Manchester City

Manchester City won for a third time in a row in Group C of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League after beating Atalanta 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick, while Sergio Aguero netted a brace on a night when City initially fell behind to a Josip Ilicic penalty, lost Rodri to injury and saw Phil Foden sent off for two yellow cards in a rare start.

Even so, beating the Serie A outfit has put the Citizens in a commanding position to qualify ahead of schedule with only three group games left.

The visitors played a wide-open game in Italy and showed no fear during the early stages. Atalanta were having success targeting City full-backs Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy, with the latter notably struggling.

Mendy was booked after a poor first touch first him into a mistimed lunge into Ilicic to try to win the ball back. He wasn't just careless in possession, Mendy also suffered lapses in concentration defensively, failing to react to the run of Timothy Castagne and letting the defender have a free header that sailed just over the bar.

Problems continued for Mendy when he gave the ball away again, this time in front of his own area on 26 minutes. Ilicic stole in and drew a foul from Fernandinho to earn a penalty he converted.

City had paid a heavy price for a sluggish start, but the talents of Sterling and Aguero proved enough to spare the hosts' blushes. Sterling crossed for Aguero to equalise on 34 minutes and then won a spot-kick the Argentinian stepped up to convert seven minutes before the break.

Sterling scored twice after the restart to put City in a commanding position and join Aguero on double figures for the campaign:

Two Premier League players have scored 10 goals across all competitions so far this season:

🔵 Sergio Agüero
🔵 Raheem Sterling

Both hitting double figures tonight. pic.twitter.com/Djn1nHM3sl

— Squawka (@Squawka) October 22, 2019

The hat-trick goal came on 69 minutes when the former Liverpool man ghosted in to apply the finishing touch to a precise cross from fellow winger Riyad Mahrez. It meant Sterling joined some select company among Premier League greats who transferred their prolific form to the big stage in Europe:

8 - Raheem Sterling is the 8th English player to score a #UCL hat-trick, after Michael Owen, Andrew Cole, Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Mike Newell, Alan Shearer and Danny Welbeck. Only Brazil (12) and France (9) have had more different hat-trick scorers in the competition. Treble.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 22, 2019

Sterling wasted a great chance to net his fourth after being played through by the impressive Foden. However, City's main man uncharacteristically pushed his effort wide.

Sadly for Foden, his night came to an ignominious end when he was dismissed on 82 minutes after a second booking. Fouls on Ruslan Malinovskiy and Marten de Roon were enough to send the 19-year-old packing.

Foden been playing so well, involved in the goals, but now sent off, booked for fouling Malinovsky and pulling De Roon back. Bit naive, when on a booking. Hardly the worst offences. Gets a pat on the back from Guardiola as he heads down tunnel. #MCIATA

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) October 22, 2019

It was a down note for Foden, but City had already done more than enough to win with room to spare. Sterling and Aguero are both playing at a world-class level, good enough to eventually bring the trophy to this club for the first time.

   

What's Next?

City host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday, while Atalanta return to action in the Italian top flight for a home game against Udinese on Sunday.

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling has rubbished comparisons between him, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo despite his impressive recent form.

Under Pep Guardiola, Sterling has become arguably the Premier League's most potent attacker, netting a combined 35 goals and providing 21 assists in City's title-winning campaigns in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

The Englishman has started the new campaign in similarly impressive fashion:

13 goals and seven assists in just 16 games for @ManCity & @England this campaign 🔥@sterling7 bringing that #MondayMotivation 💪 pic.twitter.com/YbcwZwDdY4

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) October 21, 2019

As a result, he has been included among the nominees for the 2019 Ballon d'Or alongside five-time winners Ronaldo and Messi:

The full list of all 30 #ballondor nominees 🏆 pic.twitter.com/WyeAlqAP3J

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 21, 2019

Sterling believes he will have to maintain, or even improve, his current form over more than a decade to be included in the same bracket as the Juventus and Barcelona superstars, per FourFourTwo (h/t MailOnline's Amitai Winehouse):

"Messi's one of a kind. Bro, if I'm scoring 50 or 60 goals a year for the next 15 years, then you can talk to me about that—right now, don't talk to me about Ronaldo or Messi. I don't want to hear that connection.

"I'm not saying I don't value myself, but those are two guys who have been doing it for 15 years. That's not heard of: 40, 50, 60 goals for 15 years. 

"There's a long process to go for that. But I'm developing and I want to get my numbers better every single year. If I'm doing that in 10 or 15 years' time, then OK, maybe. But it's early days."

Ronaldo and Messi monopolised the Ballon d'Or for 10 years between 2008 and 2017 until Luka Modric finally broke the duo's grip on the prestigious award in 2018.

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk is being widely tipped to again keep the gong out of Ronaldo and Messi's reach this year after he helped the Reds win the UEFA Champions League and come second in the Premier League last term:

All 30 of the 2019 #ballondor nominees, ranked by @stighefootball ↕️https://t.co/PVqQrDu4Nr pic.twitter.com/ZUcmm0prNB

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 21, 2019

It would be a huge surprise if the award subsequently went to Sterling, despite his endeavours in 2018-19.

But at 24, the England international will doubtless be in contention again in the coming years, and if he continues his blistering form, he could certainly be a winner in the future.

The former Liverpool man's current focus will be on helping City make ground on his former club in the Premier League title race.

The Sky Blues got back to winning ways on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace after their shock loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Liverpool's subsequent draw at Manchester United means the gap at the top is now six points:

9/38 pic.twitter.com/UhSPOPZJOb

— Premier League (@premierleague) October 21, 2019

City are in Champions League action against Atalanta on Tuesday before they host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola has warned that his Manchester City side are not yet ready to win the UEFA Champions League as they are not clinical enough in front of goal.

The Sky Blues are back in European action at home against Atalanta on Tuesday when they will look to win their third match from three in Group C.

Under Guardiola in the last three seasons, City have had no issues getting through the Champions League group stage, but they have never managed to get past the quarter-finals.

While City have become one of Europe's most impressive sides in the last decade, winning four of the last eight Premier League titles, their best Champions League campaign was when they made the semi-finals under Manuel Pellegrini in 2015-16.

Damn. pic.twitter.com/Ir6V5d490B

— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 18, 2019

Guardiola's side are among the favourites to go all the way in Europe's elite competition in 2019-20.

But after City returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday, the Spanish manager said his team's wastefulness could cost them in Europe, per Ed Aarons of the Guardian:

"We missed a lot of chances and also lost a lot of chances in the box [against Palace]. We have to be clinical. The people say about the Champions League, that target. We still are not ready. We create a lot, don't concede, but can improve. We've scored a lot over the last two seasons and I don't have doubts about that, but we have to keep going, work on that."

Two goals in two minutes is all City need ⚡ pic.twitter.com/IpqxwAM9Eo

— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 19, 2019

Guardiola, 48, won the Champions League twice with Barcelona during his four years in charge at the Camp Nou from 2008-12.

In three consecutive seasons at Bayern Munich, though, he could only get the German giants to the last four, and he has been unable to guide City even that far despite the superlative side he has built.

Goalscoring has not been an obvious problem for City under Guardiola.

In the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, when they won back-to-back league titles, they scored a combined 201 goals, and they already have 29 in nine league games this term, at least eight more than any other side.

Even their European exits have not been down to a lack of goals, but more to vulnerabilities at the back.

Their quarter-final tie with Tottenham Hotspur in 2018-19 ended 4-4, with City exiting on away goals. Meanwhile, City's last-16 defeat to Monaco in 2016-17 came after a 6-6 aggregate draw with Monaco. Only in 2017-18 were Guardiola's side blown out of the competition when they lost 5-1 to Liverpool. 

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he'll send his players "to the fridge" for recovery between games as the Citizens prepare for a busy winter schedule. 

Unlike some of Europe's other top divisions, the Premier League doesn't have a winter break. City face a particularly tight run of three fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sheffield United and Everton over six days across New Year's.

Guardiola joked to reporters that conventional training will be shirked during this period in favour of his own cold-temperature recovery, via BBC Radio Manchester Sport:

Is this Pep Guardiola's Cantona moment?

How will his Manchester City players recover between games over Christmas?#ManCity pic.twitter.com/O2t6u58w6T

— BBC Sport Manchester (@BBCRMsport) October 18, 2019

The Catalan coach said:

"Players to the fridge. I'm not joking. Go home, open the fridge, and get inside for 48 hours. See you at the Etihad Stadium.

"When I open the fridge to make an omelette maybe I can talk with my players. But apart from that, no way.

"It happened in my first season here. I think we played on December 31 at Anfield and then at home against Burnley (48 hours later). It's not the first time."

Guardiola has been open in the past regarding England's busier calendar during the winter period, much different to previous positions in Spain or Germany, each of which promote football breaks during this time.

The City chief continued and said he feels broadcasters have too much of a say about when matches are played, per the Evening Standard:

Pep Guardiola is not in the festive spirit after seeing Manchester City's rearranged fixtures. pic.twitter.com/PVsekkBpa3

— Standard Sport (@standardsport) October 18, 2019

City have four more UEFA Champions League group games between now and the end of the year, while they'll also begin their FA Cup campaign at the beginning of January.

It's true that the biggest teams competing for silverware across multiple fronts are bound to encounter difficulties with the number of matches, so much so that a fridge is required to cool off in between games.

City's chief operating officer, Omar Berrada, also found fault with the club's jam-packed schedule, per journalist Sam Lee:

Pretty strong stuff from Omar Berrada on the fixture schedule over Christmas. City made it known they weren’t happy with the plans but ultimately it made no difference. Amazon wanted the Wolves game on 27th, Sky wanted Everton on 1st. Barely any room for Sheffield United https://t.co/39kgejMRxc

— Sam Lee (@SamLee) October 17, 2019

The defending Premier League champions are under huge pressure to cut the distance on Liverpool, who lead the league by eight points, while the club also will be desperate to advance in Europe.

Guardiola & Co. travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday following the international break, and they'll face Atalanta, Aston Villa and Southampton on two occasions over the next fortnight.

Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus has praised the job done by his team-mate Fernandinho in recent weeks as an emergency defender, but has said he thinks the return of John Stones will help the side "a lot." 

City opted against bringing in a centre-back in the summer following the departure of club captain Vincent Kompany. Injuries to Stones and star defender Aymeric Laporte early in the campaign have left Pep Guardiola short of options at the back.

Although City have struggled to keep things tight as a result, Jesus told City's website he's been impressed with how his compatriot has handled the shift in position and that he thinks Stones' recovery from injury will help shore things up:

"It's been difficult because we haven't had the right number of players in defence. We only had Nico [Otamendi] and Fernandinho, who was doing a great job, but isn't a defender.

"John's return will help us a lot. He is a great player. When you've got a player who is really good you can put him anywhere in the pitch and he will do a great job. That's what Fernandinho has been doing. Working to support the team, playing really well and helping us a lot.

"You can see he is a very experienced player and really good at what he does."

As noted by the report, Stones is close to a return to action for City, as the England international started training again ahead of their clash with Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

In their previous outing, their defensive naivety was on show again, as Wolverhampton Wanderers ran out 2-0 winners thanks to two goals from Adama Traore:

Otamendi, who is City's only fit senior centre-back, bore the brunt of criticism following that encounter, as he made some basic errors. Per Sachin Nakrani of the Guardian, the Argentina international continued to toil on international duty:

https://twitter.com/SachinNakrani/status/1182011513034412033

The result of City's defensive problems has been the team falling eight points behind Liverpool in the race for the Premier League after just eight games of the season.

Stones' return will be welcomed by supporters, although he was far from his best when on the field earlier in the season. The former Everton man toiled in another defensive meltdown from Pep Guardiola's side in September, as they were beaten 3-2 by Norwich City.

David Mooney of BBC Radio 5 Live looked at City's options at the back following the return of Stones:

But for Fernandinho to fill the Fernandinho-shaped hole, Otamendi would have to play...

Basically, I'm not sure.

— David Mooney (@DavidMooney) October 6, 2019

Although there are 30 games left in the Premier League season, already it feels like City's margin for error is tiny. After all, they accumulated a whopping 98 points last season, with Liverpool just a point further back.

In attack, City have incredible depth, which means Jesus faces a fight for his starting spot. Sergio Aguero was expected to be a doubt for the match at Palace, but Guardiola said he's ready to play in a crucial game for the Premier League champions.

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne is fit again and could line up for Manchester City when they visit Crystal Palace on Saturday in the Premier League. 

The Spanish manager also said in his pre-match press conference that John Stones is back in training after a muscle injury:

Guardiola on injuries: some of them are better. Kevin is back, John trained the last days, Mendy as well. #MCFC

— Andy Hampson (@andyhampson) October 18, 2019

Guardiola also made assurances that Sergio Aguero is uninjured after his recent car crash:

Guardiola says Aguero is "fine" but "the car is not". #MCFC

— David Mooney (@DavidMooney) October 18, 2019

The return of De Bruyne, 28, should be a big boost for City as they look to get their title challenge back on track after the 2-0 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break.

The Belgian playmaker was absent for the loss with a groin injury, as well as the preceding UEFA Champions League win against Dinamo Zagreb.

De Bruyne is City's central creative figure. In seven Premier League appearances this term, he already has eight assists and two goals:

Kevin De Bruyne has as many league assists this season as Mohamed Salah, David Silva & João Moutinho had last season (8) - and more than James Maddison (7).

Freakish. 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/9CcjS8kely

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) September 28, 2019

Palace have been excellent defensively this season, conceding just eight goals in eight English top-flight games, the fourth best record in the division.

The Eagles also have a fine recent record against the Sky Blues having picked up a win and a draw against Guardiola's side in their last three meetings.

As such, City may well need to be at their best if they are to get a vital three points at Selhurst Park, and De Bruyne will be crucial to unlocking Palace's defence. 

Phil Foden will be given game time at Manchester City, according to assistant coach Mikel Arteta. 

Like manager Pep Guardiola often is, Arteta was effusive in his praise of the 19-year-old, per Goal: "His potential is limitless. He is going to set his own limits."

The Spaniard added Foden is in a "healthy, inspiring and challenging environment" at City, where Arteta gave assurances he'll have the chance to prove himself:

"The door is open. We have a manager who trusts in young players, and he's going to get opportunities.

"With that type of environment, to grow and to always be going in the right direction is the most important thing.

"I think he'll be very successful."

Foden made 26 appearances in all competitions last season, with 11 of those being starts.

In this campaign, he has made just four appearances, three of which were brief cameos from the bench. His solitary start came against Preston North End in the Carabao Cup.

Football writer Daniel Storey and BBC Sport's Alistair Magowan questioned his lack of game time earlier in October:

At the Etihad, where I'm wondering when we might be able to make the 'Phil Foden lack of league minutes' point without getting an angry reaction from supporters. Still stuck on three career league starts.

— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) October 6, 2019

I read someone make point that Pep keeps telling Foden there's these amazing players ahead of him. True, but with City dropping points this season, is now not the time to try him? https://t.co/7HciR50qPV

— Alistair Magowan (@alistairmagowan) October 8, 2019

His lack of game time did not hamper his selection to play for England's under-21 side in their 5-1 win over Austria on Tuesday.

Football.London's James Benge was impressed with his performance:

This is my first time seeing Phil Foden in the flesh. I get the hype.

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) October 15, 2019

The youngster is a technically gifted player and a composed presence on the ball, whether he's escaping the attention of an opponent or picking out a team-mate with a pass.

Despite his lack of time on the pitch, Guardiola is adamant that Foden—rather than a new signing—is first in line to replace David Silva at the Etihad Stadium:

🗣 Pep Guardiola on Phil Foden: "Phil’s going nowhere — Phil is City. We won’t be signing anyone else for that position.

“When David Silva leaves, we know exactly who our new magician will be.” pic.twitter.com/8umEFHchN7

— GOAL (@goal) October 10, 2019

The Spaniard will be 34 in January and his contract expires next summer, so there will be scope for Foden to play a significant role next season.

He has big shoes to fill, though, and he needs to play more in the coming months if he's to be ready for that responsibility.

Guardiola and his coaching staff may have faith in Foden, but it's time for them to show rather than tell.

Manchester City will have the chance to right the ship and close the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool during their next stretch of matches ahead of the November international break.

The Sky Blues will have a relatively simple run ahead of a massive showdown with the Reds on November 10. Liverpool face much stiffer competition, but even if they maintain their 100 percent record, a head-to-head clash should provide City with an opportunity to make up ground.

Here is a look at the full schedule and score predictions:

October 19: Crystal Palace vs. City, Premier League (0-2)

October 22: City vs. Atalanta, Champions League (3-1)

October 26: City vs. Aston Villa, Premier League (3-0)

October 29: City vs. Southampton, Carabao Cup (4-0)

November 2: City vs. Southampton, Premier League (3-1)

November 6: Atalanta vs. City, Champions League (1-2)

November 10: Liverpool vs. Manchester City, Premier League (1-1)

   

Kevin De Bruyne

Belgian midfielder De Bruyne hasn't played since the 3-1 win over Everton in late September, but despite his short absence, he still ranks among the Premier League's top creators:

Most goals = Aguero & Abraham
Most assists = Kevin De Bruyne
Most take-ons = Wilfried Zaha

Heading into the international break, here are your early stat leaders. 📊 pic.twitter.com/81BfpZJk9a

— Squawka (@Squawka) October 9, 2019

The 28-year-old is a key component of manager Pep Guardiola's team, combining exceptional passing range and vision with good set-piece ability. His creativity is almost impossible to replace, and David Silva struggled in his role in the loss against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

It's unclear when he'll be ready to return, although Guardiola has previously said he should be fine after the current break. Given City's relatively easy schedule, it would make sense not to risk De Bruyne too early and make sure he's at his best by the time the Citizens face the Reds.

      

Fernandinho

The biggest issue that has plagued the team so far has been injuries in defence, forcing midfielder Fernandinho to move out of his preferred role.

He'll have to adjust quickly as the likes of John Stones and Aymeric Laporte work their way back to full health, though. Fortunately for the Citizens, the likes of Crystal Palace and Southampton rank in the bottom half of the Premier League's in scoring, so the defence shouldn't face too much pressure.

      

David Silva

De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva have been the team's top creative forces so far this season, but both should see plenty of rest in the coming weeks ahead of the showdown with Liverpool.

None of the domestic opponents before that clash are regarded as tough opposition, and Italian side Atalanta have suffered two defeats in two games in Europe. If City can take care of business at home in their first meeting, Guardiola may opt to rest all of his starters for the trip to Bergamo.

Liverpool's Premier League schedule includes matches against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa before they host City. And unlike the Sky Blues, their European campaign has been far from perfect so far; they might not be able to rest their starters after winning and losing one game each.

Guardiola should do what he can to keep his top creators fresh for the massive meeting in November, and that means relying on some depth pieces. David Silva has six starts under his belt in the Premier League already and should play big minutes in the week leading up to the trip to Anfield.

Raheem Sterling is hoping to hit 40 goals this season for Manchester City and England.

The forward spoke to BBC Radio 5 live ahead of the Three Lions' UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier with the Czech Republic on Friday, and he was asked if that tally was a realistic target:

"I scored 25 goals last season and you know there is no point coming into this season to be happy to score less.

"We won the Premier League last year and every year you have got to look to do better than your last. This year is no different, those are the numbers [40] if you want to be regarded as the best, you have got to produce."

Sterling enjoyed the most prolific campaign of his career last season with 25 in all competitions for City and two for England.

He'll be targeting more success for the Three Lions at the Sinobo Stadium on Friday given his recent international form, per football statistician Dave O'Brien:

Raheem Sterling has been directly involved in 5 goals (3🅰️ & 2⚽️) in his last 2 appearances for England.

Main man. 🦁🦁🦁 pic.twitter.com/fmURjcJQsH

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 11, 2019

Sterling scored just twice in his first 45 England appearances, but he has bagged eight goals in his last eight international outings, as well as laying on six assists in that time.

His England form has coincided with a significant improvement in his output at City. The 24-year-old netted 21 goals across his first two seasons at the Etihad Stadium, whereas in the last two campaigns, he's scored 48.

This season, he has nine goals in 11 games for the Sky Blues, plus his two for England.

He failed to score as City were stunned 2-0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, but in his previous game, he scored and assisted in a 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League, a stage on which he looks increasingly comfortable:

18 - Raheem Sterling has been directly involved in 18 goals in his last 16 home appearances in the Champions League for Manchester City (11 goals, seven assists), scoring or assisting at least once in 12 of his last 13 such matches. Impressive. pic.twitter.com/u3uQTlVicK

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 1, 2019

Given the improvement he's shown in recent years, 40 goals in a season might not be an unrealistic target if he can continue to increase his output, particularly given the superb start he's had to the campaign so far.

Sterling is already among the best players in the world, and achieving such a tally would only cement that status further.

Pep Guardiola has backed Phil Foden to succeed David Silva as Manchester City's "magician" and guaranteed the 19-year-old will not be sold, "even for €500 million."

Foden has long been hailed as a potential superstar, but he has been kept out of the City side by the likes of David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Rodrigo.

In City's eight Premier League games this season, Foden has played only 10 minutes, when he came on as a substitute in City's 5-0 drubbing of West Ham United on the opening weekend of the campaign.

However, in a new book about Guardiola's side, Pep's City: The Making of a Superteam, the Spanish manager has backed Foden to be a huge success at the club in the future (h/t David F. Sanchidrian of AS):

"He is the only player that can't be sold under any circumstances—the only one. Not even for €500 million. Phil's going nowhere—Phil is City. We won't be signing anyone else for that position. When David Silva leaves, we know exactly who our new magician will be.

"He's grown up with us. He's one of us, and he's going to be brilliant—one of the Premier League's best. One thing is clear: Foden has a place in City's first team. I'd be interested to see if a different manager would have given him his chance to develop or loaned him out."

Guardiola has been forthcoming in his praise, but he has not given Foden regular game time, as the England youth international has only started three Premier League games in his fledgling career:

In the list of most mins played in the PL by players aged 19 years & 164 days, as Phil Foden is today 🎈, Rooney is top, Owen 2nd. Sterling & Ferdinand make the top 10. Foden is 196th. Will he keep letting Guardiola apologise for not playing him? Column: https://t.co/37pZFBlNci

— Sam Cunningham (@samcunningham) October 8, 2019

Jadon Sancho is often held up as an equivalent to Foden.

Also 19, the London-born winger left City in 2017 because of a lack of opportunities under Guardiola, and he has since stablished himself as a key player in Borussia Dortmund's first team:

Jadon Sancho in the Bundesliga this season:

• 7 appearances
• 5 assists
• 3 goals

Yet another assist. 🙌🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/fcLo6O3pST

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 5, 2019

Guardiola has consistently backed Foden to become a star, and he even recently apologised for not playing him enough. However, he will soon have to reward him with game time or else Foden may leave the club.