Manchester City

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Newcastle (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Manuel Akanji is out for "eight-to-10 weeks" with an abductor injury and will have surgery on Saturday.

• On Akanji's injury stretching his defensive options further: "I just wish him a speedy recovery because the effort he has put in this season has been unbelievable. Him and Nathan [Ake] have played in difficult conditions. There has been a lack of players in that position and his body has said enough is enough."

• Guardiola is also doubtful Jack Grealish will be available after being being forced off against Real Madrid on Tuesday, but he will be assessed later on Friday.

• On new signing Nico Gonzalez, who was withdrawn on his debut against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup last Saturday: "Day by day, he is getting better. He will also be assessed in a few hours."

• He said "the hours and day after a defeat are difficult" but going forward his side "have to be better."

• Assessing what it is that City are struggling with at the moment: "It's not one subject - if it was then it would be easy to solve it. We have always been so comfortable with the ball and now we are not so. You then have to rely on a physical presence and our physicality is not like other teams."

• He said they "have made some steps backwards compared to the progress made in previous seasons" but they have to maintain their belief and exploit home advantage on Saturday.

• On opponents Newcastle: "They always have been [a difficult side] since Eddie Howe took over. They have good form and unbelievable pace. It's a credit to them."

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Manchester City have lost just one of their past 34 Premier League games against Newcastle (W27 D6), a 2-1 defeat in January 2019.

City have also won their past 15 Premier League home games against Newcastle – only three teams have had longer such winning runs against an opponent in English top-flight history: Everton against Fulham (22 from 1961 to 2018), Aston Villa against Sheffield United (16 from 1903 to 1921) and Manchester United against Luton (16 from 1955 to 2023, still ongoing).

However, Newcastle United have won each of their past four Premier League games on the road. Not since October 1994 have they won five in succession away from home, the only previous time they have done so in the competition.

Manchester City are monitoring Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, following the 21-year-old England international's return from injury. (Football Insider), external

Pep Guardiola remains determined to bring attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz to Manchester City, even though the 21-year-old is set to sign a new contract with Bayer Leverkusen. (Bild - in German), external

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

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Nathan Ake says Manchester City "showed glimpses" of the football they know they can play against Real Madrid, but concedes they now need to work on "the little details" if they are to overturn the one-goal deficit in the second leg.

"To give it away like that is frustrating and hard to take because it has happened a few times now this season," said Ake to BBC Radio Manchester. "We have to learn from it as soon as possible.

"In some games you can get away with it, but you won't against a top team.

"There's only one goal in it and, at times, we showed glimpses of what we can do and we created some good chances by playing some really good football.

"Now it is about the little details, so if we can get them right next week, we can hopefully go through."

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We asked for your views after Manchester City were beaten by two late Real Madrid goals in the first leg of their Champions League play-off.

Here are some of your comments:

Nathan: Predictable and very disappointing. In my opinion, there are still players that are struggling. Rico Lewis is too hesitant to go for any tackles, hence the third goal, and Ederson is making more mistakes than he used to. All in all, we have shot ourselves in the foot and now we have a mountain to climb at the Bernabeu next week.

Stephen: It's time for Ederson to go. He has had too many calamities - how many more are we going to see? We were let down again by not having a proper right-back, Rico Lewis is good but he isn't what we need. John Stones must play the Rodri position from now on. As for Pep, sometimes you just have to change the way you play. If you are 2-1 up, shut up shop. It's no disgrace - it just makes sense.

Joel: Promising signs within the game that City still have the quality there. It's currently being hidden behind a cloud of no confidence, but it is there. Ultimately, we clutched defeat from the jaws of victory. If we hadn't gifted two easy goals away, we would be having a very different conversation. The story of City's season though.

Ian: Disappointing and frustrating. It was a better performance from us, but we lost concentration at vital times and threw the game away.

Usama: This is absolutely criminal now. I have never seen a bunch of professional players make this many schoolboy errors - it's ridiculous. This team can throw away just about anything. It's laughable. It is all on Pep. When certain players wanted to leave, he just should've let them and now we are paying the price. The fans don't deserve to see this absolute travesty week in week out.

Anthony: Let's not be too clever next week in Madrid. Let's play two out and out wingers and go for it. We are out anyway it seems. If we get an early goal, who knows!

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Manchester City defender Ruben Dias says their defeat by Real Madrid was "frustrating" but remains hopeful that they can turn it around in the second leg provided they show belief.

After hosting Newcastle in the Premier League at the weekend, City travel to the Bernabeu Stadium next Wednesday needing a win to keep their Champions League dreams alive.

After succumbing to Real in the final minutes of the first leg, Dias told BBC Radio Manchester: "I am just upset with it and of course it is frustrating.

"It is always going to be a different kind of game against them. In the end, there were chances both ways and we ended up playing the last minutes at 2-1. But you cannot let it [the lead] go, the way that we did. We have to do better and it is as simple as that. You cannot allow it.

"Now it is a matter of belief - how much we do believe in ourselves and in that we can go through.

"We know the game that we are going to have to go there and play because we have been there before. "

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All the tears belonged to Manchester City and their supporters at the final whistle after a trademark smash-and-grab late surge gave Real a potentially decisive 3-2 advantage after the first leg of this play-off to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Real's relentless, concrete-clad confidence in themselves and street wisdom honed over years of experience and triumphs, saw them turn a 2-1 deficit after 86 minutes into a victory, Carlo Ancelotti's side preying on City's own painful lack of self-belief.

The contrast was stark, City wilting visibly in the second half, then consumed by anxiety and nerves once their former midfielder Brahim Diaz restored parity with four minutes of normal time left.

City are never home and hosed this season. Real Madrid never believe they are beaten. And this was the case again as Pep Guardiola's team lost a lead for the fifth time in this campaign.

It is perhaps an insight into City's current state of mind and form that the two late goals conceded here made it eight goals shipped in the final 16 minutes of their past five Champions League games, the most of any side.

Guardiola is currently presiding over a team with too many miles on the clock, too many players not fully fit – or not fit at all in Rodri's case. The cracks are starting to look beyond repair, rather more in need of major renovation.

Read the rest of Phil's piece here

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola still wants to sign 21-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz. (Christian Falk, Bild via X), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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It is now a "massive ask" for Manchester City to turn their Champions League paly-off tie around in Madrid, says former England winger Chris Waddle.

Pep Guardiola's side suffered a late 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League play-off to reach the last-16.

They will now head to the Bernabeu next Wednesday having to overturn the one-goal deficit.

"With Manchester City, I think it is fatigue. The players are running on empty. At this level, playing against a team like Real Madrid, it is tough," Waddle told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The second half, they dropped the pace and Madrid were getting in more often and making more and more chances.

"You feel for Pep Guardiola now. Every game he tries to put his best team out but someone limps off or they are unavailable the next week.

"He has lost players tonight, will they be fit for the return leg? Doubt it. He will have to go to Madrid with a different game plan.

"It is a big ask for Man City now.

"Looking at the players, a little bit of confidence has gone and they were running on empty at times. It is a massive ask to turn it around out there.

"They will get chances, they are a quality side, but can they keep Real Madrid out at the other end? I don't think so."

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to Amazon Prime: "Many times it happen this season.

"I know the the quality of Real Madrid. We took the game in the second half and tried to attack too quick. It happens because they [Real Madrid] are an exceptional team.

"It happens many times this season. Bad decisions, that's all. I take it. It's not about you and me, it's everyone. Yeah, that is all season [injuries], but we know it."

On if Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji will be fit for the second leg: "I don't know."

On the second leg: "Of course now it's tough. We have to recover. I think now about Newcastle and then go to the Bernabeu."

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Manchester City defender John Stones, speaking on Amazon Prime: "A few games after the Arsenal one, I don't know how to put it into words straight away, it's so raw and frustrating for everyone.

"We were in the game until so late and then it's two situations that happen and we concede. It's frustrating as a defender to come away with that result.

"It's a feeling of anger and frustration.

"We need to see games out better. The manager said we need to take accountability for what we do on the pitch, I think we do that. We need to step up when these bad moments happen.

"Today we had a great opportunity to go to the Bernabeu with a 2-1 lead. It's not done. We have to stay positive, which is difficult now.

"As the manager says we need to look at ourselves and take accountability.

"We were right on top at the start of the game and we know Real have quality to come out in the second half. It is avoidable from us as the eleven on the pitch. We have to do better - it's as simple as that.

"We have to keep a positive mentality and try to put it right."

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Manchester City have failed to win any of their past four Champions League games in which they have scored first, with all of those coming this season (1-4 v Sporting CP, 3-3 v Feyenoord, 2-4 v PSG, 2-3 v Real Madrid).

They have also conceded 57 goals in 38 games in all competitions this season - three more than they did in 59 games last campaign. Only in 2016-17 (60) have they conceded more in a season under Pep Guardiola.

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