Pep Guardiola says his Man City side are "fragile", while they are also labelled "weak" and "frail" after surrendering a 3-0 Champions League lead against Feyenoord at Etihad Stadium.
Injuries 'destabilising' for Man City - Potterpublished at 14:58 6 November
14:58 6 November
Former Brighton manager Graham Potter says injuries could be "destabilising" Manchester City, despite boss Pep Guardiola not wanting to make them an excuse for his side's recent performances.
Manchester City fell to their third consecutive defeat in all competitions against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday, despite taking an early lead through Phil Foden.
Speaking on the latest episode of Planet Premier League, Potter said: "They don't want to make injuries an excuse - Pep will make an absolute effort not to and the players won't - but there is no Rodri, no [Jack] Grealish, no [John] Stones, no [Ruben] Dias and no [Kevin]De Bruyne.
"I know, from experience, how destabilising that is because it affects how you train and the mentality of the group. Everyone is looking around going: 'But we have only got four or five [players] training today'.
"You know it's not quite the same, but they obviously don't want to make it an excuse.
"As a manager who isn't working, I think I can make the excuse for them. It really is difficult [to deal with] - it stops your flow."
Van Nistelrooy on Yoro return, European 'success' and Hojlund's 'belief'published at 14:32 6 November
14:32 6 November
Millie Sian BBC Sport journalist
Manchester United interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game against PAOK (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
He has not had any "contact" with new manager Ruben Amorim and is still "waiting for conversations to take place" about his future, adding: "I don't know when it will be yet either."
Defender Leny Yoro is back in training and the club are managing his return back to full fitness: "We are going to get him back, partially, over the next couple of weeks and we will look to get him on board as quickly as possible."
He also provided an update on the other long-term absentees, explaining that Tyrell Malacia is "furthest" away from being match-fit. Harry Maguire is "still inside working on his rehab" while Luke Shaw is "doing pitch work" and should hopefully be in "partial team training" soon.
"There is no special news" about why Marcus Rashford was seen doing individual training before joining in with the group session today. The winger was just doing "a bit of extra work before the session on his own".
Centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund "needs to stay calm and believe in himself and his qualities", after scoring two goals in 10 appearances in all competitions so far this season: "He knows he is young and promising. The daily work he is putting in will pay off for him and his team-mates, I'm confident in that."
On keeping his concentration on his current job and not on the decisions Ruben Amorim is going to have to make,: "I'm putting all of my energy in with the current squad. The next two games are vital for the season and I think I'm doing the new manager the best favour by concentrating on the games."
He accepted it was harder to keep the players focused on the games against Leicester City and Chelsea last week because "things were changing quickly and massively", but things have "calmed down" this week and everyone at the club is "focusing on the next two performances".
On facing current Greek Super League champions PAOK: "It is a game of high priority - we know it needs all of our attention and power. We have analysed them very well - they have lots of talented and experienced players. They are a strong side that will be supported here with 4,000 travelling fans. We are ready to face a very tough game."
He believes success in European competitions is "important" and that is what drew him to coming back to work at his former club: "I arrived at the club to help the club build to those years, where there were successful times in Europe, again."
On not having much European success in the past 10 years, he highlighted: "There was the Europa League final with Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] and the Europa League win with [Jose] Mourinho - I think they are big European successes. Manchester United are always there to compete in Europe, that is what we want."
Sporting 4-1 Man City- the fans' verdictpublished at 11:10 6 November
11:10 6 November
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Manchester City's Champions League match against Sporting.
Here are some of your comments:
Stella: This was a strange game. In the first-half, up until 35 minutes, City played much better than in recent games, but they didn't take their chances when well on top of the game. Phil Foden looked much sharper. In the second-half, it was absolutely shambolic defensively with players, who are usually solid, messing up. Tiny squad size and older players starting to dip will cost us.
Kimmi: I can't believe what I've witnessed. We are leaking goals like Old Trafford leaks rain! I hope they all take a good look at themselves before Brighton. This may be the kick up the backside we need. Stunned.
Scott: I expected Sporting Lisbon to give us a game but I didn't expect City to play so poorly. Shocking defending and terrible finishing. The lack of cohesion we saw is worrying. Sporting gave their manager a send off he will never forget and this statement win will certainly galvanise his appointment with those fans across the city.
Brian: City are becoming too easy to play against. The secret is out: defend deep and break quick. It is as easy as that. A huge percentage of goals City concede start with a quick break from the opposing half. Yes, injuries don't help but the unpleasant truth is that opponents have worked out City's vulnerabilities.
Jay: Take the loss and move forward! Yes, we are creating and missing chances but this is what success brings. The expectation is to win every game now, but that isn't sustainable. No excuses though, they were more clinical. We need to man up and move on!
Media caption,
'I love it!' - Guardiola on challenge ahead after defeat by Sporting
Is Gyokeres destined for the Premier League?published at 11:09 6 November
11:09 6 November
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
If any team hopes to bolster their attack in the January or summer transfer window then Sporting Lisbon's number nine Viktor Gyokeres has to be in the conversation.
Following Tuesday's hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League, Gyokeres is the joint leading scorer in this season's most elite European competition with Harry Kane and has scored 66 goals in 67 matches for the reigning Primeira Liga champions.
The sceptics, who have argued the standard of football in Portugal is not that of Premier League, are likely to have been silenced by the striker's performance against the often dubbed 'best team in the world.'
So if the Sweden international is to be snapped up by an English club, where could he go?
Well, Gyokeres is not going to be cheap so it will have to be a club with long-term ambition and deep pockets. The 26-year-old is believed to have a release clause of 100m euros (£83m) despite only signing from Coventry City in 2023 for a fee close to £20m in 2023.
Premier League clubs were linked to Gyokeres while he was at the Championship club but it was Sporting who seized the opportunity to sign him.
The most obvious choice would be to follow head coach Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford. However, with the club already owning Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Antony it is unlikely they would sign Gyokeres without selling at least one.
Plus, it was Dan Ashworth - the current sporting director of United - that sold Gyokeres to Coventry for just £1m in 2021 from former club Brighton.
United's neighbours Manchester City could view Gyokeres as a long-term replacement for Erling Haaland should he leave the Etihad, and Sporting's director Hugo Viana may want to re-sign his Sporting star when he succeeds the outgoing Txiki Begiristain.
Liverpool could also be in the market if Mohamed Salah does not sign a new contract and departs Anfield after eight years next summer.
Chelsea, who have three strikers, have proven they like to spend big in recent transfer windows but it is their rivals in North London that appear to be the most obvious fit.
Fans and pundits have long said that Arsenal need a number nine.
Mikel Arteta's side would be formidable with a striker like Gyokeres and would be strong contenders in the league and Europe if he could replicate his form there.
"I could see that," columnist Nedum Onuoha told BBC Sport. "From the style of play that I have seen from him and the intelligence he has, he is a handful.
"If he comes to England then it is important to note that he is simply coming back because he has already got experience playing here and he knows the physical level required. He comes across as very coachable so in an Arsenal system it could really work for him and them.
"That is on the assumption that he is the sort of player that the Gunners are looking for."
In the meantime Gyokeres will no doubt continue to add to his price tag by doing what he does best - scoring.
Wednesday's newspapers make for tricky reading for Manchester City fans and have a Manchester United slant.
Incoming United manager Ruben Amorim is hailed. The Star calls him 'Ruben Hammerin' after his Sporting Lisbon side beat City 4-1.
'Manchester here I come' reads The Times.
The Sun goes with 'Ferglee Time' and points to Amorim's own words given he'd stated if Sporting overcame City, United fans may think they are getting the next Sir Alex Ferguson in as manager.
Finally The Guardian uses a little Oasis, simply stating 'He's electric', with a nod to both hat-trick hero Viktor Gyokeres and Amorim.
'Not just the team struggling - individual players are too'published at 08:35 6 November
08:35 6 November
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
If the build-up to this game was all about Ruben Amorim and his impending move, much of the aftermath will be centred around Pep Guardiola and his team.
The injury issues City are wrestling with meant Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was handed his first senior start in central defence, less than a week after his first-team debut. Simpson-Pusey only turned 19 the day before the game and he was given a baptism of fire by hat-trick hero Viktor Gyokeres, who used all his experience to full effect.
The City boss has said this season will be "a struggle". That prediction is already coming true.
To help him out, he needs his senior players to have an impact. Phil Foden did so when he drove home his fourth goal of the season to set City on course for what seemed certain to be an easy win.
But early chances to double the advantage came and went and City were swept away by two goals in four minutes at the start of the second half.
Normally, a response would be expected. Had Erling Haaland converted his penalty, it might have come. The Norwegian has now failed to score in four of his last six games.
It is not just City as a whole who are struggling, individual players are too.
'Genuine' concern and squad 'fallacy'published at 08:21 6 November
08:21 6 November
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City supporter and contributor to the Blue Moon podcast, Rachel Herdson, says "there is lots for Pep Guardiola to think about" before Saturday's trip to Brighton in the Premier League.
Reflecting on the heavy 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon and what happens next for City, Herdson told BBC Radio 5 Live: "The first-half we had complete control of but we found ourselves going into the break at 1-1. Second-half we came out and the first two minutes killed us off.
"Guardiola insisted on playing a high line throughout the game but we haven't got the defensive solidarity anymore or look organised at the back.
"We are obviously missing Rodri but the concern is how open we look at the back because there is no recovery pace without Kyle Walker. We are so heavily dependant on him.
"Three defeats in a row is going to tell us a lot about our mentality and how we bounce back. Nothing has been lost in the Champions League, we have just made it more difficult for ourselves.
"But I am slightly concerned going into the weekend against Brighton because having watched the highlights against Liverpool, they were really unlucky to leave Anfield without something.
"The concerns are fair and genuine. The strong squad everyone has always spoken about is looking to be a bit of a fallacy.
"There is lots for Pep to think about before Saturday but we have to get over this result very quickly."
City thrashing brings 'a real belief Amorim can change things'published at 08:18 6 November
08:18 6 November
Image source, Getty Images
Former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock says Sporting Lisbon's thrashing of Manchester City will have given Manchester United fans "belief and optimism" as they prepare to welcome Ruben Amorim to the club.
In what was to be the Portuguese manager's final home game at Sporting they inflicted City’s heaviest defeat since September 2020.
"Amorim will be the first manager to be adored before he even walks through the Old Trafford door," joked Warnock on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "Fans will be excited after seeing that and rightly so.
"A lot will have watched it to see how they are likely to play and what their new manager is like because they want some belief and optimism around their club. I am sure he will bring that.
"There will be a real belief that Amorim can come in and change things around now. But he has got to do it on a week-to-week basis in the Premier League.
"You could also argue that his Sporting squad is better than what he has got at United."
Gossip: Man Utd reignite Branthwaite interestpublished at 08:15 6 November
08:15 6 November
Manchester United are planning a fresh move for 22-year-old Everton and England centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite in the summer. (Talksport), external
Meanwhile, incoming Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim wants a trio of Sporting players - Portugal centre-back Goncalo Inacio, Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande and Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres - to join him at Old Trafford. (Sacha Tavolieri, via Teamtalk), external
England centre-back Harry Maguire will refuse to consider leaving Manchester United in January, as he believes he can earn a new contract at the club. (TBR Football), external
Manchester United will wait to assess developments from the UK government's Budget before deciding whether to demolish Old Trafford and build a new stadium, or redevelop their current home. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
Gossip: Clubs will seek compensation if Man City found guiltypublished at 08:14 6 November
08:14 6 November
Premier League clubs have reserved the right to seek compensation for lost earnings if Manchester City are found guilty of breaching the league's financial rules. (Times - subscription required), external
Manchester City have made resources available for two signings in January after their injury-hit start to the season. (Football Insider), external
