Now then, the Premier League has just released a statement regarding changes to its Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, which were opposed by Manchester City and Aston Villa, and two other Premier League clubs.

Manchester City

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Pep Guardiola's contract extension comes at the start of a new era for Premier League rivalries that the City boss will look to come out on top in.

Already, City trail Liverpool and their new manager Arne Slot by five points in what is currently the Dutchman's first season in English football.

Currently third in the Premier League is Chelsea under Enzo Maresca, another debutant in England's top-flight. Maresca worked under Guardiola at City when Maresca was in charge of City's under-21s.

At Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, one of Guardiola's former protege's, has been hot on the heels of Guardiola in each of the previous two seasons.

Across the city from the Etihad Stadium, Manchester United are in the first full week of life under new head coach Ruben Amorim, who arrives after a successful spell in charge of Portuguese outfit Sporting.

The game's gone Chris. Apparently.

Sam Lee
The Athletic's Manchester City correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

[Pep Guardiola] has got this incredible drive, hasn't he? People say if you asked him 10 years ago if he'd stay he would have said 'no chance'. He said last night that 'every time I sign a contract, I think OK this is two years and then I'm done, and then I'll sign it [again] and go, OK this is it'.

I think he's just got this incredible drive to keep going. He's got nothing to prove now. He could have gone, quite easily, after he won the Treble last year. But he is still there, they won four [Premier League titles] in a row, so now if you want to, you can go on a high. But he doesn't think about that. He's got motivation for a new challenge.

We normally associate challenges with taking a bottom club to the top but I think keeping a top club at the top, we don't see teams winning four Premier League titles in a row or first division titles in a row. It doesn't really happen, they're going for five now. He keeps seeing challenges.

Hhmm, we're guessing Alan's earlier comment has irked you Dave.

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola has won 18 trophies since arriving at Manchester City in July 2016. Among those are six Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy. He has also won two FA Cups and four EFL Cups.

Guardiola's honours as Manchester City manager:

Premier League (6): 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24

FA Cup (2): 2018-19, 2022-23

EFL Cup (4): 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21

FA Community Shield (3): 2018, 2019, 2024

Uefa Champions League (1): 2022-23

Uefa Super Cup (1): 2023

Fifa Club World Cup (1): 2023

Manchester City

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has spoken following Pep Guardiola's contract extension at the Etihad Stadium.

He said he was "delighted" that Guardiola has extended his stay in Manchester and cites a "hunger" to improve as a significant positive.

"Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep's journey with Manchester City will continue, allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game," City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak added.

"His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club, and the English game at large."

Now then, how do you feel about the Pep Guardiola news City fans? How big a surprise is it? Perhaps even relief?

And how about those of you who, like Sam Lee said, were waiting for Guardiola to leave. How do you feel that he could now be with City for two more seasons?

Let us know your thoughts via the usual channels above.

Sam Lee
The Athletic's Manchester City correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast

We said a year plus the option for another year. It was a bit of confusion on my end with that, to be honest. The original tip-off had been two years. The more concrete information I got said one plus one.

When I heard the tip on Monday night, two years, like everyone else I thought 'surely not'. So when I heard the solid information that it's one plus one, I thought 'yeah, that makes more sense'.

It was more than expected, even people at the club didn't have any hopes for him. Some people didn't think he'd stay for one year let alone two. It's great news for them, it's great news for all the fans. It's obviously a surprise for everyone else. There's obviously fans of other clubs thinking he's just got to go away and then it gets announced that he's staying and that it's two years. It's big news for City and the Premier League.

The Times

And finally from today's newspapers, The Times mentions Pep Guardiola's contract extension at Manchester City and reports that Newcastle will target signing a forward in the January transfer window.

Image source, The Times

Sean Kearns
BBC Sport

Image source, Reuters

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is an "outstanding person" who made a "mistake" with the racial slur made against team-mate Son Heung-min.

The Uruguay international, 27, was banned for seven matches by the Football Association earlier this week, following the comments he made while appearing on Uruguayan television in June.

Spurs have appealed against the ban, saying they accept the guilty finding but not the severity of the punishment.

"I fully support the club's decision to appeal the severity of the ban," Postecoglou told Sky Sports., external

"I spoke to him in the lead-up [to the FA's decision] and as I said he understands he's made a mistake and he's prepared to accept whatever penalty comes his way.

"We as a club are going to support him because the one thing that's undeniable to me - because I know him - is that he's an outstanding person, an unbelievable team-mate and a person of the utmost character that's made a mistake."

Daily Mirror

We'll also hear from Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou later and no doubt he'll be asked about the seven-match domestic ban given to Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur for using a racial slur about team-mate Son Heung-min.

The Mirror criticises Tottenham for the way they have responded to that sanction following an interview Postecoglou did with Sky Sports, which was broadcast on Thursday.

Image source, Daily Mirror

The Daily Express

The Express also mentions Gary Neville having "swipes" at Marcus Rashford for travelling to watch an NBA game in New York and Casemiro for taking his family to Disney World in Orlando.

Image source, Daily Express

The Daily Star

It will be interesting to see if Ruben Amorim is asked about Marcus Rashford and Casemiro travelling to the United States during the international break.

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville questioned their professionalism in taking such a long flight when the team has been struggling and the club has a new head coach coming in.

Image source, Daily Star

Well this should be fun. Today we're not just set to hear from 13 Premier League managers, but they include both Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Manchester United's new boss Ruben Amorim.

• 09:30 - Liverpool / Arne Slot
• 09:30 - Newcastle / Eddie Howe
• 12:30 - Man City / Pep Guardiola
• 13:00 - Bournemouth / Andoni Iraola
• 13:00 - Tottenham / Ange Postecoglou
• 13:00 - Wolves / Gary O'Neil
• 13:00 - West Ham / Julen Lopetegui
• 13:30 - Man United / Ruben Amorim
• 13:30 - Crystal Palace / Oliver Glasner
• 13:30 - Ipswich / Kieran McKenna
• 13:30 - Fulham / Marco Silva
• 13:30 - Arsenal / Mikel Arteta
• 14:00 - Aston Villa / Unai Emery

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter at Emirates Stadium

Lina Hurtig scored a dramatic late goal to seal victory over Juventus as Arsenal qualified for the Women's Champions League quarter-finals with two group games to spare.

It was a game that had largely infuriated Arsenal until Hurtig poked home a cross from a few yards out late on at Emirates Stadium.

Interim manager Renee Slegers remains unbeaten during her seven matches in charge - winning six of them - and this marks a significant turnaround.

"It’s the ultimate end to a very busy and intense block we have had," said Slegers.

"It is the perfect ending for this block. It means a lot. All of the players totally deserve it.

"It gives us some breathing space in the last two [group] games as well."

Image source, PA Media

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport

Manchester City booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Women's Champions League with two games to spare after overcoming Hammarby at a boisterous Stockholm Arena.

Khadija Shaw scored both of her side's goals to become City's all-time top scorer in the competition with seven.

Their latest European victory ensured the Group D leaders made it four wins out of four to join Women's Super League rivals Chelsea in the last eight.

In-form Jamaica forward Shaw fired the visitors ahead after dribbling past a couple of challenges before her deflected attempt looped over goalkeeper Anna Tamminen.

The City player's animated celebration in front of the home fans then saw her booked, with replays also showing an object seemingly being thrown her way from the stands.

Hammarby had lost 2-0 at Manchester City last week but the Swedish side gave the visitors an almighty scare when Ellen Wangerheim tapped in an equaliser.

But Shaw made sure City advanced to the last eight for the first time since 2020-21 by restoring their lead with an outstanding finish from 20 yards out.

Image source, EPA