Before the Manchester v Arsenal match Pep Guardiola said he had the “collywobbles” which meant he had a churned up nervous stomach. Mikel Arteta claimed that this match did not decide the title whoever won. Guardiola agreed but I doubt many others did. Guardiola and Arteta hugged like long lost friends before kick-off. Arteta did not feel particularly friendly by the end.
Mind games started before the kick-off as City placed the Premier League trophy near to the dug-outs and it was adorned with light blue ribbons. A reminder to Arsenal which team are current champions. On this showing they won’t need to untie them at the end of the season.
During the match, Guardiola kicked over a dozen energy drink bottles, ignored his technical area, grabbed the fifth official when he thought Thomas Partey had played too rough and his arms waved so wildly I was surprised they didn’t fly off! Such was his passion. After the match his throat was sore from shouting for 90 minutes!
Clearly he thought this was the big match which he had to win.
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The power of the world’s elite football league was there for all to see and fans had flown in from the USA, Norway, Italy, middle east, far east and even Australia. Such is the power of the Premier League.
Wednesday night belonged to a superb City team. Erling Haaland let his hair flow freely near to the end of the match which was a symbol of the way in which City had played – open free-flowing football. Haaland and Man of the match De Bruyne had controlled the game with Jack Grealish and the trio have to be the best in the world playing together.
It all went to plan for Guardiola and the difference in class between the two sides was enormous. Arteta trained his squad this week to press hard upfield. Haaland, Grealish and De Bruyne destroyed that plan and simply cut the Arsenal midfield and defence to shreds as they played through. It was painful for the thousands of Gunner’s fans to watch. Some people suggested before the game that Guardiola might regret selling Zinchenko and Jesus to Arsenal but on Wednesday evening they looked exactly what they were under the City coach – squad players. Zinchenko had only five more touches than keeper Ramsdale after an hour! Jesus had one touch inside the box during the whole game!
It speaks volumes that goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was Arsenal’s best player by half time. Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka and Saka all went missing on the big night. Stones, De Bruyne, Grealish, Haaland, Silva and Rodri put on a spectacular show.
Chelsea players behind Pochettino
Word from behind closed doors at the Cobham training ground is that Chelsea players all agree Mauricio Pochettino is their choice as coach at Stamford Bridge. Both Pochettino’s agents and the Blues management board of directors are very pleased with the contract details. Julian Nagelsmann withdrew after being convinced he had got the job and was then disappointed to hear that Chelsea were still interviewing candidates but expressed concern with the club’s recruitment policy. Tottenham players have been texting and phoning Chelsea players praising Pochettino’s man-management approach and coaching skills. He has already visited Chelsea’s training ground and interim coach and Chelsea hero Frank Lampard has promised his support and will give Pochettino an assessment of each player.
Klopp’s two main midfield targets
Jurgen Klopp has already started the process to rebuild his midfield after a disappointing season. Borussia Dortmund have priced Jude Bellingham out of the market and Liverpool have had to look elsewhere but the alternative plan is causing much excitement inside the club. Number one on Klopp’s list is 26-year-old Nicolo Barella, Inter Milan’s impressive midfielder who has helped his side into the Champions League semi-finals and he is valued at £60million. 22-year-old Khephren Thuram is the other man Klopp wants to bring into his squad. The Nice midfielder is the son of Monaco and Juventus legend Lilian and he has made quite an impact during his breakthrough season. Inter, Napoli and AC Milan are also interested but the Reds are in prime place to capture his signature. Finally Atalanta’s young defender Giorgio Scalvini is rated as Italian football’s upcoming star at just 19 years of age and fits in with Liverpool’s search for young stars of the future.
Decisions surround De Gea
Manchester United’s Erik Ten Hag is taking time to decide whether or not David De Gea is suitable for the possession football he wants his defenders to play. He needs his goalkeeper to be good with his feet and show the confidence of City’s Ederson who has been trained by Pep Guardiola to become an extra defender. De Gea is a four-time Man United Player of the Year and a five-time selection in the PFA Team of the Year but his ball control on the ground leaves a lot to be desired. Playing Harry Maguire into trouble in the Europa league last week was a typical example of failing to trap a high ball under his feet, dangerously playing out to his defender and putting him under intense pressure. De Gea is out of contract in the summer although he could be kept on but with a vastly reduced wage. Dean Henderson is still waiting in the wings and Ten Hag is thinking about giving him his big chance next season. Goalkeepers are required to be more complete footballers these days and Ederson at City, Alisson at Liverpool and Ramsdale at United all show great skills with their feet. Tottenham are in the same position as United and if they want improvement then Hugo Lloris has to be replaced with a skilful ball-playing keeper.
Weghorst could return to Burnley
Burnley’s coach Vincent Kompany says the future of his on-loan Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst will be discussed at the end of the season. The 30-year-old has only scored twice in 23 games but his impressive strength, hold-up play and linking with United’s midfield has given United coach Erik Ten Hag the choice of whether or not to try and sign him permanently. Weghorst is under contract at Burnley until 2025 but the Claret and Blues promotion to the top tier of football means that Kompany has to consider all options to strengthen his team. He also recognises that United are fighting for the FA Cup and a top four finish which is currently preventing them from focusing on any player decisions for next season and therefore Weghorst’s future will have to wait for a few weeks.
Varane might make Cup Final
Erik Ten Hag said that Raphael Varane could be back for the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Varane injured his ankle in the first leg of the Europa League quarter final against Sevilla and he left the field at half time. United’s medical team at first feared he could be out for the rest of the season however with the Cup final being played on June 3rd he could be fit but whether he makes any of United’s last few league matches remains to be seen but is unlikely.
Zaha offered £10million
Crystal Palace has offered their talisman Wilfried Zaha a new contract worth more than £10million a year. He has made 400 appearances for the club and is out of contract in the summer when his five-year contract expires and he could leave for free. Zaha’s new offer would make him the highest paid player in Palace’s history. Arsenal, Chelsea, PSG, Bayern Munich, Roma and Marseille are all interested in taking him in two months. Wilfried, who resumed training this week after a groin injury, wants a discussion about who will replace coach Roy Hodgson at the end of the season and also the club’s plans on how they will progress in the league after a number of seasons fighting off relegation.
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