Summary

Media caption,

Sir Jim Ratcliffe on ten Hag future

  1. 'I will decide'published at 13:16 British Summer Time 4 October

    Manchester City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Manchester City

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on the Club World Cup: "What is the strongest players? Which ones? If you tell me for them which players are stronger than the other ones? I don't understand.

    "We go all the squad there, we don't go for one game. I don't know the competition right now, we don't go for 11 players. We go for the whole squad. I don't know how the selection, this player is better than this one. Maybe the strongest player for them is in a bad condition for many reason. Professional, personal, injuries. I'm not going to say before the game which player to play. I will decide."

    Get more on Manchester City here

  2. Fulham has 'always been tough'published at 13:10 British Summer Time 4 October

    Manchester City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Manchester City

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on Fulham: "Only record I see is the last six games, since the first defeat against [Manchester] United. They didn't lose. The best moment for Fulham, I will say this season. Marco Silva is already a few years there in London. They bought interesting players there, especially Andersen, experienced guys so always at home especially create problems in the first-half. They have a lot of weapons, speed. Iwobi, I have never seen him in the form that he is playing now. Adama always creates problems. Jimenez is back. Always has been tough, I am concerned with what they do, not what they did in the past."

    pep guardiola and marco silvaImage source, Getty Images
  3. Man City team newspublished at 13:08 British Summer Time 4 October

    Manchester City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Manchester City

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on team news: "Except Nathan, Kevin, Rodri and Oscar, the rest are fine."

    On De Bruyne: "Not for tomorrow, not ready."

  4. 'He did not say he will retire from Belgium'published at 13:03 British Summer Time 4 October

    Manchester City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Manchester City

    More from Pep Guardiola, speaking about Kevin de Bruyne and that he won't be joining the Belgium squad for international duty because of injury: “How can you play for the national team when you have not played? “I never understood that.

    “He did not say he will retire from Belgium to me. For that game he is injured so is not available.”

    Get more on Manchester City here

    kevin de bruyneImage source, Getty Images
  5. 'Don't ask me that question again please'published at 12:56 British Summer Time 4 October

    Manchester City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Manchester City

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on City's record against Fulham: "I don't like this question, I told you many times. Don't tell me, the last time you defeat at home was against Brentford and then after one minute 0-1 down, Well I will say Brentford, every game is 0-1 down after the first minute but don't ask me that question again please."

  6. 'When it is going to happen, it's going to happen'published at 12:53 British Summer Time 4 October

    Manchester City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Manchester City

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on whether he will stay on at the club: "I'm not going to talk about this subject, when it's going to happen, it's going to happen."

    Get more on Manchester City here

  7. ''I'm part of this club, not just the manager'published at 12:50 British Summer Time 4 October

    Manchester City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Manchester City

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on if there is a need to defend and promote his club: "I'm part of this club, deep inside of my bones and the best way to defend the club is winning games and doing my job as best as possible. We cannot misunderstand why I am here, I am the manager, the person at the club who talks more through all the media, to send messages to fans. And, of course I am going to defend my club, I trust [them], since the owner, since the chairman for the relation, the CEO, and all the people working here, for many many years. I know them quite well, much more than any of you. The best way to defend is by doing our job the best, everyone working here have their own responsibility.

    "The rest, of course there are situations in the eight and nine years, it always is there. Some of them expected, some of them more tough to deal with but it is what it is. No complains and you do what you have to do. I'm part of this club, not just the manager. I love this club and it will always be that way."

    pep guardiolaImage source, Getty Images
  8. De Bruyne among four to miss Fulham clashpublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 4 October
    Breaking

    Manchester City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Manchester City

    Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is one of four Manchester City players to miss Saturday's clash with Fulham due to injury. De Bruyne will also not link up with Belgium during the international break.

    Nathan Ake, Oscar Bobb and Rodri also remain sidelined.

  9. Guardiola coy on futurepublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 4 October

    Manchester City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Manchester City

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was tight-lipped when asked about his future, having been asked about it on a number of occasions on recent weeks.

  10. 'I fell in love since the first day I arrived here'published at 12:42 British Summer Time 4 October

    Manchester City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Manchester City

    Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on fans making a banner asking him to stay: "They have to bring me the bill I have to pay for the banner. I don't want to spend money for that reason. What can I say? Thank you so much, I fell in love since the first day I arrived here, lets see. When it's going to happen, it's going to happen"

    Get more on Manchester City here

    Pep guardiolaImage source, Getty Images
  11. Chelsea identity clear - Marescapublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 4 October

    Chelsea 4-2 Gent

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says the identity of the team is starting to take shape, despite making 11 changes for last night's 4-2 win over Gent at Stamford Bridge in the Europa Conference League.

    The Blues were busy in the summer with more than 10 new arrivals during the transfer window.

    They have spent more than £1.2bn over the last two years revamping their squad, and there are signs that is now bearing fruit. They beat Brighton 4-2 at the weekend and all those players were rested last night, with those coming in providing fresh energy as they swept aside their Belgian opponents.

    "It's one team," said Maresca. "The ones that played [last night], doesn't mean they can't play Sunday.

    "In this moment it's like this but the important thing is, changing players, you can [still] see the purpose and identity of the team.

    "This is the most important thing, that we continue in the same way. In football, things can change very quick."

  12. Solanke 'worked awfully hard' for England returnpublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 4 October

    Brighton v Tottenham (Sun, 16:30 BST)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, on Dominic Solanke's return to England squad: "He has had to work awfully hard in his career. It is a salient point to all young players that the trajectory doesn't always go in a linear fashion where you start at big clubs, he was a youth international and made an impact but for one reason or another he didn't get started. It didn't deter him and he went to Bournemouth and worked awfully hard.

    "He had a year in the Championship, I think there were reasons why he wasn't selected. His goal output last season got him into the frame.

    "I've had him for a month, I have zero to do with his achievements to get into the England team, it is down to him. Even the way he has handled his move here, a big club, big expectations."

    Dominic SolankeImage source, Getty Images
  13. Hurzeler and Brighton 'a perfect fit'published at 12:26 British Summer Time 4 October

    Brighton v Tottenham (Sun, 16:30 BST)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, asked about the job Brighton's 31-year-old boss Fabian Hurzeler has done: "31, it is crazy!

    "When he coached St Pauli he coached Jackson Irvine, who I had at the Socceroos [Austrlia national team]. He is a great player and a fantastic person as well.

    "He reached out to us and said Fabian likes what we are doing, and he came and spent a day with us last year. He asked a lot of questions and I gave too many answers for sure, if I'd known he'd become Brighton boss.

    "You could tell he is a real student of the game. He was a senior manager and had got St Pauli promoted last year so he was already doing a good job. But you can tell when someone has that curiosity. You have to maintain that because it can get sucked out of you at times when you get into the battle of dealing with one crisis and then the other.

    "If he maintains that curiosity he will be an outstanding manager. Brighton is a perfect for him because they are a fantastic club. They are careful who they pick as manager, there is usually an alignment there."

  14. City looking forward to Fulhampublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 4 October

    Man City v Fulham (Sat, 15:00 BST)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    It is September 2011 since Manchester City last failed to beat Fulham.

    A Bobby Zamora effort and a Vincent Kompany own goal enabled the London side to come back from two Sergio Aguero goals down at Craven Cottage.

    Since then City have won 16 successive games.

    The combined score in doing the double last season was 9-1.

    Last season Erling Haaland scored a second-half hat-trick.

    I know who is going to be my Fantasy Football captain this weekend.

    Pep Guardiola is going to speak about the game, not my Fantasy Football team, shortly.

  15. 'We want to keep run going'published at 12:16 British Summer Time 4 October

    Brighton v Tottenham (Sun, 16:30 BST)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, asked how close are Spurs to how he wants them: "It is always a shifting measurement. Any time you go on a consistent run of form - and I think we have been consistent all year but the results in the past five games have rewarded the performances.

    "We are a developing side, still very much a young side. The squad is still developing together so it suggests whatever markers we set we should be able to exceed.

    "We have had belief, the energy accelerates and the key is to keep it going. You don't want to let it go."

  16. 'Maddison has been brilliant for us'published at 12:11 British Summer Time 4 October

    Brighton v Tottenham (Sun, 16:30 BST)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, on James Maddison missing out on the England squad:

    "I am sure he is disappointed but at the same time he is playing well. Sometimes that is all you can do.

    "These things come along at times, it isn't always perfect in your career. It shouldn't detract from everything else you are doing, he is playing really well for us. He makes an impact in every game he plays. If he continues to do that I am sure he will get selected again.

    "He has been brilliant for us."

  17. Son out for international duty too?published at 12:06 British Summer Time 4 October

    Brighton v Tottenham (Sun, 16:30 BST)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    More from Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on Son Heung-min potentially ruled out for international action too: "If he doesn't play for us, it is not like he is close, it makes sense.

    "We always have to be mindful that in international duty the national teams takeover, they are the custodians of their players but we have given them all the medical information and they are understand."

  18. Chelsea's winning runpublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 4 October

    Chelsea 4-2 Gent

    Christopher Nkunku blows a balloon to celebrate scoring against GentImage source, Getty Images

    Although Chelsea made 11 changes for their 4-2 win over Gent, from the side that beat Brighton by the same scoreline on Saturday, the Blues were comfortable winners on their opening Conference League group match.

    It is the Blues' fifth straight win in all competitions, with each of the last three seeing Chelsea score four or more goals in all of them.

    The Blues ended their 2023/24 season under former boss Mauricio Pochettino with a five-match winning streak, despite Pochettino's departure in the summer.

    In Chelsea's last five games, they have scored 17 goals and conceded four. Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku have scored five goals each in that run, with Nkunku also earning a recall into France's squad after not featuring for his national side in 16 months.

    Should Chelsea beat Nottingham Forest on Sunday, it would be their first run of six straight wins since March 2022 under Thomas Tuchel.

  19. 'Work on transition is now a key element of planning'published at 11:55 British Summer Time 4 October

    Simon Stone Q&A

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Anon asks: "Hi Simon. Lots of comments on last night's Rashford substitution, and quite rightly so, but, if he was at fault for his lack of defensive awareness, what on earth is going on with Dalot ? He is, supposedly, playing as a left back, but he seems to be everywhere apart from where he should be. His positional sense is awful, and his tracking of attackers almost non-existent. He spends far too much time ball-watching and then ambles back into position, quite often after we have conceded. If he can't do his job as a defender, why is he in the team?"

    Simon Stone says: "Ouch. You are not a Dalot fan then? I think he has flaws definitely and he is a modern ‘defender’ in that he is better going forward than going back. However, he is tidy on the ball and is able to play inside in a way, say, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was not. The thing I struggle with is if you pull your full-backs inside and also play with offensive wide-players, you are opening up a third of the pitch to the opposition on the counter attack – work on transition is now a key element of planning. That either means your central defenders have to split and a holding midfielder drop into the gap, or your holding midfielder has to move out. I do agree Dalot’s concentration can be an issue but he is not the only modern-day full-back to have that allegation levelled against them."

  20. Son set to miss Brighton matchpublished at 11:49 British Summer Time 4 October

    Brighton v Tottenham (Sun, 16:30 BST)

    Tottenham Hotspur

    Son Heung-min in action for TottenhamImage source, Getty Images

    Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou says Son Heung-min is unlikely to be available for Sunday's trip to Brighton.

    The Spurs manager says Destiny Udogie is expected to be okay, however, providing he comes through training without issues.

    "First thing's first, we're all good after last night, tired, but physically, no issues," Postecoglou said.

    "Of the guys who stayed back, Destiny, we think will be okay. We train today and tomorrow, so he has to get through that.

    "Sonny is unlikely, he's pushing hard, but the turn around might be too quick for him to be available at this stage."