Igor Thiago
‘Stung’ Spain have digested shock start but know repeat is not an option
Cape Verde are not the only ones to have kept Spain out at this World Cup. Turns out it was even harder to get past security on the gate of the team hotel in downtown Chattanooga. Two days after the 0-0 draw in their opener, Luis de la Fuente gave his players the day off, a chance to clear their heads and leave the disappointment behind. Lamine Yamal went to Nashville, Dani Olmo headed for Hamilton Place mall and Rodri strolled the Tennessee river with his partner. When Borja Iglesias got back before the 9pm curfew, they didn’t recognise him and wouldn’t let him in. “It was funny,” Iglesias said, standing at the side of the pitch at Kennesaw State University 30 miles north-west of Atlanta on Saturday, moments before the selección’s final session in preparation for their second game. “It happens to me in Spain, so how could it not happen here? I didn’t have the accreditation with me so I have to wait for someone to come and get me. Lamine laughed at me: ‘I love it, they didn’t let you in.’ The good thing is I told a couple of them and they said it had happened to them before too.” It can’t happen again. Up next for Spain are Saudi Arabia back in Atlanta on Sunday and this time they have to find a way through. “I’m not sure it’s fair to say that the forwards have to ‘improve’, but yes, we need goals,” Iglesias said. “We had various chances and didn’t score; other times you only get one chance and you do score. So, be calm. I have seen them train and there’s no problem. They will go in next time, for sure.” And then things will be different. “If we had scored one, the game would have changed,” Martín Zubimendi said. Immediately after the game, De la Fuente had offered a simple analysis: when the ball doesn’t want to go in it doesn’t want to go in, he insisted. Spain had racked up 27 shots, after all. Ferran Torres had hit the bar and seen another clear opportunity saved. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who stopped that, saved six more and was named the man of the match. “There’s nothing to reproach the team for,” Rodri said. “We generated chances but couldn’t put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing.” Few others saw the good in the game, especially not from the outside. Cape Verde were supposed to be easy and with this format no one entertained the possibility of Spain being knocked out anyway, which may have been part of the problem. “Maybe the fact that it was the first game conditioned things,” De la Fuente conceded. The following day Mikel Merino had talked about a “mourning”; it was a metaphor, he insisted, but it had hurt. “The players are stung, and tomorrow will be different for sure,” said De la Fuente. And yet, he said, there were “zero doubts”; Spain must “insist on the same idea”. Yet the conclusion that the only thing missing was a finish did not entirely convince. In the opening half an hour, Mikel Oyarzabal, the centre-forward, did not get a single touch. In that period, six players made more passes than Pedri, who is supposed to be the playmaker but who appeared too advanced, his energy expended chasing down defenders while the game was played behind him instead of in front of him. With Gavi and Torres on the wings, what width there was came from the full-backs. Which leads to the other element which has occupied everyone – probably too much. The absence of Lamine Yamal until 71 minutes has eclipsed almost everything else in a national team developing a dependency that goes beyond the pitch. An 18-year-old is cast as Spain’s hope and salvation, almost as their everything. Unable to play since April with a hamstring injury, De la Fuente had said Lamine Yamal was in “perfect” condition before facing Cape Verde and that the way the game went would decide when he was put on but that claim was disproved by how long the coach waited and the conversations with the medical staff that preceded the winger’s introduction. Nico Williams, also returning from injury, got just nine minutes. “The freshness of Lamine and Nico is what it is,” De la Fuente said then. “The good news is that Lamine is back,” he says now. The important questions are how many minutes Lamine Yamal can play against Saudi Arabia, and which minutes; De la Fuente seemed to imply that he would prefer the second 45, which is where games are won, to the first 45. But on the eve of the match the numbers he threw out were “55, 58, 63”. “We would be in a better mood if we had won but today we have taken our run to 32 games unbeaten,” De la Fuente said then; six days on, the mood is better still, a sense if anything that the negative reaction to their opening game was a bit much, that the critics had got carried away, that it’s not so bad. And, importantly, that they would show those critics how wrong they were. There was that word: “stung”. De la Fuente said: “There’s no feeling of pressure, no sense of emergency. Sometimes the criticism motivates you and this is a generation of players that is very competitive. Players see [what’s said].” He added: “There is a moment when it stops being about tactics. This team has heart and always responds.” They are not going to let it divide them, certainly: this is a close group, they keep saying. On Saturday, Laporte was talking about playing Fortnite with the kids, who enjoy winding him up. And it is just one game, which they didn’t even lose. Uruguay’s draw that same night also meant that they don’t even have a deficit to make up. “We were sad those first 24 hours but we have turned it around now,” Zubimendi said on Saturday. He also rejected suggestions that Spain’s circulation of the ball had been slow – “I’m surprised because if this midfield has a characteristic quality it’s not exactly that it slows the game down” – and defended Rodri from unexpected criticism, asking: “What am I even supposed to say to that?” Zubimendi added: “It was not a brilliant game but nor was it really bad: there are things we can take from it. We have to come up with improvements, especially that fluidity, that freshness in the final third which I think is going to be the key. I don’t think it’s a physical problem, I think it’s more that touch of precision. The day after wasn’t easy but that shows we care, that we’re pissed off at not winning, and that we feel the need to win. Our confidence has not dropped; we have walked a long path together and we trust each other to turn this around.” This time, they can’t let anyone stop them. “We were annoyed, which is the way it should be,” Laporte said. “But it’s also true that we are unbeaten in 32. We have the ambition and the confidence to look to the next game, think positively, and try to win, as we always to. To say: ‘We’re here.’”
‘Stung’ Spain have digested shock start but know repeat is not an option
Cape Verde are not the only ones to have kept Spain out at this World Cup. Turns out it was even harder to get past security on the gate of the team hotel in downtown Chattanooga. Two days after the 0-0 draw in their opener, Luis de la Fuente gave his players the day off, a chance to clear their heads and leave the disappointment behind. Lamine Yamal went to Nashville, Dani Olmo headed for Hamilton Place mall and Rodri strolled the Tennessee river with his partner. When Borja Iglesias got back before the 9pm curfew, they didn’t recognise him and wouldn’t let him in. “It was funny,” Iglesias said, standing at the side of the pitch at Kennesaw State University 30 miles north-west of Atlanta on Saturday, moments before the selección’s final session in preparation for their second game. “It happens to me in Spain, so how could it not happen here? I didn’t have the accreditation with me so I have to wait for someone to come and get me. Lamine laughed at me: ‘I love it, they didn’t let you in.’ The good thing is I told a couple of them and they said it had happened to them before too.” It can’t happen again. Up next for Spain are Saudi Arabia back in Atlanta on Sunday and this time they have to find a way through. “I’m not sure it’s fair to say that the forwards have to ‘improve’, but yes, we need goals,” Iglesias said. “We had various chances and didn’t score; other times you only get one chance and you do score. So, be calm. I have seen them train and there’s no problem. They will go in next time, for sure.” And then things will be different. “If we had scored one, the game would have changed,” Martín Zubimendi said. Immediately after the game, De la Fuente had offered a simple analysis: when the ball doesn’t want to go in it doesn’t want to go in, he insisted. Spain had racked up 27 shots, after all. Ferran Torres had hit the bar and seen another clear opportunity saved. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who stopped that, saved six more and was named the man of the match. “There’s nothing to reproach the team for,” Rodri said. “We generated chances but couldn’t put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing.” Few others saw the good in the game, especially not from the outside. Cape Verde were supposed to be easy and with this format no one entertained the possibility of Spain being knocked out anyway, which may have been part of the problem. “Maybe the fact that it was the first game conditioned things,” De la Fuente conceded. The following day Mikel Merino had talked about a “mourning”; it was a metaphor, he insisted, but it had hurt. “The players are stung, and tomorrow will be different for sure,” said De la Fuente. And yet, he said, there were “zero doubts”; Spain must “insist on the same idea”. Yet the conclusion that the only thing missing was a finish did not entirely convince. In the opening half an hour, Mikel Oyarzabal, the centre-forward, did not get a single touch. In that period, six players made more passes than Pedri, who is supposed to be the playmaker but who appeared too advanced, his energy expended chasing down defenders while the game was played behind him instead of in front of him. With Gavi and Torres on the wings, what width there was came from the full-backs. Which leads to the other element which has occupied everyone – probably too much. The absence of Lamine Yamal until 71 minutes has eclipsed almost everything else in a national team developing a dependency that goes beyond the pitch. An 18-year-old is cast as Spain’s hope and salvation, almost as their everything. Unable to play since April with a hamstring injury, De la Fuente had said Lamine Yamal was in “perfect” condition before facing Cape Verde and that the way the game went would decide when he was put on but that claim was disproved by how long the coach waited and the conversations with the medical staff that preceded the winger’s introduction. Nico Williams, also returning from injury, got just nine minutes. “The freshness of Lamine and Nico is what it is,” De la Fuente said then. “The good news is that Lamine is back,” he says now. The important questions are how many minutes Lamine Yamal can play against Saudi Arabia, and which minutes; De la Fuente seemed to imply that he would prefer the second 45, which is where games are won, to the first 45. But on the eve of the match the numbers he threw out were “55, 58, 63”. “We would be in a better mood if we had won but today we have taken our run to 32 games unbeaten,” De la Fuente said then; six days on, the mood is better still, a sense if anything that the negative reaction to their opening game was a bit much, that the critics had got carried away, that it’s not so bad. And, importantly, that they would show those critics how wrong they were. There was that word: “stung”. De la Fuente said: “There’s no feeling of pressure, no sense of emergency. Sometimes the criticism motivates you and this is a generation of players that is very competitive. Players see [what’s said].” He added: “There is a moment when it stops being about tactics. This team has heart and always responds.” They are not going to let it divide them, certainly: this is a close group, they keep saying. On Saturday, Laporte was talking about playing Fortnite with the kids, who enjoy winding him up. And it is just one game, which they didn’t even lose. Uruguay’s draw that same night also meant that they don’t even have a deficit to make up. “We were sad those first 24 hours but we have turned it around now,” Zubimendi said on Saturday. He also rejected suggestions that Spain’s circulation of the ball had been slow – “I’m surprised because if this midfield has a characteristic quality it’s not exactly that it slows the game down” – and defended Rodri from unexpected criticism, asking: “What am I even supposed to say to that?” Zubimendi added: “It was not a brilliant game but nor was it really bad: there are things we can take from it. We have to come up with improvements, especially that fluidity, that freshness in the final third which I think is going to be the key. I don’t think it’s a physical problem, I think it’s more that touch of precision. The day after wasn’t easy but that shows we care, that we’re pissed off at not winning, and that we feel the need to win. Our confidence has not dropped; we have walked a long path together and we trust each other to turn this around.” This time, they can’t let anyone stop them. “We were annoyed, which is the way it should be,” Laporte said. “But it’s also true that we are unbeaten in 32. We have the ambition and the confidence to look to the next game, think positively, and try to win, as we always to. To say: ‘We’re here.’”
Matheus Cunha issues loud World Cup statement as Man United star gets what he wants
Matheus Cunha took his chance with both hands after being handed the starting spot for Brazil in the FIFA World Cup. The Manchester United man had to settle for a spot on the bench against Morocco in the opening game. But a disappointing performance led to his replacement of Igor Thiago as they took on Haiti in Philadelphia. And Cunha made a resounding statement to manager Carlo Ancelotti as he got on the scoresheet twice in a dominant first half to lead his country to their first win of the tournament. There was a huge slice of fortune in Cunha’s first goal, as he found himself in the right place at the right time as a loose ball in the box ricocheted off him and into the Haiti net as a defender tried to clear. But his second was a textbook, powerful finish at the near post after a perfectly timed run was found by a perfectly weighted Vinicius Jr. ball to set him free. Marcus Rashford plan, Tchouameni latest and Fernandes - YOUR Man United transfer questions answered The Red Devils star belly flopped onto the turf toward the corner flag, then hopped up into his trademark surf celebration and was mobbed by teammates. It was the sort of composed finish that showed he is ready to lead the line for Brazil in this World Cup with Neymar still out injured. After Raphinha also limped off in the first half, the other two spots in Brazil’s front-three alongside Vinicius Jr are firmly up for grabs. But Cunha has surely made it his spot to loose after a free-flowing, confident performance where he was at his brilliant best even outside his goals. As United fans know all too well, Cunha is at his best with the ball at his feet. He carried with ease and purpose on a night where Brazil had things almost all their own way and oozed confidence. Before the tournament, Cunha said it was his “biggest dream” to not only play at the World Cup but play a big part. "My dream is to be 100% involved in the run-up to the World Cup; whatever [Ancelotti] needs from me, I'll try to do my very best.” FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page After seizing his chance against Haiti, he is now primed to achieve that objective. The next step is trying to add football’s biggest prize to the Olympic gold medal he won in 2020. "To have an Olympic gold medal and a World Cup trophy... There's not much more I could ask of God, really,” Cunha said before the tournament. "I think hard work pays off; focus and positive thoughts are what allow you to build your castle.” While Vinicius Jr was named official man of the match, manager Carlo Ancelotti said after the game: “We don't expect it to be Vinícius' World Cup, we expect it to be Brazil's World Cup.” And Cunha proved he is ready to be a big part of Brazil’s quest to go all the way and end a 24-year wait to become World Cup winners again. Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE . You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don't miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.
Matheus Cunha dazzles at the World Cup - it might be time for Man United to make a change
Manchester United needed the bulk of their squad to fly across the pond to realise their attacking solution is already within their ranks. Matheus Cunha has seemingly solved Carlo Ancelotti's biggest dilemma with Brazil. Against Morocco, the South Americans were blunt, laboured and devoid of ideas. The ex-Real Madrid manager swapped Igor Thiago for Cunha and, suddenly, Brazil were playing a lot more like... well, Brazil. The dearth of quality between the Brazilians and Haiti may have been as big as the Empire State Building, but Cape Verde have already proven how resolve can cut down giants like European champions Spain. Haiti set up with a flat back five, which compacted and overlapped like a set of shutter doors. Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by _ signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now! Instead of a target man like Thiago, Cunha was deployed at the tip of their attack. He slipped his way between the lines, luring defenders out of their positions, carving neat alleyways for Vinicius Jr and co to run through. Yet, Cunha was the hammer as well as the creator. While he ghosted in between defenders to bundle home for his first goal, he smacked a thunderbolt of a left-foot into the top corner for his second. Carrick experimented with him as the centre-forward at the beginning of his reign and was repaid with an assist against Manchester City and a goal against Arsenal. After the victory at the Emirates Stadium, he only featured up front in two of his next thirteen matches. Against Haiti, it became clear Cunha needs, and deserves, more space to work with, where he is away from the sidelines. Shunting him out to the left wing, which he put himself forward to do, when he does not have the explosive pace to trouble full-backs, does him an injustice. Before injury cut his campaign short, Patrick Dorgu thrived while playing on the left of Cunha, and it's still a position United are considering recruiting in. He dashed through the same corridors Vinicius did in Philadelphia and seemingly became one of United's most potent goal threats overnight. United have already been linked with left-wingers like Yan Diomande, Rafael Leao and Crysencio Summerville, who both star on the left wing. Once United are done with bringing in new midfielders and a left back, perhaps United should give some serious consideration to pushing Cunha up top and going and buying a new left winger as well to challenge Dorgu. If they watched Cunha in action playing his all-round role at centre-forward, the prospect of sharing a front line with him would make their mouth water. One person who may not be as enthusiastic is Benjamin Sesko, who may have to content himself with the bench more if Cunha keeps starring in the World Cup in a central position. But the Slovenian is a different player from the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers man. His game is built on getting on the end of crosses, passes and balls over the top, while Cunha is more than comfortable with starting and finishing a team move. Yes, Sesko had a strong end to last season, but Cunha showcased the threat he poses from central last night - and is the type of player who, if he's not scoring, by being central, it gives the opportunity for attack-minded midfielders to thrive. The World Cup seems to be telling the world that the 10-man low block could soon become a thing of the past. The games have been more open and less compact. If this theme extends into the Premier League , United would need a creative Brazilian army knife in their front line. He may be the one to unlock all the defences in Europe and in the Premier League, if Carrick is brave enough to trust Cunha to hold the attacking line. Cunha has still consistently performed well on the left for United, but in the early hours of Saturday, thousands of miles away and in the blue kit of Brazil, he may just have put a case forward for a change in Manchester next season.
Man Utd star proves Carlo Ancelotti right as Brazil rocked by World Cup injury blow
For a manager of Carlo Ancelotti's pedigree and experience, it's a surprise he was not cut some slack. Tomorrow is never promised at World Cups, particularly when you're managing international royalty and five-time winners Brazil but Ancelotti's recent team selections - both pre-tournament and versus Morocco in New Jersey - have been highly scrutinised in South America. After Brentford frontman Igor Thiago faltered against the Atlas Lions at the MetLife Stadium, Real Madrid sensation Endrick has been a hot topic of conversation following his productive loan spell with French side Lyon. But Ancelotti, whose resume speaks for itself, went against the grain and selected Matheus Cunha as a makeshift centre-forward. Cunha is not an out-and-out striker but it's a role he previously mastered with Wolves to earn a £62.5million transfer to Manchester United and as a Bobby Firmino-esque 'connector' his inclusion paid dividends for Ancelotti. Not only did he score twice to as Brazil finally arrived at this World Cup but he also helped bring the best from Ancelotti's red arrows; Vinicius Jr and Raphinha. They would be largely expected to tear apart Haita - world ranking of 83 - but they started like a house on fire. Raphinha had a goal chalked off before Vinicius cooly converted the Selecao's third deep into first-half stoppage time. Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now! Unfortunately for the Barcelona winger, he was forced off after just 40 minutes due to injury which is a major concern because he's integral not only as a leader but also as a marksman and masterful creator. However good Bournemouth gem Rayan is, he is still only 19 and it would be unfair to pin the hopes of a demanding nation on such young shoulders. For now, Brazil will await further clarity from team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, who appeared concerned after conducting initial tests on Raphinha's hamstring. The former Leeds forward has recently been struggling with blisters but muscle tightness, just two games into what is potentially an eight-game tournament, is deeply concerning. Joao Pedro's omission from this Brazil squad remains hard to wrap your heard around on the back of a 20-goal debut season with Chelsea but Cunha is savvy and well-rounded enough to lead the line. He did not know much about his opener, which fortuitously deflected off him but his second was an emphatic finish struck with real conviction. Cunha was replaced by Endrick on 64 minutes and the roar when the latter was summoned by Ancelotti was deafening, even from behind the press-box glass. Where popularity is concerned, he is also supremely talented, the 19-year-old is seemingly the heir to Neymar throne. He had a tidy goal chalked off to, which in addition to Cunha's brace, will slightly ease the public pressure on Ancelotti to start him at the tip of Brazil's attack. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Rodri Eyeing Real Madrid Switch as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City Exit Nears
Manchester [UK], May 20: Manchester City star Rodri is reportedly desperately looking forward to securing a deal with Spanish giants Real Madrid after manager Pep Guardiola's era with the English football giants nears its conclusion, reported Goal.com on Wednesday. The Spanish star has long been a dream club for Rodri, and a change in Man City's leadership has opened the door for a potential move to the 15-time UEFA Champions League champions. Arsenal Crowned Premier League 2025–26 Champions, Gunners Ending 22-Year Wait for Title Glory. Guardiola's presence was massive within Man City, and it shaped the career of many superstars of the club, including Rodri himself. But with the 20 trophy-winning manager concluding his chapter with the club, it has altered the future of several players within the team. For Rodri, Guardiola was a mentor who shaped him into one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, and with him leaving, the emotional and professional ties with the Premier League have weakened considerably, paving the way for a move to his home city. Real Madrid's admiration for Rodri has not been hidden. Since the retirement of Toni Kroos, a multiple-time La Liga and UEFA Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Real Madrid has felt the absence of a player capable of dictating the tempo from the deep. The top management of the club feels that Rodri is the perfect player who could provide the equilibrium to their star-studded squad. Neymar Toilet Viral Video Fact Check: Fans Swarm Brazilian Football Star's Lookalike Inside Public Washroom. The timing aligns as a major managerial shift is happening in Real Madrid itself, with Jose Mourinho having reported to have reached a verbal agreement to be the next manager for the club. Rodri is viewed as a priority signing as Real Madrid aims to move to their next chapter after a trophyless season in the 2025-26 season. Rodri is also reportedly "very keen" for a return to Spain, having represented Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, but he is under contract with City till 2027, and the club are really tough negotiators. Rodri's immense physical and technical qualities make him a quality player that Real Madrid can fight for, standing at over 1.90 m, offering a massive presence and ability to dictate play in terms of attacking and applying pressure. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Selfless Silva gives latest reminder of why Manchester City will miss him so much | Will Unwin
There will be plenty that Bernardo Silva will miss about Manchester City but driving rain in May and playing against the lowest of blocks will not be two of them. The midfielder’s penultimate game at the Etihad Stadium after nine years at the club was a reminder of how difficult it will be to replace him. Amid six changes, as Pep Guardiola rested and rotated, keeping “grandfather” Silva in the team was imperative. Without Rodri, the head coach needed someone he could rely on and no one better fits the category than the 31-year-old. Playing alongside Phil Foden in midfield, as the deeper of the two, one of a plethora of roles he’s taken on down the years, he utilised his mix of steel and finesse to set an example. Versatility is not the reason Silva will go down as one of City’s greats, but it shows that in a world of egos, he is willing to adapt for the sake of the team. From left-back to false 9, Silva has covered a lot of ground, making him hard to define in the modern game. What Guardiola has always loved about him is his ability to dictate a match, replacing Joy Division as the leading author of control in the north-west of England. Often found further forward, Silva was happy to be the foundation on this occasion, always the first point of contact for the centre-backs, Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guéhi, who would look to play a pass into him. Alternatively, Silva would drop in between the pair to receive the ball, before looking up to see how he could instigate things, taking that extra second to give teammates a chance to create movement. Over the past nine seasons, no one has won more Premier League games than Silva – 217 to be precise – and he has been Guardiola’s most used player in the period, making 457 appearances in all competitions, 85 more than Ederson, his closest rival. It is a testament to his longevity and fitness, not to mention rarely dipping in form. Even in the matches he was not at his best, there was always a desire to succeed and Silva’s attitude never dampened. It seems inevitable that Silva will go into coaching once his playing days have ended, probably somewhere warmer than Manchester on Wednesday night. He coaches others through the game, ensuring they know their role in the team. Considering Foden’s poor form this season, he looked very comfortable alongside Silva, offering more spark than has regularly been witnessed in recent times, proving it with a magical backheel to create Antoine Semenyo’s opener. Natural instincts make Silva want to join every attack but he knows City are susceptible to the counterattack, forcing him to be constrained. Holding back to assist those behind him should a positive quickly turn into a negative is a selfless act, one much appreciated by what is a relatively inexperienced pairing. Intelligent use of the ball is integral to the Silva repertoire. Ten minutes into the second half there was a sublime touch and simple pass to a teammate, something that goes relatively unnoticed in the grand scheme of things but it was on the edge of his own box, with Palace shirts all around. Silva was not panicked, he never is, and this coolness radiates around his teammates. Without Rodri, there is always a little more trepidation in the ranks, so the comfort of Silva is welcome. Should the two be absent at any point, one wonders who could fill the void. Much consternation went around the ground when Silva played a blind back-pass, first failing to look if any Palace players were in the vicinity and exacerbating matters by completely miscuing it, allowing Ismaïla Sarr a chance to shoot. It shows that no one is perfect. Silva is understated in his approach but certainly not undervalued. With City enjoying a comfortable two-goal lead, Crystal Palace sent on more attacking thrust, desperate to increase the pressure after a placid 65 minutes. The visitors were trying to speed things up, but Silva saw his responsibility to maintain composure, to slow proceedings down, frustrating the visitors in the process. With 11 minutes to go, Guardiola relented and brought his metronome off for a break, with more key fixtures to come. It gave the supporters a second-to-last chance to give their hero a thoroughly deserved standing ovation. Passing on the captain’s armband to Nathan Aké was Silva’s easiest task of the night but felt ceremonial considering his impending departure. Saturday at Wembley gives Silva the chance of a third FA Cup medal, to add to the Champions League crown and six Premier League titles, with a seventh still a possibility. Guardiola insists he does not have an archetypal player but if he did, they would resemble Silva. “Everything is replaceable in football life,” Guardiola said. “But there are players that it’s even more difficult.”
Guardiola wants City players to raise their game rather than trust ‘flip of a coin’ officials
Pep Guardiola believes officiating decisions are a “flip of a coin” and constantly urges his Manchester City players to perform better in order to overcome this. Refereeing and the use of the video assistant referee are being scrutinised once more after Callum Wilson’s late disallowed goal in West Ham’s 1-0 defeat by Arsenal at the London Stadium on Sunday. The decision came after the referee Chris Kavanagh awarded the strike before being advised by the game’s VAR, Darren England, to review the incident at the pitchside monitor. On doing so, Kavanagh ruled the goal out for a foul on Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya. Arsenal’s victory moved them to 79 points, five ahead of City, with two matches left, meaning that even if Guardiola’s side win their three remaining games they may not be able to catch Mikel Arteta’s team. The first of those comes against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening. Guardiola did not comment on Wilson’s disallowed goal but did claim that City had lost the last two FA Cup finals, to Manchester United and Crystal Palace respectively, because “referees didn’t do their job, even the VAR”. In the 2024 final, Erling Haaland was not awarded a penalty after appearing to be pushed over in the area by Lisandro Martínez. Later in the game, Haaland appeared to be fouled in the area by Kobbie Mainoo and again no penalty was awarded. In 2025, Palace’s goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, handled the ball outside the area and was booked rather than sent off as he was adjudged not to have prevented a goalscoring chance. “The only thing we can do is do it [perform] better – that is only in your control,” said Guardiola. “We lost the two finals of the FA Cup because the referees didn’t do their jobs they should do, even the VAR. When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR. “I never trust anything since I arrived [at City] a long time ago. Always I learned you have do it better – be in a position to do it better because [if not] you blame yourself with what you have to do, because [VAR] is a flip of a coin. You have to do better and better for yourself, and that is focusing on Crystal Palace for us.” “We play in this game, we go to Bournemouth and the last game in Aston Villa. The important one is tomorrow and we will see what happens to the next games. I always learned that when you lose focus, you are in a dangerous situation.” Abdukodir Khusanov and Rodri are doubts to face Palace due to injury. Rodri has been absent since sustaining a groin strain in last month’s win over Arsenal and Guardiola was asked if the midfielder may be ruled out of next month’s World Cup. “No,” said Guardiola. “Well, there is a chance if [Luis] de la Fuente [Spain’s head coach] doesn’t pick him. But, we’ll take care of him.”
Paul Pogba's verdict on Aurelien Tchouameni speaks volume as Man Utd chase signing
Paul Pogba has offered a glimpse of what Manchester United would get if they capture Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni. The Frenchman is understood to be high on the club's midfield wishlist and could be sold by the 15-time European champions, assuming they can land a suitable replacement. Los Blancos have been linked with Manchester City's Rodri, whom president Florentino Perez is believed to rate highly. Signing a player approaching his peak, like Tchouameni, would represent a genuine statement from United, who have been associated with numerous other midfielders, including Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton. Former United midfielder Pogba is well acquainted with Tchouameni, having featured alongside him for the French national side, winning the Nations League together in 2021. Speaking that year, Pogba gushed about the then-21-year-old, telling RTL: "Very, very good. He's not a boy, he's a man. It's a pleasure to play next to him. FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page "He brings a lot of energy. A lot of energy, extraordinary technical and physical quality. We wish him to play a lot more games and that I am always by his side." The duo's spell together in the national setup proved fleeting as Pogba hasn't represented France since 2022, while Tchouameni has evolved into a crucial part of Didier Deschamps' midfield. Meanwhile, Tchouameni has already been given insight into what awaits him should he choose to swap the Bernabeu for Old Trafford. Raphael Varane completed that very move in 2021, having collected 18 trophies during his 10-year stint in Spain. Varane explained why he felt the timing was perfect to head to Manchester on The Bridge podcast with Tchouameni last March. Despite an injury-plagued period at United, he harbours no regrets. Varane told Tchouameni: "Madrid is indescribable, it's exceptional, but I've already experienced it. And I said to myself, 'I want to experience something else.' "For me, England, and Manchester in particular, is where you feel the passion for football. You feel it, you live it every day. Now that some time has passed, I have no regrets because it was an incredible experience." United will be hoping those pearls of wisdom have left a lasting impression on Tchouameni as he considers his future. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Pep Guardiola ready to earn his money with 'unhappy' Man City players in FA Cup
Manchester City should be feeling brilliant right now. The team have leapfrogged Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table as they head to Wembley again to try to reach a fourth straight FA Cup final, and the club have announced that they are freezing ticket prices for another year. There has been plenty of joy to be had at the City Football Academy, and there is a familiar glint in Pep Guardiola's eye as the business end of the season approaches. There may be inexperience in his squad yet the manager knows better than anyone in the game how to get everything to click at the right time. However, doing that on the pitch usually means what has happened at City over the past month : picking basically the same XI every week and trusting them to get over the line. It has worked spectacularly, with wins over Arsenal, Liverpool , Chelsea , Arsenal (again) and Burnley coming with just three changes in the starting line-up; bringing in Marc Guehi after his Carabao Cup ineligibility, seeing Gianluigi Donnarumma return in goal and then replacing the injured Rodri. Click here to find out the latest Manchester City news in our daily newsletter The knock-on effect though, particularly now that City are out of the Champions League , is that about half the squad haven't started a competitive game for the club in over a month. On Friday, Guardiola brought up players being unhappy more than once as he talked about his team selection choices for the semi-final with Southampton this weekend and the fatigue that those who have started must contend with. "The players who don't aren’t too happy," he said. "Because, you know, the last games we have long weeks, I rotate less. In the last five, six games, we conceded one goal. With the Arsenal game and the rest we have been quite good. I always try to involve everyone, but when I arrive in the last part of the season, always I try. "Now, I'm pretty sure in the last four, five games, in the team the vibe is good, I rotate less and make less changes. Now I have to think about it because today people were, on the second day, always tired and we are a little bit drained and some physios told me be careful of that player, that player, for the history, for the potential injury. If one player is injured right now, it's gone, it is over. And now I want to have the players available for Everton until the end." If there is a team that can make changes to nearly the whole team and still win an FA Cup semi-final, it is City. They changed ten for a fifth round tie at Newcastle and comfortably ran out winners, with Savinho and Omar Marmoush (two) getting the goals. But those players will have to be in the right frame of mind to seize that opportunity, and Guardiola has to weigh up how many of those are in the squad when he makes his final gameplan for Wembley on Saturday. City are going to need a squad to win more trophies this season, and their manager needs to spot which players are using their unhappiness at not playing for added motivation rather than to knock their game further. "They can be so sad, as much they train good and they have a good relation with their mates and the organisation on the pitch and off the pitch, because they pay the salaries and take care of them incredibly, it's more than fine, it is normal," he said. "I would not like it if they are happy. As much as they train good and they are focused and respect what Manchester City means, it’s fine."
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