Liverpool’s main contenders are embroiled in European competition, while Jürgen Klopp’s men can stay fresh in their quest for a first title since 1990Arsène Wenger must be a genius if he can come up with a points total that will be necessary to win the title. Between 82 and 86 points, since you ask. Either that or he was having a little joke, which has been known to happen. “He must have more experience of the English league than I thought,” the Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said, making his own little joke. “Because I have no idea how many points it will take.”Leaving aside the matter of how Wenger expects a more competitive league to result in a higher...
The Frenchman only took charge in the summer but Claude Puel has already shown his ability at nurturing youth and producing exciting footballWhen Manchester City take the field on Sunday they will be watched by an extremely demanding manager who is demonstrating this season why he has a reputation for cultivating an attractive style of play, improving young players and making contentious decisions. Claude Puel is no Pep Guardiola but Southampton are finding the Frenchman has a way of working that takes some getting used to. And it could bring fresh success.Ronald Koeman, like Mauricio Pochettino before him, seemed to think he had squeezed as much juice as any manager could get out of Southampton, a club that continually sells...
Manchester City’s manager has had to defend Claudio Bravo and his desire for his goalkeeper to play from the back because it is an alien concept to the EnglishWhat is your favourite thing about the Premier League, Pep? Is it the intensity or is it the passion? The intense passion or the passionate intensity? Maybe it’s the intense intensity. Or maybe it’s the passionate passion. Maybe it’s both. Take your time. You don’t have to answer straight away. But you do love us, don’t you?How could you not be moved and thrilled and even a little seduced by the musky no-nonsense masculinity of English football, where there are never any easy games and it’s so much more competitive and exciting...
Facing his first wobble in England, the City manager arrives back in Barcelona denying he has been caught out by the intensity of the Premier LeagueAfter three games without a win Manchester City find themselves in the awkward position of trying to end a disappointing sequence in Barcelona. Ever since the draw was made Pep Guardiola’s homecoming has been the standout attraction of the Champions League group stage but City supporters must be wondering which of his sides is going to turn up. The one that opened the season with 10 straight wins or the one more recently held by Celtic and Everton, with a comprehensive beating at Tottenham in between.The great thing about Barcelona, as Guardiola not only knows...
Theo Walcott flicks switch for Arsenal if not England, Pedro Obiang takes his chance for West Ham and Tony Pulis acquired a gem in Nacer ChadliOne of the curiosities of the last international break was the ineffectual performance of Theo Walcott for England against Malta and Slovenia. Put him back in an Arsenal shirt, however, and it was as if a switch had been flicked. The 27-year-old scored twice to set his team up for a 3-2 home win over Swansea City and it prolonged his eye-catching start to the club season. He is Arsenal’s top scorer, with seven goals in all competitions. “It’s always difficult when you go from your club to international, there’s a different transition at this...