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Man City Without Grealish For Manchester Derby –

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Man City Without Grealish For Manchester Derby -

Jack Grealish is unavailable for Manchester City’s Premier League game with Manchester United this weekend, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.

Grealish has not featured in City’s last three league games after suffering a groin injury in the Champions League win at FC Copenhagen, and the midfielder went off injured in the first half after starting Tuesday’s FA Cup win over Luton Town.

“No, he will not be fit for the weekend. When he comes back I don’t know,” Guardiola told a press conference.

“Setbacks are always there in life, he will overcome it.”

Guardiola doesn’t expect Grealish to return before the international break later this month, when England play two friendly games with Brazil and Belgium.

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“No, I don’t think so. He has to recover well to use him as much as possible,” he said.

“I didn’t speak to Gareth Southgate.”

City now face a tough run of games in the coming weeks, after United on Sunday they will face their title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal in the league, along with their Champions League last 16 second leg with Copenhagen on Wednesday.

“And Aston Villa, how nice. I prefer that than the opposite. Key players, we have 20 key players. I know what you’re talking about but we have had key players out injured and still done well,” Guardiola said.

“So nice to do the fixtures, a chance to get to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, then Anfield, a chance against Newcastle United (FA Cup), we work to arrive here to live these moments.”

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City are second in the standings, one point behind Liverpool and one point ahead of Arsenal, while United are in sixth place, 15 points off City, and Guardiola was asked when their Manchester rivals can expect to challenge for the title.

“(Co-owner) Sir Jim Ratcliffe and others know the diagnosis of the club. If Sir Jim said they need two or three years to be there, who am I to say the opposite?,” the manager said.

 

“I’m sure they will work to close the gap.”

Last season’s treble-winners City are the dominant force in English football, something which Guardiola hopes to continue.

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“In the Eighties it was Liverpool, the Nineties it was United, now we are this many years, winning seven Premier League titles in the last 11, 12 years,” he said.

“It has happened, but in 50 or 60 years there has never in one country been a club that dominates and controls everything, so we can try to extend for as many years as possible what we are trying to do.”

-Reuters

 

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Premier League

With call for Hag’s sack becoming louder and louder, Mourinho  eyes Man United return

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Roma Sack Manager Mourinho -

After a devastating 4-0 defeat of Manchester United on Monday night by Crystal Palace, the call for the sacking of the coach, Erik ten Hag expectedly became louder. Former coach, Jose Mourinho has indicated his wish to return to the club.

Mourinho was sacked as Manchester United manager after a mixed two-and-a-half seasons in December 2018 but the Portuguese believes that he has unfinished business at Old Trafford

According to Mirror in the UK, the Portuguese is very keen on a sensational return . He is however aware the club don’t want him back.

Mourinho, 61, has been out of work since being sacked by Roma in January and has told confidants of his strong but fanciful desire to be given a second chance as manager of the Red Devils.

The ex-Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss was sacked by United in December 2018, bringing to an end a mixed two-and-a-half-season tenure which saw them win three trophies but fail to seriously challenge for the Premier League title.

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That was long before Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival at the club and although Mourinho considers the new United co-owner his friend, he doesn’t expect to be approached if the Red Devils sack Erik ten Hag.

Ten Hag’s role has come under increasing scrutiny over the past few months, with Monday’s dreadful 4-0 defeat away to 14th-placed Crystal Palace serving as the nadir to a wretched season.

Should Ratcliffe and Co pull the trigger, the Manchester Evening News report that Mourinho would be willing to ‘walk’ back to Old Trafford

The Portuguese, who’s aware that a reappointment isn’t likely, recently claimed that Ten Hag has been given considerably more support than he received during his time at United – comments which irked the current Red Devils boss.

“My relationship with (former United executive vice-chairman) Ed Woodward was good,” Mourinho told the Telegraph. “Good as in the personal point of view. Even now we sent an SMS. But from a professional point of view it was not the best.

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“I am who I am. I am a football man. Ed comes from a different background and what Ten Hag has in his time at Manchester United I didn’t have. I didn’t have that level of support. I didn’t have that level of trust.

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Premier League referee to wear camera for first time in today’s  Palace v Man United clash

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Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - April 25, 2024 Referee Jarred Gillett Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Referee Jarred Gillett will wear a camera for the first time in Premier League history during Monday’s fixture between Crystal Palace and Manchester United as part of filming for a one-off programme promoting match officials, the league said on Monday.

Last year, the Football Association announced it will trial body cameras on referees in grassroots leagues in England in a bid to ascertain whether the technology could help “improve participant behaviour and respect towards referees”.

The Bundesliga also used the ‘RefCam’ for the first time during a 2-2 draw between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg in February.

“Fans will be able to view it later in the year as part of a programme being produced by Premier League Productions aimed at offering further insight and education into the demands of officiating in the Premier League,” the league said in a statement.

“The technology comprises a head-mounted device which is integrated into the usual referee communications system.

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“Its one-off use for educational purposes has been approved by the IFAB (International Football Association Board), the Premier League, PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) and both clubs. We would like to thank Crystal Palace and Manchester United for their support with this project.”

-Reuters

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Chelsea’s Pochettino cries  foul over VAR decision in 2-2 draw with Villa

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 Premier League - Aston Villa v Chelsea - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - April 27, 2024 Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino reacts after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

A VAR decision chalking off what looked to be a late winner for Chelsea at Aston Villa on Saturday has damaged the Premier League, the London club’s manager Mauricio Pochettino said.

His side thought they have completed a remarkable comeback when substitute Axel Disasi netted in second-half stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review penalised a push by Benoit Badiashile in the build-up.

“Me and you and everyone in the stadium watching the game, they didn’t see a foul on the pitch and then VAR changed the decision of the referee. For me that was a normal challenge. The decision was there and that’s it,” Pochettino told broadcaster TNT following the 2-2 draw.

“For me, it damaged a little bit the Premier League and English (football). If we want to be the best league in the world it should be protecting the spectacle and the decision … (it) damaged myself, damaged my team, my players, the fans,” he added.

Chelsea were 2-0 down at the break but goals from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher put them level before the late goal was overturned.

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“The performance was very good and we played really well. It is true in the first half we conceded easy … to play Villa, who are fighting for the top four, I am pleased with the team and the players were good,” Pochettino said.

Villa boss Unai Emery said his side, who are currently in fourth spot and seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, still had their sights set on qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Spurs, however, have three games in hand.

“We have to try to keep being consistent with the players we have and I believe in the players … in Premier League we are fighting with Tottenham for fourth position,” he said.

-Reuters

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