There was some proud news for City boss Pep Guardiola on Friday though with the Catalan coach being voted as the world’s best coach.
As Metro’s Evan Bartlett writes: “The Manchester City boss came top in a poll of 33 journalists quizzed by esteemed French newspaper L’Equipe.
“Guardiola beat Chelsea manager Antonio Conte into second place, the second time in as many days the Italian has been pipped to the post in a coaches’ award.
“Guardiola and Conte were two of four Premier League managers that made it into L’Equipe’s top 10 – the others being Jose Mourinho (5th) and Jurgen Klopp (10th).”
City are currently in fourth place in the Premier League with five matches remaining but FourFourTwo’s Mike Holden is already considering the effects this season will have on Guardiola’s reign.
He scribes: “In essence, the football City have played this season is barely any different to Guardiola’s beginnings at the Camp Nou and Allianz Arena. The Sky Blues have dominated play to an extreme that the Premier League has never witnessed before.
“They’re on course to become the first team to average more than 60% possession over 38 games, exceeding the previous highest recorded figure by almost 2%.
“The players Guardiola currently has at his disposal should all benefit enormously from their first year under his tuition.”
TOURE: DERBY DYNAMIC HAS CHANGED
It’s not just the men’s team who are busy at the moment with Man City Women set to take on European champions Lyon today in their Champions League semi-final second leg.
City begin the match 3-1 down following last week’s first leg but Bleacher Report are more concerned with the battle between Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan.
Kieran Thievem reports: “All eyes last weekend were on Manchester City as they made their UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals debut in a match against current title holders Olympique Lyonnais.
“Despite an abundance of talent, numerous internationals on the field and high stakes, two names dominated the build-up. Both of them World Cup winners. Both of them American.
“It goes without saying that once again, the pair will be the focal point of the matchup, which highlights the positive impact both have made during their short time in Europe.
“Interest in the UEFA Women’s Champions League is always strong, but Lloyd and Morgan have taken it up a notch, not just for fans in England and France, but across Europe, and of course in the U.S.”
We’ll end with a touch of transfer speculation from the Manchester Evening News.
James Robson believes: “Pep Guardiola holds the key to landing Virgil van Dijk this summer, with the Dutch centre back understood to be eager to work with the Manchester City manager.
“Chelsea and Liverpool are also pursuing the Southampton defender, who is set to spark a bidding war at the end of the season.
“But sources close to the 25-year-old say he will resist all other offers if Guardiola comes calling.”
That’s all for today, Blues, but we’ll be back with more media musings tomorrow.
