Manchester City

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium (kick-off 16:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are no new injury concerns, with everyone finishing the game against Monaco "without their problems".

• On Rodri, who was substituted off midweek after an hour: "Rodri could not play three days before because his knee was in a bad condition. He can still not sustain a continual rhythm. I try to protect my players."

• On Phil Foden's omission from the England squad: "Thomas [Tuchel] knows what he needs for the national team trillions times more than me. If he [Foden] keeps on playing like he is, then he will be back."

• He said Foden, who has scored six goals in three games, "is the best player you have in the small spaces by far" and "his desire to score a goal is the best we have".

• In response to Erling Haaland being angry after the draw against Monaco: "All of us were. We want to win. I like it when they are like this."

• He said he is pleased with the way the team are performing, adding: "We are creating again - [with] the tempo, the pace and being more fluid."

• On Jeremy Doku's form this season: "In the final third, he is a magnificent player. He is still young and still has a lot of things he has to improve."

• He said Brentford still play "quite similar" to how they did under Thomas Frank and are "doing really well" under new coach Keith Andrews. Guardiola added: "It is a tough place to go."

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

Listen to live commentary of Brentford v Manchester City on BBC Radio 5 Live from 16:30 on Sunday

Thomas Tuchel has named his England squad for the upcoming international break.

The Three Lions face Wales in a friendly on 9 October, before a World Cup qualifier against Latvia on 14 October.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer is absent after suffering an injury, while there is no place for Manchester City's Phil Foden or Jack Grealish, who is on loan at Everton from City.

Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona are among the elite clubs tracking Club Tijuana's 16-year-old Mexican attacking midfielder Gilberto Mora. (Teamtalk), external

Erling Haaland's patience with the club's predicament is wearing thin, despite the striker signing a lucrative contract until 2034. (Star), external

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is pushing for an England recall, but Everton's on-loan City winger Jack Grealish looks set to miss out. (Guardian), external

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

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Dan Roan
Sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

A decision on whether to scrap the Premier League's controversial Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and adopt an "alternative system" is "coming up", says chief executive Richard Masters.

The current regulations, introduced in 2015-16 to prevent clubs from overspending, allow losses of £105m over a three-year reporting cycle.

However, they have been criticised by several top-flight teams for limiting their ability to invest.

BBC Sport has been told a decision on any changes is likely to be made at a meeting in November.

In February, clubs chose to continue with PSR for the current season.

However a squad cost ratio (SCR) system of financial control was adopted by the Premier League on a shadowing, non-binding basis.

SCR is similar to Uefa's existing financial rules and allows clubs to spend up to a percentage of their total revenues on squad-related costs.

Nine of the league's 20 clubs already have to comply with Uefa's SCR as a result of qualifying for Europe. Both Chelsea and Aston Villa were fined by Uefa in July for breaching the rules.

Asked about SCR at the Leaders sports conference in London, Masters said: "We are talking to our clubs about an alternative system. That's not to say we don't think the PSR system works."

He added: "It's about closer alignment with European regulation, which is squad cost ratio, which is a revenue test. In Uefa, it's now set at 70%. Our system will be 85% because we always want our clubs to have the ability to invest.

"The Premier League has been built on the back of investment in which international capital flows [are] coming in. We don't want that to be to be stifled off."

Read more here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are beginning to make a habit of conceding costly last-gasp goals.

Eric Dier's 90th-minute equaliser for Monaco last night was the third time already this season City have been on the wrong end of a dramatic late goal.

They missed out on a potentially crucial win at Arsenal last month as a result of Gabriel Martinelli's goal in the 90th minute, while an 89th-minute strike from Brajan Gruda condemned them to defeat at Brighton in August.

It is an increasingly worrying trend for Pep Guardiola's side.

During their triumphant Treble-winning campaign, City only conceded two result-altering goals from the 85th minute onwards.

That metric refers to games City drew or lost as a direct consequence of a late goal – it does not include, for example, matches they won but allowed the opposition a late consolation effort.

While City were virtually faultless at seeing out games in 2022-23, they have been a little more fallible in the past two campaigns, conceding five result-altering late goals in 2023-24 and six last term. That equates to roughly once every 11 games across those two seasons.

This term, however, it has already happened three times in just nine matches.

Emily Brobyn
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It was looking like a night to toast the might of Erling Haaland.

Under the lights of Stade Louis II, a stroll away from the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo, the Norwegian once again proved his goalscoring prowess.

The first – a pinpoint pass from Josko Gvardiol that Haaland instinctively reacted to, giving Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Kohn no chance with his perfect lob. The second – a delightful cross from City's academy star Nico O'Reilly, Haaland leaping high to head the ball into the corner.

I am not sure which was more impressive – the height and power of his leap or his placement of the cross. But this is Haaland looking the most complete we've ever seen him – flying high on confidence, with an incredible 52 goals in 50 Champions League games.

Yet it is a Haaland that didn't finish the game on the winning side.

There was always a feeling that the slender 2-1 lead may not be enough. Controlling the game, twice hitting the woodwork and missing chances meant a high risk of a conceding to this dogged Monaco side.

City do look more fluid this season, as though they have more purpose. When flair players like Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki return from injury, that will help with invention. But as inevitable as Haaland's goals have been, a lack of real killer instinct and seeing out games from the Blues has been a concern.

People will rightly debate the late penalty. Nico Gonzalez touched the ball as he raised his leg high, with Eric Dier almost headbutting his shin in the process. Should he risk his foot being so high in that position? Does that matter when you get the ball? But with Dier burying his spot-kick past Gianluigi Donnarumma, City returned to Manchester with a point.

A furious Haaland laid bare City's frustrations: "Didn't play well enough, didn't deserve to win, not good enough."

It is food for thought for Pep Guardiola but, with 17 goals for club and country so far this season, let's hope Haaland channels his hurt to keep feasting in the Premier League against Brentford on Sunday.

Emily Brobyn is regularly on BBC Radio Manchester - find all their Man City audio here

We asked for your thoughts on Manchester City's 2-2 draw at Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Here are some of your replies:

Gene: Many missed opportunities. Nico O'Reilly missed several through balls. John Stones isn't a right-back. He is a fine central defender but needs more playing time. Three shots off the bar could've been the difference. The defence still needs tightening and Abdukodir Khusanov can help with that.

Alan: Typical City display - go ahead then sit back and treat it like a training game and get caught with a sucker punch!

Brian: It seemed obvious through the second half that City needed a third goal, but they seemed to think they could just sail through. How Bernardo Silva keeps his place is a mystery. His contribution against Monaco was zero. He says he has made his decision about his future. Just hope City can get a few quid for him in January.

Jonathan: We should have put the game to bed. As much as the decisions went against us, we have to kill games like this off, not relax and put more pressure on opponents. Many positives though.

Steve: Poor performance except for Erling Haaland. Not enough energy, urgency and nobody running at the opposition. Jeremy Doku was marked out of the game while Rodri was well below par - fitness? We need some new ones (Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush) back to freshen things up.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's right side of Bernardo Silva and John Stones are "not dynamic anymore" and Pep Guardiola's decision to keep Silva on the pitch was "ridiculous", says former Premier League striker Chris Sutton.

Silva played 90 minutes in Monaco on Wednesday while Stones was replaced by Matheus Nunes after 73 minutes as City were pegged back to draw 2-2 in the Champions League.

"I was wondering why Guardiola was playing Silva out wide," Stones told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "For the life of me I don't understand why he took [Jeremy] Doku off and kept Silva on.

"I'm not saying he's a liability out there, but he doesn't have the ability to go past the full-back. That's a massive problem. All the good stuff came down City's left side or from [Phil] Foden on the half turn - he was superb in the first half.

"On that right side you've got John Stones - who has been a wonderful player throughout his career as a centre-back - playing out at right-back and Bernardo Silva.

"Guardiola said before the game there wasn't going to be much coming down that side.

"They're not dynamic anymore. They're not at the top of their game. I think there's a problem for Manchester City.

"There were times in both halves where Silva was one v one and he knows that it's not his game driving at defenders and they come back and lose that momentum.

"In the second half, City had a brilliant break and had it been Silva from a couple of years ago when he was more dynamic, maybe they would have made something of it but they kept coming back.

"As soon as they came back, it allowed Monaco to get back and City had to build again. That right side is a massive problem for Guardiola if he continues playing the pair of them."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha speaking on Match of the Day after the 2-2 draw with Monaco: "The result is frustrating for City, but it's just a reminder that when playing in Europe, the game is never really out of sight - and at 2-1 away from home, you always felt like they needed that third goal.

"It didn't come and they didn't really create as much in the second half, even though Tijjani Reijnders did hit the bar.

"It was a disappointing result but one of the positives for City was Phil Foden's performance, and he has been playing well since he came into the team for the Manchester derby.

"Foden has been important in terms of trying to unlock some of the tough defences City have faced, and he made a big difference against Monaco too.

"It felt like a lot of the chances City created came through him and, although he has not assisted Haaland with either of his goals, a lot of their creativity came through him.

"Any time they could find him in pockets of space, his ability to get on the ball on the half-turn to look for the right pass meant he could create something against what was a dogged defence. It was really impressive."

Manchester City and Real Madrid are monitoring France winger Michael Olise as Bayern Munich consider offering the 23-year-old an improved deal. (Teamtalk), external

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to TNT Sports: "That was a good game. We made some decisions, we created a lot of chances.

"Unfortunately at the end we defended an unfair free-kick not perfectly, and we conceded a penalty that Nico [Gonzalez] touched the ball first, no intention.

"But it is what it is. We have a point and we will take it."

On Rodri going off after 60 minutes: "It is step by step and 90-minutes was too much for him."

Striker Erling Haaland, who scored both of City's goals, also spoke to TNT Sports: "I don't feel good - we didn't win. We did something unnecessarily in the second half.

"We didn't play good enough. We didn't deserve to win.

"We need more energy. We needed to get at them more like in the first half, they took the lead in the second half and I don't think it's good enough."

On the penalty incident: "I didn't see it - but if you kick someone in the face it's probably a penalty."

Did you know?

• Erling Haaland scored his 51st and 52nd goals on his 50th Uefa Champions League appearance. That is nine more than anyone else has scored in their first 50 games.

Listen to Guardiola on BBC Sounds

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola's side are slowly beginning to right the wrongs of last season and have not been beaten since August, but this was another frustrating result for his side.

The Spaniard admitted to being disappointed by their performance in this competition last season, when they were knocked out at the play-off stage by Real Madrid, and will likely be left irritated after conceding late again.

City have won four and drawn two of their last six matches, but those blemishes have come by conceding in the 93rd minute at Arsenal and in the 90th minute here, while they have now failed to win any of their past five Champions League away games.

It had started well. Haaland had only 17 touches of the ball in the contest but his sensational goalscoring form continued, having blanked only against Tottenham in 10 games this season. In all he has 17 goals for club and country so far.

His first goal caught ex-Tottenham defender Dier cold, darting in behind the Englishman before lofting a delicate finish into the net, and the second was a towering header that nestled into the bottom corner.

Haaland could have completed his hat-trick in the second half, but a thumping drive from outside the box was pushed away at full stretch by Kohn, who also kept out O'Reilly's vicious drive.

Foden has been in fine form for City and was unlucky not to mark another impressive performance with a goal by striking the woodwork, as did Reijnders, and those missed chances came back to bite them.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

What did you make of City's display?

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

Monaco make five changes following their Ligue 1 defeat at Lorient on Saturday and there is plenty of ex-Premier League interest in their starting line-up.

Former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is up front, with ex-Tottenham and England international Eric Dier part of a defence alongside former West Ham defender Thilo Kehrer and ex-Southampton man Mohammed Salisu.

On-loan Barcelona forward Ansu Fati, who spent a season at Brighton, is also in, but ex-Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino is on the bench.

Monaco XI: Kohn, Vanderson, Kehrer, Dier, Salisu, Diatta, Akliouche, Teze, Coulibaly, Fati, Balogun.

Manchester City make three changes to the side that beat Burnley on Saturday.

The significant news sees the return of midfielder Rodri, who missed the victory over the Clarets because of a knee issue.

Captain Bernardo Silva comes in, as does John Stones, who looks to be playing at right-back.

Matheus Nunes, Nico Gonzalez and Savinho all drop to the bench.

Man City XI: Donnarumma, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Rodri, Silva, Reijnders, Foden, Doku, Haaland.

There are nine games in the Champions League, three of them involving Premier League teams, on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Qarabag v Copenhagen (17:45)

• Union Saint-Gilloise v Newcastle (17:45)

• Arsenal v Olympiacos

• Barcelona v Paris St-Germain

• Bayer Leverkusen v PSV Eindhoven

• Borussia Dortmund v Athletic Club

• Monaco v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Napoli v Sporting

• Villarreal v Juventus

Kick-off times 20:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Monaco v Man City" or "ask BBC Sounds to play the Manchester City game".

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

Image source, Getty Images

French football expert Luke Entwistle believes Erling Haaland could find "a lot of joy" if he starts against Monaco in the Champions League.

Monaco have conceded 10 goals from their first six league games this season and were also beaten 4-1 by Club Brugge in their opening Champions League game.

Entwistle believes that the way Monaco set up could benefit Haaland, and he expects the Norwegian to have a number of chances to continue his impressive start to the season.

He told BBC Radio Manchester: "Monaco are a team that like to press high but that could fall into the hands of Man City who have a target man to hit.

"I assume it'll be Eric Dier that's put on Haaland, but I really see Haaland winning any one-on-one duel that he's faced with. He should have a lot of joy.

"There will be a high line to exploit at times when Monaco press. I see Haaland getting quite a lot of joy. Half the press conference was spent on talking about how many issues there are in the Monaco defence and how they're conceding so much.

"A player of Haaland's calibre coming up against a defence that has looked shaky against inferior strikers, it'll potentially be a lot of fun for Man City fans."

You can listen to the full chat here

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Dro Fernandez, 17, has no intention of listening to offers from abroad, despite interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. (TBR Football), external

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

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