Phil Foden’s involvement in England’s upcoming UEFA Nations League matches is uncertain after a recent fitness issue forced him to miss Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over West Ham on Saturday. Foden’s absence is a significant setback for both his club and country, as he is a key player for both teams. Manchester City secured their win at the London Stadium with a hat-trick from Erling Haaland, despite conceding an own goal by Ruben Dias. However, they were without Foden, who was sidelined due to illness, raising concerns about his availability for England’s September fixtures, despite being named in interim manager…
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration with what he considered inconsistent refereeing by Chris Kavanagh after Declan Rice received a red card, which played a part in Brighton’s comeback during a heated 1-1 draw. Rice was sent off early in the second half after receiving a second yellow card for preventing Joel Veltman from taking a quick free kick. This decision left Arsenal with ten men, allowing Brighton to gain momentum and equalize shortly after Kai Havertz had put the Gunners ahead with a first-half goal. Joao Pedro scored the equalizer for Brighton by capitalizing on a rebound. Arteta’s…
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has clarified that there are no personal issues between him and Raheem Sterling, despite recent decisions regarding Sterling’s playing time. Maresca explained that his choice to exclude Sterling from the starting lineup is purely based on tactical considerations, not any personal conflict. According to Maresca, Sterling’s style of play doesn’t fit with the tactical approach he envisions for Chelsea’s future. Sterling, who missed Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Manchester City and will also be absent from the upcoming UEFA Conference League match against Servette, is unlikely to get playing time under Maresca’s management. Maresca acknowledged Sterling’s…
Phil Foden was a surprising omission from Manchester City’s lineup for Saturday’s Premier League match against Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys, featuring former City players Arijanet Muric and Liam Delap, made their first visit to the Etihad for the 3pm kickoff. Despite being part of the matchday squad last week against Chelsea, Foden was absent this time due to illness and was not among the forty players listed for either team. Foden, who came off the bench in the previous game, missed out alongside Issa Kabore, another player from the Community Shield squad. Ilkay Gundogan, who had returned to the…
Arijanet Muric’s Premier League debut for Ipswich at the Etihad will likely go down as one of the worst. Facing Pep Guardiola’s four-time champions is a daunting task in itself, and with Erling Haaland in top form, the challenge becomes even greater. Ipswich, on their first league visit to Manchester City in 24 years, had high hopes, especially with Muric making his debut following a £15 million move from Burnley. The 25-year-old had previously played for City and featured in the Carabao Cup under Guardiola. However, Muric, who was previously in the spotlight for a notable mistake with Burnley against…
On Friday, Ilkay Gundogan made a surprising return to Manchester City, just over a year after leaving for Barcelona. During his seven-year stint with City, Gundogan scored 60 goals in 304 appearances and won 14 trophies. Guardiola’s Remarks At a press conference, Guardiola stated, “He’s not here to retire or reminisce about the good times. Now it’s time to lace up your boots and give your best.” Guardiola emphasized that Gundogan doesn’t need to adapt since he already knows the club, the city, and the playing style. “That’s why we brought him back—he’s already well-established,” Guardiola added. Gundogan’s return intensifies…
Less than a year after leaving the Etihad Stadium, Ilkay Gundogan is set to return. The 33-year-old will sign a one-year contract with Manchester City, with an option for a one-year extension, as reported by The Athletic. To facilitate the move, the former German international is willing to forgo the final two years of his salary that Barcelona would have owed him. THE BIGGER PICTURE: Last season, Gundogan featured in nearly 50 matches for Barcelona across all competitions and earned a spot in the La Liga Team of the Season. However, with a new head coach appointed at Camp Nou,…
The ball appeared to have struck Kovacic’s underarm in the replays, prompting a review of football regulations. According to IFAB Law 12, a handball occurs when a player touches the ball with their hand or arm, making their body unnaturally larger. The rule states that if a player’s hand or arm position is not justified by their body movement, it is considered an unnatural enlargement of the body. Even though Kovacic’s arm was not in an ideal position, Gusto’s proximity to the goal played a role in the decision. The referee has the discretion to apply the “proximity law,” which…
The denial of what Chelsea believed to be a clear-cut penalty on August 18 angered both the team and its supporters. Chelsea’s opening match of the 2024–2025 season took place at Stamford Bridge against Manchester City. In the eighteenth minute, Erling Haaland scored his first goal of the season with a long ball over Robert Sanchez. As the game progressed, Chelsea gained momentum, and Enzo Maresca aimed to establish an early lead in his first competitive match as manager. Mateo Kovacic’s Handball Incident Enzo Fernandez led Chelsea’s attempts to win a penalty, but referee Anthony Taylor refused to concede. The…
The absurd reasoning given by the Premier League Match Center for why Chelsea wasn’t awarded a penalty for Kovacic’s handball Referee Anthony Taylor made a questionable decision to deny Chelsea a penalty after Mateo Kovacic clearly handled the ball while the score was 0-1 in favor of Man City. The Premier League Match Center provided an official explanation, but it is absurd. According to the Match Center, VAR “upheld the referee’s decision of no penalty, concluding the ball came from close proximity.” However, the close proximity should not be a factor in this situation, as Kovacic’s hand position was clearly…