Manchester

Image source, Getty Images

Injuries are having a big impact at Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola has always made changes and rotated his squad but there was still a core group of players that played the majority of games. That included Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne.

All clubs at some point go through an injury crisis - we saw it at Newcastle last season and at Brentford where they had 10 players missing - but before you know it, you do not have time to be able to be the best version of yourself.

This is not an overall crisis for City by any means. It just feels like it because they have lost three games in a row.

If Liverpool had not had a near-perfect start, then City would still be at the top of the table.

It is just not what we are used to seeing from Guardiola's side. He is having to pick whoever is available rather than who will make the best team for each game. That is affecting the flow of their season.

Some players are back for a week and then out for a further two, so it is tough to say at this stage of the season which players are in really good form as a lot of them have not had the stability to play.

City can turn things around but it will be tough to do because while they are down, the other teams will be up and will recognise it is a good time to be playing them.

And, while still being a good team, it is not the best version that we have seen of them in recent years.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

What is it like when a new manager walks into the dressing room? Or when you move clubs and start playing for a new boss?

With Manchester United and England soon to be under the command of new managers, they are the topic for discussion on the latest episode of You'll Never Beat Kyle Walker on BBC Sounds.

The Manchester City full-back recalls hearing from Pep Guardiola for the first time after joining City from Tottenham in 2017: "He's got an aura about him that he carries and you're glued. You could sit him here and everybody would be fixated with what he's saying, because of what he's won and the players he's coached.

"You've listened to a certain voice for an amount of time with [Mauricio] Pochettino and to hear someone else talking - that's what grabbed me.

"It was his aura. I remember being sat in the auditorium and you're sat there, he's talking and it was like a film. It was like: 'Am I actually here listening to you talking your tactics with a group of players that were basically all superstars? Is this actually happening?'"

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Champions League pundit Stephen Warnock says Manchester City are "struggling for balance" without Rodri after the Premier League champions 4-1 loss to Sporting in the Champions League.

Watch the full Champions League show on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Ruben Amorim carries a certain amount of weight to his name so it is hugely positive for Manchester United that they have brought him in.

We have heard a lot about how he is one of the most exciting managers around at the moment in football and that led him to be linked to Liverpool in the summer.

As a young manager, he could play a real part in building a future team that can be winning Premier League titles again.

It seems very unlikely that success will come this season but there is no reason why it cannot happen in seasons to come. A lot of things will have to change moving forward as he is arriving at a team that are struggling, but on paper they do have more talent than his Sporting Lisbon side.

He will also have to adapt to a more competitive league but he has the mindset and ideas. People who have met him say he is very impressive, so for United it could end up being a very good appointment.

Amorim will also be very different to Erik ten Hag. He will be more open and honest in interviews about performances and that will help get the media and fans onside because so many people disliked Ten Hag's interviews.

On the pitch, he is set to make them more defensively solid and also bring an exciting style of play to Old Trafford that should lead to a lot more goals.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Manchester City suffered a Premier League wobble but remain within touching distance of the top.

In Europe, things got ugly at Sporting Lisbon.

There's plenty of the usual debate but we wondered what is the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad - but should be?

Let us know here, external

Manchester United and Chelsea will lead the race for 26-year-old Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres next summer. (Star), external

The Sweden forward will be available for around £63m - £20m less than his release clause. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, United are also monitoring Bayern Munich's 29-year-old Germany midfielder Leon Goretzka. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Andre Onana says he retains "a very good relationship" with Erik ten Hag, after working under him at Ajax and Manchester United, but believes results were the reason behind the Dutchman's exit from Old Trafford.

Speaking before United host PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday night (20:00 GMT), the goalkeeper said: "When I heard [Ten Hag] was leaving, I felt bad. It's not always easy for players to understand when a manager is leaving.

"At the end of the day, the club has to make a decision and we have to follow [that decision]. I worked with him [at Ajax] and he is a very good manager. I have a very good relationship with him.

"Why things didn't work out here is simple - we didn't win enough games. At a high level, it is not easy and sometimes we all have to pay the price and, unfortunately, [this time] it was him.

"We did everything - the players gave everything, worked hard and tried their best - but it just didn't work."

United are undefeated in both games under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who will remain in charge until new boss Ruben Amorim takes over on 11 November.