News about Pep Guardiola

Good news for Pep Guardiola! Manchester City 's first-choice goalkeeper Ederson is set to return for the champions' Premier League clash with Wolves on Saturday. City, who also play in the FA Cup final later this month, have four Premier League games remaining to the Gunners' three.

Manchester City's 115 charges for breaching UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules have not been dropped despite speculation. Rumours have spread online recently that an investigation into last season's treble winners will no longer go ahead. Speculation surrounding the charges potentially being dropped appear to stem from recent comments on the situation made by Premier League CEO Richard Masters.

Man City star Phil Foden opened up on his desire to become 'one of the best players in the Premier League this season' in an interview with Mail Sport before being crowned as FWA Footballer of the Year this week. The England international has been one of the most eye-catching and prolific players in the Premier League this season after smashing in 16 goals for Pep Guardiola's men and also providing seven assists.  His vital goals and scintellating displays have been integral to helping City push for a fourth-straight Premier League title as they battle Arsenal and Liverpool for the crown - and they have been rewarded with one of the most prestigious honours for a player in English football.

Manchester City and England star Phil Foden has been crowned the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, picking up 42 per cent of the vote. Foden, 23, has enjoyed his best season to date amid City's push for an astonishing fourth successive Premier League title, emerging Pep Guardiola's most important player with 24 goals and ten assists across all competitions with five games to go. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice finished second in the vote behind Foden, while his Manchester City team-mate Rodri was third.

Notebook has been told that Pep Guardiola 's five-man leadership group - Kyle Walker , Kevin De Bruyne , Ruben Dias , Rodri and Bernardo Silva - recently came up with a different chain of command. Not out on the grass or in the gym, but the car park. It's now a more regimented place, with specific spots for players based on their status and longevity. Everybody has their own numbered bay these days and the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Jeremy Doku are further away from the entrance than those who have been with the club throughout the successes under Guardiola.

Former Man City left-back Gael Clichy has revealed that Pep Guardiola had some rather savage first words for the team when he took charge in 2016. Clichy was a member of the squad that Guardiola inherited and says the Spanish manager quickly made it clear that things were going to change at the club. It was an ageing squad and Guardiola had been watching them closely in the 12 months that led up to his arrival.  

IAN HERBERT: Sometimes, amid the waves of data and analysis which seem to drown contemporary football, you wonder whether there is still space for the genuinely unexpected. The player who arrives out of a clear blue sky and delivers to a level no-one foresaw. It was like that with George Best, called up to the Manchester United first team for a home match with West Bromwich Albion 61 years ago, and such a bag of nerves that Matt Busby listed him as 'reserve', to preserve him from stage fright, when scrawling out the team-sheet in ballpoint. The then 17-year-old was convinced that this selection, in the days before substitutes were used, must be some kind of punishment. He made his debut, of course - and so invincibly that Busby later wondered aloud whether what he observed had been a dream. A manager never really knows until the white line is crossed and the first whistle blown.

Declan Rice has revealed the main reason why he chose to join Arsenal instead of Manchester City last summer.  The two clubs had been in a tug of war to sign the much revered West Ham and England midfielder in July, with Mail Sport reporting that City ultimately pulled out of the race to land the 25-year-old. Pep Guardiola's side were unwilling to stretch to West Ham's asking price of £105million, with Rice ultimately joining Mikel Arteta's side - where he has enjoyed a sensational season, leading the Gunners to the top of the Premier League standings. 

Manchester United have received allegations that 'scumbag' fans are posing as disabled supporters to gain access to away matches this season. The club are given dedicated wheelchair spaces for every away fixture but Chas Banks, secretary of the Manchester United Disabled Supporters' Association, told the latest meeting of the Fans' Forum there has been 'widespread misuse' of these tickets by a group of disabled fans. These have either been passed on to non-disabled supporters directly or through a third party in breach of United's ticket rules. 

Manchester City and Arsenal made sure the title race stayed alive this weekend, with both earning victories that keep the Gunners one point margin over Pep Guardiola's side. Mikel Arteta 's men raced into a 3-0 lead over North London rivals Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, before eventually besting out their neighbours 3-2 to remain top of the Premier League. Man City are hot on their heels thanks to a fairly routine win at Nottingham Forest . Erling Haaland came off the bench to net his 21st goal of the season and keep the pressure on Arsenal. Liverpool , however, looked to be out of the title running after they dropped another two points in a 2-2 draw away at West Ham . At the bottom, Sheffield United 's relegation back to the Championship was confirmed with a 5-1 thrashing at Newcastle, but Everton secured their survival with their third win in a week. With the drama running wild, some new and returning races have made the top ten Premier League power rankings, but who has earned top spot this week?

'It's All Kicking Off!' (aka your favourite football podcast) returns for its Monday edition. On today's episode we talk: The North London Derby, Chris Wood's afternoon of misfires, why Newcastle could welcome selling their stars + much, much more.

Arsenal managed to hold off a fast-finishing Tottenham outfit to win 3-2 in their North London derby on Sunday, and as a result Mikel Arleta's side remain top of the Premier League table.  However, they're only one point clear of Manchester City and have played one more game than the defending champions, who are vying for a fourth successive title this campaign. With that in mind, given they have a game in hand and have won the last three Premier League titles, it should come as no surprise that Pep Guardiola's side are the heavy odds-on favourites at 2/5 with Sky Bet to make it four straight. 

JACK GAUGHAN: Manchester City sat inside their dressing room at the City Ground in February of the Treble season, watching Arsenal. Huddled around Rico Lewis' phone, they saw stoppage time drama, Mikel Arteta dancing down the Villa Park touchline after the late win in what felt a decisive blow in the title race. Immediately up next and with the pressure on, City then battered Nottingham Forest but only drew 1-1. Chris Wood scored Forest's sole chance, one of City's own making. Locals set off fireworks next to the stadium in celebration. Pep Guardiola's had better days. Manchester City sat inside their dressing room at the City Ground on Sunday, five games to go, watching Arsenal. The victory at Tottenham had been shown on their coach and some continued studying it when they arrived before warming up. 

TOM COLLOMOSSE AT THE CITY GROUND: Erling Haaland warned Manchester City to forget Arsenal's title challenge or risk driving themselves 'crazy' as they chase a fourth consecutive Premier League crown. The Norwegian scored the clincher in the second half shortly after coming on as a substitute and though City did not play particularly well, they will take the title if they win their remaining four games. With his father Alfie watching from the directors' box, Haaland struck his 21st league goal of the season to go clear again at the top of the scoring charts.

Manchester City have suffered a major blow in their title run-in after Ederson was forced off injured in their win against Nottingham Forest. At the City Ground on Sunday the Brazilian made his 40th start of the campaign in all competitions but was replaced at half-time by Stefan Ortega. Goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland were enough for the champions to claim all the three points against Nuno Espirito Santo's side but Ederson's injury at such a crucial juncture in the title race no doubt dampened celebrations.

Manchester City ensured they remained slim favourites to retain their Premier League crown after beating Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. The returning Erling Haaland settled City's second-half nerves shortly after being brought on as a substitute and moved the champions just one point behind Arsenal. It was far from plain sailing for Pep Guardiola's slickers before the break with Chris Wood spurning several golden openings and Callum Hudson-Odoi firing off target. City, though, took the lead a shade after the half-hour mark after Josko Gvardiol powered a header home from a corner - and Haaland went on to seal the victory Here, Mail Sport's TOM COLLOMOSSE has rated the players...

TOM OCLLOMOSSE AT THE CITY GROUND: Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City rode their luck as he bizarrely claimed their title bid remains on track because of the City Ground pitch. In Guardiola's 300th Premier League game, City were well below their best and had it not been for two bad misses from Chris Wood they may have slipped up. But goals in either half from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland means City remain a point behind Arsenal with a game in hand, though goalkeeper Ederson suffered a first-half shoulder injury that Guardiola said 'doesn't look good'.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-2 MANCHESTER CITY: Manchester City reeled Premier League leaders Arsenal back in with a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest as the title race heads towards a thrilling finale. The Gunners moved four points clear when they beat Tottenham in a frantic north London derby earlier on Sunday, but City immediately responded thanks to goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland at the City Ground. Victory leaves them a point behind Mikel Arteta's side with a game in hand and ensured Pep Guardiola's 300th Premier League match in charge of City ended in success.

Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Nottingham Forest host Manchester City at the City Ground in Sunday evening's late Premier League action. City boss Pep Guardiola knows a win would see his side maintain control of their own title destiny, while Forest - fresh from their latest VAR annoyance - are searching for three points that will further distance them from the relegation zone.

TOM COLLOMOSSE: Even the sweetest champagne can cause a painful hangover and despite regaining their Premier League status, Leicester City may all too soon experience the morning after the night before. A season that could end with 100 points and the Championship title is cause for much celebration, but the problem is that the euphoria may not last too long.

Manchester City are using documentary power to try and make history with an unprecedented fourth Premier League title in a row. Midfielder Rodri says the Netflix series outlining City's 2022/23 Treble was perfectly-titled to outline why Pep Guardiola 's men are still on course to win more trophies. 'There's a reason the documentary is called Together! That is what we are,' said the Spaniard ahead of Sunday's trip to Nottingham Forest with the champions a point behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. 'All of my teammates, the coaches, the staff behind the scenes, we are all together and fighting for the same goals for the team. 'My teammates are incredible and what we continue to do each season is something I am really proud of.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: There's a bit of an unknown when it comes to Peter Bankes and his affiliations. The secret is out for a few in his line of work, but Bankes is a vault. His team? He's never let that slip, which is frightfully boring when you learn he will be in the VAR hutch for Nottingham Forest's game with Manchester City on Sunday. In light of Forest's little tantrum about Stuart Attwell, and the amusing connotations of a Luton Town sleeper agent at Stockley Park, how dull to draw such a blank. That won't generate any mutters or tweets from under the tinfoil hats within the City Ground. What we do know is Bankes is from Merseyside and that he is a 42-year-old man who, like Attwell, is presumably quite able to resist the timeless whispers from posters on his childhood walls.

Lionel Messi. Andres Iniesta. Robert Lewandowski. The rich list of world-class players Pep Guardiola had coached before joining Manchester City was simply astounding. And yet, three years after penning his move to the Etihad, Guardiola shocked world football with a claim that Phil Foden - then, a teenager who had yet to break into City's regular starting XI - was the most talented player he had ever witnessed. 'The most talented player I've ever seen,' Guardiola said of Foden in 2019. 'His only problem is sometimes his manager doesn't put him in the starting XI. Hopefully in the future that can improve.'

Lionel Messi has posted a tribute to Tito Vilanova ten years after the death of the former Barcelona manager. Vilanova coached Barcelona in the 2012-13 season, having previously worked at the club as an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola, winning 14 trophies.  In July 2013 Vilanova stepped down from his position as Barcelona manager due to ill health. He died from throat cancer on April 25, 2014, aged 45.