Manchester City

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against city rivals Manchester United at Etihad Stadium (16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Guardiola confirmed Omar Marmoush is inured and unavailable for Sunday. He thinks he will be out "for a few weeks" but return before the October international break, while Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri remain sidelined.

• John Stones is a doubt for Sunday's derby but it is "not a big issue" and the rest of the squad "is fine".

• Guardiola paid tribute to the departed Ilkay Gundogan, Ederson and Manuel Akanji: "I wish personally all the best to all three because they helped us a lot to be who we are."

• On Gianluigi Donnarruma who joined on deadline day from Paris St-Germain: "The market gave us a chance to take Gigi. He is 26 years old and has incredible experience with big clubs and the national team. We didn't take Gigio to do what Ederson has done. Gigio has other qualities. He's so tall. He's so huge. He's going to concede goals but we're going to try to help him so it doesn't happen."

• Asked where this leaves fellow goalkeeper and summer signing James Trafford, Guardiola said: "He's a keeper for Manchester City. With keepers we can only play with one. The season is so long and everybody will be involved."

• He did not confirm who will start in goal on Sunday.

• When asked about Liverpool boss Arne Slot's comments that Alexander Isak is the best striker in the world, Guardiola said that he ranks Erling Haaland "a little bit above" and that he "would not change Erling for anyone".

• Is it easier to work with a smaller squad? "I have 16 players available now - yeah it's easier. I don't have 26. When you change 10 players in a period of four or five months, everything needs to be settled, fixed and co-ordinated. We are doing many, many good things, but still we have to be more consistent."

• Guardiola stressed his hunger for success is as great as ever: "I will not stay at Manchester City when I feel the club needs a change. But right now, I feel I want to do it - more than ever after what happened last season."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary of the Manchester derby on Sunday

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Here more from Guardiola on BBC Sounds

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola faces the media this lunchtime before Manchester City's crunch Premier League derby against rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

Guardiola looked like he had some downtime during the international break, spotted at the US Open as well as being seen speaking to Tommy Fleetwood on the golf course.

And there will be plenty to get stuck into with the Spaniard as the break added to the squad's growing injury list.

What options does Guardiola have in the forward line? Will Gianluigi Donnarumma get a debut in goal?

We'll find out when he faces the camera later.

Come back to this page later on Friday for all the key lines from Guardiola

It is one of the biggest fixtures of the season for City and United fans - the Manchester derby.

Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim's sides will be going head to head at Etihad on Sunday as they look to get the early upper hand in this Premier League campaign.

BBC Radio Manchester's Total Sport team will be discussing team news, tactics and talking points in a special preview programme from 18:00 BST.

Watch live here or streamed on this page later on

Benfica presidential candidate Joao Noronha Lopes wants to sign Manchester City attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva in January if he is elected and has already held talks with the 31-year-old Portugal international, who will be out of contract next summer. (Record - in Portuguese), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

New Manchester City signing Gianluigi Donnarumma says he is sure he and Pep Guardiola "will do great things together" at the club and that winning the Champions League again would be "a dream".

"I think his history speaks for itself," the 26-year-old goalkeeper said about his new boss.

"The fact that he wanted me here is a reason to be proud of. It's an indescribable emotion. Being coached by him I think is the best for a football player.

"I can't wait to follow him and take to the pitch with him. I'm sure he will help me a lot and we will do great things together, this season as well as in the following years. As we said, it's been an era of unbelievable success here."

The Italy international arrives after a trophy-laden spell at Paris St-Germain which culminated in Champions League glory last season.

Only Carlo Ancelotti has won the trophy more times than Guardiola and Donnarumma believes they can repeat City's only Champions League triumph as part of a historic Treble in 2023.

"It is one of our goals, I'm not going to hide it," he added.

"Lifting the Champions League trophy with City would be a dream for me.

"Together with the coach and the staff I am convinced we will be able to go far but now we have to work humbly and think game by game."

Much has been made of which direction Guardiola will take with his number one goalkeeper this season with the arrival of James Trafford from Burnley preceding Ederson's exit.

However, Donnarumma feels competitiveness within the squad can drive the club forward.

"I'm happy because competition is good for everyone," he added.

"I can't wait to meet [James], and I can't wait to meet my new team-mates. We have to be a strong and united group with people who care for each other and that is the key to success. 

"Together we can make great success."

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to become the eighth Manchester City player to make their Premier League bow in a Manchester derby - and the third goalkeeper.

Swedish international Andreas Isaksson's first City appearance came as a half-time substitute during this fixture in 2006 and Claudio Bravo started Pep Guardiola's first derby at Old Trafford in 2016.

Neither kept a clean sheet.

Five of the previous seven debutants ended up on the winning side, two found the net and one – Mikhail Kavelashvili – is now the president of Georgia.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Image source, Getty Images

Erling Haaland's critics have sometimes levelled that anyone could score bundles of goals if they played up front for Manchester City.

But what that fails to recognise is that no other player would get as many and as good chances as Haaland does because they're not as strong, fast or tall as he is.

Nor do they have the incredible movement, anticipation and reflexes that he does that make him such an unmanageable monstrosity for defenders.

While obviously playing for Pep Guardiola's side means Erling Haaland gets great service from his team-mates, if we compare his non-penalty numbers to another world-class striker who's played there - Sergio Aguero - Haaland's brilliance in getting great chances becomes clear.

Despite shooting more often than Haaland, Aguero did not score as many goals and, looking at their shot conversion rates, it seems that the Norwegian was simply more clinical.

But when we take the quality of their shots into account, Aguero was actually a better finisher - converting 2% more of his chances than a player would historically.

However, Haaland consistently creates himself much better chances to score, so he still comes out as the better goalscorer overall.

Freddie Pye
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

In the space of a single week, Manchester City fans could be about to understand a lot about just how far this current squad can go in terms of competing for the biggest honours this season.

With another international break coming and going, Pep Guardiola's side return to Premier League action with none other than the Manchester derby, as rivals United - guided by an under-pressure Ruben Amorim - visit Etihad Stadium. Having lost their last two top-flight outings as part of an opening three matches in August, City simply have to win.

There is a feeling of concern looming over this squad, and that's despite the five-man recruitment process that was undertaken in the summer, culminating in the signing of arguably the world's best goalkeeper in Gianluigi Donnarumma. A failure to sign a new right-back, some worries over the midfield balance, and a feeling that wide positions may not be up to the standard of previous years has left Guardiola needing to find solutions and perhaps fast.

The clash with Manchester United is then followed by City's maiden Uefa Champions League outing of the new season, as club legend Kevin De Bruyne returns to the Etihad as a man in form having been firing during the international break for Belgium. An early reminder that City officials may have jumped then gun in sanctioning his exit? Or perhaps a player eager to prove a point himself having been deemed 'past it' when it comes to Premier League football?

Manchester City have to do better in Europe. For a side hoping to establish themselves as the sort of dominant force that saw Real Madrid win a staggering number of honours in the competition throughout this century so far, senior officials will be wanting that sort of performance at the Etihad.

Poor results in those first two games after the international break will not allow for any time to reflect either, as City then close out their fast return to competitive football with a visit to North London - it's Arsenal.

Traditionally, we would be looking at this as a battle between Premier League title rivals, but given City's performances in the first three matches of the campaign and particularly the last two, that might be a bit of a stretch for Guardiola's side.

This is the time to prove all the doubters wrong, a time to prove our credentials, and while there would still be plenty of time remaining in the season, Manchester City simply must start winning, and there is no greater opportunity than these next three games to prove exactly why Guardiola is not a man to be underestimated.

Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external

Watch the Observer's Rory Smith break down the settlement reached between Manchester City and the Premier League in their dispute over the rules that govern commercial deals.

"It is Manchester City's second challenge to the Associated Party Transaction [APT] rules which govern whether owners can do deals with companies that have some sort of relationship with them outside of football," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"What has happened is they have basically compromised. Both sides may well claim a victory but they have compromised. City have said that the APT rules are fine by them and there is an expectation this means City's deals will be approved by the Premier League."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega could now stay at Manchester City, at least until January, after Trabzonspor decided to sign Manchester United's Andre Onana instead. (Manchester Evening News), external

Tottenham made a late move to sign Paris St-Germain's Senny Mayulu before the transfer window shut, with Manchester City and Chelsea also keen on the 19-year-old French midfielder. (Teamtalk), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Dan Roan
Sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

This peace deal concludes a long, bitter and very costly legal dispute between the Premier League and one of its most successful clubs.

League officials - along with most of their clubs - will be relieved that APT rules they insist are essential for maintaining competitive balance and fairness are no longer under threat at a time when regulation has never appeared so difficult.

And now it is no longer challenging the regulations, Manchester City are set to re-submit a proposed new sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways. It was one of two Abu-Dhabi-linked deals originally blocked by the Premier League in 2023 for not being fair market value, sparking City's lawsuit.

Meanwhile, there is no suggestion from either side that this settlement will have any impact on the higher-profile, ongoing saga of the Premier League's disciplinary case against City for more than 100 alleged breaches of its financial rules.

City deny wrongdoing in a case which saw an independent commission hearing conclude nine months ago, but which is yet to produce a verdict.

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Manchester City defender Josh Wilson-Esbrand has completed a season-long loan move to Polish side Radomiak Radom.

The 22-year-old City academy graduate made his debut for Pep Guardiola's side in in a 6-1 Carabao Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers in September 2021.

He has gone on to make two more appearances for the club and has spent time on loan in France with Reims and in the Championship at Coventry, Cardiff and Stoke.

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It is not entirely surprising to see long throws making a comeback, especially with the addition of set-piece coaches and the recent sporting obsession with marginal gains.

However, the level at which they have risen might shock one or two.

This season the Premier League is averaging three long throws into the penalty area per game – an increase of 100% on the previous two campaigns and 233.33% more than in 2020-21.

Of course we are only 30 games into a 380-game season so therefore the sample size is small, but the numbers are clear - the long throw is certainly back in vogue.

When diving into the data for how individual clubs rank this campaign, Manchester City come out joint-bottom alongside Fulham and West Ham United.

While the average per game across the league this campaign is three, Pep Guardiola's side are yet to take one.

Perhaps this is not surprising given the City boss's heavy possession style, but even England manager Thomas Tuchel is now talking about the possibility of evolving tactics to include more long balls and long throws.

Having lost two of their opening three games this season, perhaps adaptations to City's style could help address their indifferent form.

Should City start using long throws as a weapon?

Or are you happy to stay away from them?

Make your choice here

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Legendary commentator Martin Tyler has been reflecting on some of his most famous moments on the latest episode of BBC Radio Scotland's Sacked in the Morning podcast.

During a long and impressive career, Tyler was Sky Sport's lead commentator for every Premier League season since it began in 1992 to his departure in 2023.

His most iconic and recognisable moment was calling the name "Agueroooo!" when the Argentine scored to dramatically win Manchester City the Premier League title in 2012.

However, not all City fans seem to have been impressed by Tyler's work in the dramatic 3-2 win, in which Roberto Mancini's side had to come from behind to eventually secure the win they needed to stave off the challenge from rivals United and win their first Premier League title in added time.

"In regards to the Aguero goal - there was a reunion a few years ago from Manchester City's point of view," Tyler told the pod.

"I went up to Manchester and I was taken to task by a City fan who said I shouted too loudly when Jamie Mackie scored to put QPR 2-1 up in the game and I clearly wanted QPR to win.

"This was at an Aguero tribute night!

"There was a lot of finger-wagging. They were playing the game in the background and it came to that point and he went 'there you go, listen'.

"I said 'they were trying to avoid relegation and it was a great goal against the odds' but he wouldn't have it."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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The dust has just about settled on a busy transfer window for Manchester City.

In total, City brought in seven players for a total of about £177.3m based on reported initial fees.

Those incomings were:

• Tijjani Reijnders - AC Milan

• Rayan Ait-Nouri - Wolves

• Rayan Cherki - Lyon

• Gianluigi Donnarumma - Paris St-Germain

• James Trafford - Burnley

• Sverre Nypan - Rosenborg

• Marcus Bettinelli - Chelsea

*All permanent unless stated

Heading the other way, City had a number of significant outgoings, including Jack Grealish to Everton, Ederson to Fenerbache, Kevin de Bruyne to Napoli and Kyle Walker to Burnley.

Of all the summer incomings at the Etihad, who do you think will have the biggest impact?

Rank them here

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Manchester City's apparent surplus of players has been the subject of several questions sent in via our 'Ask about Man City' form.

We put your questions about Stefan Ortega and Kalvin Phillips to our City reporter Shamoon Hafez.

City signed three senior goalkeepers this summer and Ortega was deemed surplus to requirements, with the club happy for him to explore his options elsewhere.

Sources close to the player told me they were "looking at options" for the German, which reportedly included Burnley, Sunderland and Fenerbahce, where coincidentally Ederson ended up.

But Ortega remains at City and though he has been included in the club's Champions League squad, you would think he will be third choice behind summer signings Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford.

Forgotten man Phillips is still at the club too. A move did not materialise because he is currently recuperating from the Achilles surgery he underwent in the summer.

It is uncertain whether moves will transpire for either player in January but you would expect Ortega and Phillips to play only bit-part roles at City until then.

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We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do.

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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I wrote last week that for a couple of reasons Manchester City's return to the very top table is still an 'if' rather than a 'when'. Brighton underlined another worrying problem at the weekend.

City in their pomp carried an aura. Many teams were beaten before they walked on to the pitch, because either the manager was intimidated and played more negative tactics or some of the players simply did not believe they were capable of standing toe to toe with this well-oiled and super talented machine.

Although not the first, Brighton showed clearly that this fear factor has well and truly gone from many of the other Premier League teams.

It is just another thing making City's road back to the top all the more difficult.

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