‘It’s not a bad thing to fight to qualify for Champions League’: Pep Guardiola

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Manchester, April 18 (IANS) Pep Guardiola believes there is nothing wrong with having to fight for UEFA Champions League qualification and after watching the quarter-final of the European tournament, it has given him extra motivation to lead City to qualification for next season’s competition.

Guardiola has been a keen observer of the elite European competition since the Blues were eliminated at the knockout Phase play-offs by Real Madrid.

“I enjoy the games. They’ve been nice games, Tuesday in Villa Park was a fantastic game. Dortmund as well against Barcelona. They’ve been good games. Enjoy it and miss it of course, except I’m a person I don’t complain much what life gives me in the good moments and especially not in the bad moments.

“This is sport, sometimes you don’t perform well and don’t deserve to be there. Hopefully next season we can be there with the big clubs in Europe and challenge them better than what we have this season.

“Challenge them like we have done in the last seven years like every season we were there. Even when we were out, we were competing well and keep going in that way. It’s a motivation. It’s not a bad thing to fight to qualify for the Champions League,” Guardiola said in the pre-game press conference.

City have won the Premier League title in the last four seasons, a record-breaking achievement, but this term they are battling to finish in top five places to secure a Champions League berth.

Rather than bemoan that change of circumstances, Guardiola is relishing the fight insisting the side could actually have been a lot lower in the table had it not been for their recent resurgence.

“We could be in a very lower position in the Premier League if you have done few good things in the last four or five months People say we are fifth now but could be 11, 12, 13 or 14. I have no doubts. Okay we’ve not been good, but it’s in our hands,” he added.

Man City are currently in fifth place in the Premier League title and will take on Everton at the Goodison Park on Saturday. They sit two points behind Nottingham Forest and hold on to a one-point lead over Chelsea.

–IANS

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IPL 2025: Some of CSK’s mistakes were quite painful to watch, says Rayudu

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) After Chennai Super Kings slumped to a six-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu said some of the mistakes made by the five-time champions in ground fielding made for a painful watch.

At the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Sunday evening, CSK suffered their second successive defeat as Nitish Rana’s 36-ball 81 and Wanindu Hasaranga’s 4-35 gave RR their first win of the ongoing competition. While CSK took some stunning catches, they also dropped some sitters, while RR took their chances well.

“When you’re playing a close game, these one-percenters really matter. We saw quite a few incredible catches in this match—it’s rare to see that! On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings didn’t field well at all, except for maybe one or two stops in the infield.

“Rajasthan Royals were really up for it, and this shows that fielding is not just about having a young side—it’s about anticipation and awareness. Riyan Parag’s catch, when Shivam Dube was going strong, was a real game-changer. Chennai Super Kings have never been known for their fielding—maybe in their earlier years.

“But what they’ve done in their first two matches this season has been quite poor. Dropping easy chances and struggling in the outfield—these are areas they need to address quickly. Some of their mistakes were quite painful to watch,” said Rayudu on JioHotstar.

Rayudu further shared his perspective on five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) still being winless in the competition and what could be the way forward for them, as they face defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in their first home game at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday evening.

“I think Mumbai Indians have a solid squad this year—it’s only a matter of time before they turn things around. They have the right players; it’s just about fine-tuning the combinations and placing the pieces correctly. Maybe sending Naman Dhir at No. 3 and pushing Hardik Pandya up the order could strengthen the batting line-up.

“As for Hardik, he has already proven himself as a leader with Gujarat Titans, and I don’t think any other Indian cricketer has faced a tougher phase than he has. Despite that, he has shown incredible mental strength, winning crucial ICC tournaments for India. Now, leading Mumbai Indians is another testament to his resilience. I’m sure he and the team will bounce back strongly,” he concluded.

–IANS

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Newcastle looking forward to ‘high quality’ Carabao Cup SF against Arsenal

Newcastle, Dec 20 (IANS) Newcastle United stormed through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 win over Brentford. The Magpies will be facing Arsenal in a two-legged tie in hopes of reaching their second consecutive League Cup final.

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe claims he is looking forward to face the Gunners in the tie but would have preferred if they were playing their home game in the second leg of the clash.

“I think we were guaranteed a tough game, whoever we got. When you get to this stage of the competition, you know the quality is very high. We play Arsenal and we’ve had some good games against them in the last couple of years, so I look forward to that.

“I don’t think there’s a whole lot in it but I think that (playing at home in the second leg) would’ve been our preference. Any game against Arsenal, home or away, is difficult. We’ve had some really competitive games and they’ve been really tight.

“That’s something on the horizon for us to really look forward to and we’re really excited by those two games. It’s unique that they’re separated so far apart but the focus, very quickly after the game against Brentford, is on Ipswich,” said Howe in a press conference

Newcastle United’s 0-2 loss in the final of the 2023 Carabao Cup final will certainly play in the minds of the players as they look to overcome one of the longest droughts in English football. The Toons, who are considered to be a club of rich heritage, have not won a major trophy since winning the 1955 FA Cup final after defeating Manchester City 3-1.

The date for the games against Arsenal has not been announced yet but the semi-final first leg will be played in the week commencing January 6, 2025, and the second legs in the first week of February 3.

–IANS

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Kevin De Bruyne to leave Manchester City at end of season

New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed that he will be leaving Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season, putting an end to almost a decade-long association with the Premier League side.

The Belgian joined Manchester City in 2015 and saw a career resurgence unlike no other. He has gone on to become a Premier League legend, claiming six titles. De Bruyne is also a Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup winner with over 400 appearances for City to his name.

De Bruyne, whose current contract will expire in the summer, shared the news on social media post in which he wrote, “Seeing this, you probably realise where this is heading. So I’ll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player. Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here and you deserve to hear it from me first.”

“Football led me to all of you and to this city. This city. This club. These people… gave me everything. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. I had no choice but to give everything back! And guess what we won everything.

“Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michele, and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant to our family. ‘Manchester’ will forever be on our kids’ passports- and more importantly, in each of our hearts,” the post added.

The 33-year-old sits second to Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs (162) on the all-time list of Premier League assist-makers, with 118 to his name.

“This will always be our home. We cannot thank the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride. Every story comes to an end. But this has definitely been the best chapter. Let’s enjoy these last moments together!” the midfielder added.

De Bruyne has endured a challenging season due to injuries. Throughout the 2024/25 campaign, he suffered physical setbacks that kept him sidelined for extended periods. However, the midfielder has still managed to play 30 matches for Manchester City, scoring four goals and providing seven assists.

–IANS

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