres, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec., 26, 2020. (Clive Brunskill/Pool via AP)
Manchester Cityannounced Monday that its scheduled matchup against Everton for later in the day has been postponed after "a number of positive cases" for COVID-19 "in addition to the four already reported on Christmas Day."
Per that press release: "With the security of the bubble compromised, there posed a risk that the virus could spread further amongst the squad, the staff and potentially beyond. Based on strong medical advice the Premier League, in consultation with both clubs, have decided to postpone the fixture."
Fullback Kyle Walker and forward Gabriel Jesus were among the four members of the club to test positive over Christmas.
"[It is] unfortunate that it happened, but it has happened all around the world, with many cases," manager Pep Guardiola told BT Sport regarding Walker and Jesus' positive tests (h/t Chris Watson of the Manchester Evening News). "So nobody is safe to [not] get it. Unfortunately, it happened, but hopefully they recover well, and we'll play the game with the guys that we have."
He added: "We are sad for them. Before we had Riyad [Mahrez] and [Ilkay] Gundogan suffer it. Hopefully, they can recover without the problems and get back as soon as possible. But unfortunately, it can happen."
Manchester City noted its first-team training ground would be closed "an indeterminate period" and that the club would undergo the requisite bubble testing before any decisions were made about the resumption of training.
It is unclear if the situation at City could also force Jan. 3's matchup vs. Chelsea to be postponed.
The Premier League has generally avoided any postponements this season because of the coronavirus. The first came in early December for a match between Aston Villa and Newcastle. But as a new variant of the coronavirus spreads throughout England, one believed to be up to 70 percent more contagious than previous versions, more postponements could be on the horizon.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City Agree to 2-Year Contract Extension
Nov 19, 2020
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola throws the ball during the Champions League group C soccer match between Manchester City and Olympiacos at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
City chairman Khaldoon Mubarak released a statement about the new deal:
"Pep's contract extension is the natural next step in a journey which has evolved over many years. It is a product of the mutual trust and respect that exists between him and the entire Club. It also goes to the stability and creativity at the heart of our football operations. Importantly it is a validation of the football structure and philosophy that has been built over more than a decade and to which he has contributed so much."
Guardiola, who took over as the Sky Blues manager in 2016, also commented on the extension:
"I have everything I could possibly want to do my job well, and I am humbled by the confidence the owner, chairman, Ferran [Soriano] and Txiki [Begiristain] have shown in me to continue for two more years after this season. The challenge for us is to continue improving and evolving, and I am very excited and about helping Manchester City do that."
Guardiola has guided City to eight trophies during his four-plus seasons in charge. The club has won the Premier League twice to go along with three League Cup titles, a pair of Community Shield triumphs and one FA Cup.
The Citizens are off to a sluggish start to the current Premier League term, sitting in 10th place with a 3-3-1 record. They're still listed as the favorite to capture the title by FiveThirtyEight, which gives them a 46 percent chance to win the league.
Their form has been better in the UEFA Champions League, where they've opened with three straight wins over Porto, Marseille and Olympiacos. It's been the most elusive trophy for City during Guardiola's tenure, but they're already a virtual lock to reach the knockout stages once again.
The 49-year-old Spanish manager previously won two UCL titles during his time at Barcelona (2008-12) and also coached Bayern Munich (2013-16) before arriving to Etihad Stadium.
His contract extension will make his stint with City the longest of his managerial career.
Lionel Messi Rumors: Manchester City Preparing 5-Year, €750M 'Mega' Contract
Aug 30, 2020
Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks on during the Champions League quarterfinal match between FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez/Pool)
According to Sport (h/t Marca), the Premier League giants are preparing a five-year, €750 million deal. The reported details are as follows:
"The report says this contract will be split into two periods—three years with City in the Premier League and two years with sister club New York City in MLS. Messi would earn 100 million euros a season before tax at City, with a total contract worth of 750 million euros over five years. The rest of the sum will be the 250 million euro signing bonus to join New York."
What remains in question is what transfer fee, if any, Barcelona will be able to obtain forMessi. The player has a €700 million release clause, thoughMessihas astipulation in his contractthat he could leave on a free transfer if he announced his intention to do so before May 31.
Messisent aburofaxto announce his departure intentions after that date but argued he did so before the season ended, given that the campaign went on hiatus and resumed in the summer because of theCOVID-19 pandemic. His argument, in essence, is that the May 31 date became irrelevant once the season stretched well into the summer, since the date represented the original end of the season.
Messileaving on a free transfer would be devastating toBarcaon a number of levels, while having a €700 million release clause would offer them far more leverage to keep him. La Liga ruled Sunday on behalf of Barcelona:
Official statement by La Liga. They side with Barcelona in Leo Messi contract battle: “Current deal is still valid and paying release clause for €700m is the only way out”. 🛑
It's unclear if a legal dispute will follow, though Messi seems prepared to depart regardless:
Messi also after La Liga statement is not going to chance his mind. He wants to leave and to start a new chapter. Barcelona told him again they won’t let Leo go for free to Manchester City - and La Liga position is part of their strategy. The saga is on. 🚨🇦🇷 #Messi#FCB#MCFC
Leo Messi didn't show up for the PCR test at Barcelona training this morning as he believes he is no longer a player of the club, according to @marcelobechlerpic.twitter.com/b3tRCxP5JC
That could force the Catalan giants to sell for less than the €700 million release clause, hoping to bring back a financial windfall without a long, ugly and protracted contract dispute with the best player in history and one of the most popular sporting figures on the planet. Such a standoff would not cast Barca in the best of lights, especially with other superstar players. An unhappy legend is bad for business and certainly bad for club morale.
And City reportedly are set to offer Barcelona a lucrative transfer fee to signMessi, even if it falls well short of his release clause:
Barcelona believe Messi will sign for Manchester City and are now willing to accept a transfer fee of €280m, reports the Mirror 👀 pic.twitter.com/o8O3kEgtPn
So the drama is in full swing, with Manchester City the favorites to land the Argentine superstar if he's allowed to leave Barcelona. Paris Saint-Germain are also in the running, per ESPN, with Messi's former teammate Neymar reportedly recruiting him to the Champions League runners-up.
And there remains the possibility thatMessicould be forced into staying, though that may require club president JosepMariaBartomeuresigningand a whole lot of damage control. More than likely,Messi's time in Barcelona is over. If so, all that remains to determine is how much the club will receive for his departure.
The Obvious Pros and Surprising Cons of Manchester City Signing Lionel Messi
Aug 27, 2020
It's the biggest story in football for some time. Lionel Messi has requested to leave Barcelona, threatening to put an end to a relationship that, in truth, most could never picture ending.
According to Esporte Interativo's Marcelo Bechler, who broke the news of Messi's desire to end an era at the Camp Nou (and broke the Neymar-to-PSG deal back in 2017), the Argentina captain wants to play for Manchester City, where he would link back up with former coach Pep Guardiola.
The two achieved some wondrous things together between 2009 and 2011—namely, two Champions League trophies in three years, playing some spell-binding football. Messi has only won the trophy once since, in 2015, while Guardiola hasn't reached the final since last winning it. The sense that they need one another to be victorious once more is strong.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onUokoQA1Wk
If Messi does break free of his Barcelona contract, City won't be his only suitors. But the reality of who can afford to sign him has already thinned the pack out. It really does feel like City or stay already, and Messi's father has flown to Manchester to discuss terms, per RAC1 and TyC Sports (h/t Daily Mail).
So with that in mind, let's take a look at how Messi would change Guardiola's starting XI, shape and approach in a variety of ways, showcasing the obvious pros—and the surprising cons—of each one.
As we move through the options, we will be reviewing them in the context of football at the top level. We know City would crush average sides with Messi in the team, so we're interested to know how each approach would work against a Bayern Munich, a Liverpool or a Paris Saint-Germain. What fresh edge could he give them, and are they any drawbacks?
The Obvious: 4-3-3, Right Wing
Obvious pro: Messi cutting inside on his left foot.
The 4-3-3 is both Guardiola's core formation and the one Messi has played in more often than any other. That's down to their Barcelona breeding—the club is obsessed with that particular shape—so it's an immediate snug fit for each party.
Messi has the most dangerous left foot on the planet, so putting him in a position to cut inside on to it and shoot, dribble or create would be the obvious way to deploy him. A predictable move, sure, but when you are as good as he is, you can't stop him even if you know exactly what he's going to do.
Surprising con: Unless someone else does his running, the right side is a defensive weak point.
Here's an uncomfortable truth about Messi right now: He doesn't do much running, and that causes a slight tactical headache at the top level.
He's a genius, the best player in the world, so there's a strong argument that he shouldn't have to run. He once spent 83.1 per cent of a Clasico walking, per Marca, and bossed it regardless.
But consider the approach the last two Champions League-winning teams, Liverpool and Bayern, take as a team: They press, they are machine-like, they are filled with players who are elite footballers but also elite athletes. City, the destination for Messi under discussion, operate in the same fashion.
Player
Miles per 90
Thomas Muller
7.2
Roberto Firmino
7
Robert Lewandowski
6.4
Sadio Mane
6.4
Serge Gnabry
6.4
Mohamed Salah
6.1
Lionel Messi
4.8
The disparity between the sort of distance Messi covers per game and the distance said clubs' front threes cover is dramatic. Again, he's 33 and his skill may outweight this, but from a pure stylistic standpoint, he makes whichever part of the pitch he plays in defensively weak.
City would need to patch over that by deploying players to do his running for him. Kyle Walker is a perfect candidate from right-back, while the right-sided central midfielder and defensive midfielder will spend a lot of time drifting to cover the flank. You will always be vulnerable to an Alphonso Davies-Nelson Semedo-type situation, though, as cracks will always spring up.
The Valverde: 4-2-3-1, No. 10
Obvious pro: Unlock Messi's genius from the centre while masking his defensive weakness.
So...that Ernesto Valverde character. He actually did a pretty good job, didn't he?
The 56-year-old was fired from his position as Barcelona manager in January, in part because his style of play was deemed beneath the club. They wanted swashbuckling, high-energy, tiki-taka magic—not the defensively solid, slightly more physical approach he brought.
But the last seven months have been disastrous, painting Valverde's approach in a new, more positive light. He wasn't anti-football; he just recognised the squad's limitations and built a system that both masked them and got the best out of Messi.
Messi wrought consistent attacking havoc from a more central position, a free No. 10 role, while contributing almost nothing defensively. But backed by two more aggressive midfielders—one of which was usually Paulinho, Ivan Rakitic or Arturo Vidal, and the other Sergio Busquets—the midfield held together en route to multiple trophies.
For City to utilise Messi as a No. 10, where he could dictate the game, rack up the touches, link with Sergio Aguero and pretty much just destroy teams from in the hole, they would have to switch shape to 4-2-3-1. We've seen them play it as recently as June. But on a permanent basis? That's a different story, with one severe knock-on effect.
Surprising con: Kevin De Bruyne on the right?
When City do operate in the 4-2-3-1 shape, that No. 10 spot is De Bruyne's. If Messi joins and this is the way they choose to accommodate him, it would place a major question mark over how the Belgium international slotted in alongside him.
Against weaker sides, he could drop deeper and play in the midfield pivot with an anchor man (Rodrigo or Fernandinho). But against the top sides that's probably not a formula that can work. You want two defensively conscious and physical players in that instance, like the Rodrigo-Ilkay Gundogan partnership Guardiola used in August.
More than likely, Messi as the No. 10 ends up pushing De Bruyne to the right flank. That would allow him to take up those same positions just outside the opponent's box, slightly to the right, and fizz low crosses in for Raheem Sterling at the back post. But it would rob the side of his powerful dribbling through the middle and some raw speed on the flank.
On balance, it's a trade-off that barely feels worth it. Messi might be the best in the world, but De Bruyne is arguably among the top five; the net gain of fitting in the Argentinian at KDB's expense may be minimal.
The Romantic: 4-3-3, False 9
Obvious pro: Peak Barcelona, here we come.
The 2009 and 2011 Barcelona sides played some of the best football the world has ever seen—and is ever likely to see. And they had two things in common: Both had Guardiola at the helm, and both were spearheaded by Messi as a false nine.
The false nine is a specific tactical role that utilises a withdrawn lone forward, one who continually drops deep towards midfield to pick up the ball rather than work the channels, run in behind or battle with centre-backs.
To play this role, you have to be incredibly good: your touch needs to be perfect, your link-up play spot on, your tactical awareness through the roof. And you have to hold up your end of the finishing bargain too. A complete all-rounder.
It's the job of those around the false nine to drive forward so he can pick them out with through balls, essentially running into the gaps the false nine creates by drifting and dragging defenders out of position.
In 2009, Messi had Thierry Henry (left) and Samuel Eto'o (right) as fellow forwards. That's two No. 9s cutting in off the flank rather than operating centrally, as Messi created space for them to move into. The goal tallies were astronomical.
In 2011, he had David Villa (left) and Pedro (right). Again, goals rained down as all three combined to ludicrous effect.
This system is repeatable in Manchester. Guardiola knows how to coach it, Messi unlocks it, the midfield three is retained, De Bruyne's role stays the same and there's enough speed on the wing to make it work.
It would also serve as a workaround for the previously discussed defensive issue.
Back in 2009 and 2011, a fitter, more physically robust Messi led a strong press from the central position. He wouldn't be able to do that in 2020, at age 33. But as the centre point of the front line, he could be instructed to block passing lanes into the midfield rather than chase and harry and sprint.
That, combined with an energetic midfield three behind him, would be enough to make this system work even against the best.
Surprising con: What about Aguero?
Sergio Aguero has undergone several transformations as a player since Guardiola arrived in Manchester in 2016, rising to each challenge.
He's got fitter when asked to, defended from the front more effectively and improved his link-up play with midfielders tenfold. He's not a complete forward, but his skill set is far more diverse than it was before Guardiola took charge.
So with that in mind, there's a chance Aguero takes to a wide forward role nicely—that it becomes another string to his bow.
There's also a chance, at 32, that he doesn't adapt so well, that the fact that he lacks the speed and energy of Gabriel Jesus or the agility of Riyad Mahrez means he ends up struggling to crack the starting XI in this alignment.
Aguero's friendship with Messi is an oft-mentioned driving factor in the talk of the latter's potential move to City. It would be somewhat ironic if Messi's arrival saw him nick Aguero's spot and Guardiola remodel the side without him.
