Manchester City’s nine defeats from 12 matches has the football world tuned to every word uttered by Pep Guardiola, and every fresh scrape visible across his scalp.
“I am not in the right moment to make creative or tactical changes,” said Pep following City’s 2-1 loss at Villa Park on Saturday. “I am in a moment where I cannot overthink things [due to injuries].”
After leaving Kevin De Bruyne on the bench, Guardiola thanked “some players for the pride they showed on the pitch” but declined to mention those who did the opposite.
“It would be easy for me to do that and it would be completely wrong.”
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At least Guardiola did not draw blood this weekend but there was a new, four-nail mark visible across his temple as he spoke on television post-match.
“This is the team that we are right now. It is not where we were in the last eight years. We have to accept it. The players need to know there is a ‘why’.”
Miracle of Christmas as Dunphy has League of Ireland epiphany
An unforgettable run for Shamrock Rovers in the group stages of the Uefa Conference League may have ended with a 5-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday but it prompted the rarest of happenings – an Eamon Dunphy apology.
“For a long time, I was the worst critic of the League of Ireland,” wrote Dunphy in his Mirror column. “I am happy now to put my hands up and say I should think again. We need to change soccer in Ireland. We need to change the FAI. We now have a manager in charge of the international team who has no real CV and would not compare with the two people I have spoken at length about here, Damien Duff and Stephen Bradley.”
Despite the Chelsea result, Rovers can finally enjoy an off-season before facing Molde FK in a playoff in February to reach the Conference League last 16. The two-legged meeting with the Norwegian side comes in between their seasonal opener against Bohemians at the Aviva Stadium. In the meantime, Bradley can expect to see some of the €5.5 million in Uefa prize money to replace Johnny Kenny, who will return to parent club Celtic, and Neil Farrugia, who is expected to leave the club in January.
By the Numbers: 20
Goals in all competitions by Johnny Kenny for Shamrock Rovers before the Ireland under-21 striker returned to Celtic to compete for minutes with Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah.
Word of Mouth
“There were so many of the words in it that, even if I hear it today, it relates to my relationship with England” – Gareth Southgate reveals to Desert Island Discs that Adele’s Someone Like You helped him through tough times at Euro 2024.
“Personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps.” – Marcus Rashford wants away from Old Trafford.
“I think he is right. We have here a new challenge. For me it is the biggest challenge in football. I hope all my players are ready for this new challenge.” – A smiling Ruben Amorim misinterprets the question about Rashford’s X interview with Henry Winter.
“Every team in Ireland wanted Mipo but I’m proud that he has chosen this special club” – Shelbourne manager Damien Duff on signing Dublin-born, former Manchester City youth striker Mipo Odubeko.
“He’s had so much misfortune with injuries, you could not imagine the challenges he has had. We wish him well and that is all we can do” – Sean Dyche on Dele Alli’s official departure from Everton.
Pompey wipe the smile off Frank Lampard’s face as Coventry clobbered
The Portsmouth X account rapidly deleted a post that appeared to lampoon Coventry City manager Frank Lampard following Pompey’s 4-1 win at Fratton Park. According to the Sun, Lampard has a tendency to answer questions with a smile on his face before changing to a deadpan look. After Callum Lang scored all four goals on Saturday, Portsmouth posted two pictures, one of the player smiling and another with a serious face, alongside the caption “no, but seriously”.
“I knew what I was letting myself in for coming here but this is a big, big learning curve for the players, but I’m not going to harp on individual errors because they happen,” said Lampard, “but they were clear and they will lose you games.”
