'We need the ball to survive' - Guardiolapublished at 20:10 25 January
20:10 25 January
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We struggled lately and it has been a tough, tough season. Most players have been here eight or nine years and I am not going to change my opinion in two months.
"We have to realise it is not enough what we are doing. I ask them to step up and we did it. We created enough chances to score goals and in the end I am really pleased for the victory.
"Of course we need fresh legs with Omar [Marmoush] and [Abdukodir] Khusanov and now we have a final Champions League game on Wednesday."
On Khusanov's error: "It is not easy for him. He trains once and then to play against [Nicolas] Jackson and Cole [Palmer] and [noni} Madueke and [Jadon] Sancho. It is a process when you buy a player this young. He will learn. These kinds of actions are the best lesson you can take."
On Marmoush's debut: "Really good. That connection with other players and incredible movement. It is the first game and he deals with the change and he makes unbelievable movements."
On City's improvement: "If we don't pass the ball, we are one of the worst teams. We need the ball to survive."
Man City 3-1 Chelsea: Did you know?published at 19:41 25 January
19:41 25 January
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Manchester City have won more points from losing positions than any other side in the Premier League this season (17). Five of their 12 wins so far have come after conceding the first goal.
Man City 3-1 Chelsea - send us your thoughtspublished at 19:26 25 January
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Chelseapublished at 11:19 25 January
11:19 25 January
Well, so much for City being 'back' after beating Leicester, West Ham and Ipswich recently. What happened against Paris St-Germain was more evidence that they are nowhere near their usual selves.
The number of signings they are making is maybe an admission from Pep Guardiola of how much needs to change.
The pressure is really on City in the Champions League now after Wednesday's defeat in Paris, but they have got some tough games coming up in the Premier League too, starting with this one.
Saturday is not just a case of Cole Palmer returning to his former club as a potential match-winner, because Chelsea's manager Enzo Maresca is also back on familiar territory.
This is a huge game in the race for the top four and it feels like anything could happen.
I definitely don't see City keeping Chelsea out, but my gut feeling is still that they will win this.
Is this Chelsea's best chance to end winless run against City?published at 18:36 24 January
18:36 24 January
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
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If you looked ahead at Chelsea's upcoming visit to Etihad Stadium after Manchester City's rampant 6-0 win over Ipswich on Sunday, you could understandably have feared for Enzo Maresca's side.
City had appeared to have emerged from the malaise than engulfed them in late 2024, going unbeaten in their first six games after the turn of the year - culminating in the devastating attacking display at Portman Road.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were on a five-game winless run in the Premier League and had slid from title contenders to top-four hopefuls.
But, narratives change rapidly in football. The Blues returned to winning ways with a 3-1 success over Wolves on Monday evening, before Paris St-Germain exposed the fragility that remains at City by coming from 2-0 down to win 4-2 on Wednesday.
Defeat in Paris was a result that leaves Pep Guardiola's side in real danger of failing to progress past the League Phase of the Champions League and a performance described as "one of the most chilling and chastening nights" of the Spaniard's reign by BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty.
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The collapse in Paris exposed City's frailties in full back positions. Josko Gvardiol had one his poorest performances yet for the club at left back while Matheus Nunes - a midfielder by trade - looked completely out of his depth on the right hand side.
The speed, trickery and directness of Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and in the second half Ousmane Dembele, was a constant issue for Guardiola's side who afforded the pacey wingers far too much space.
Joao Neves' breaking up of the play and sharpness in the tackle helped build attack after attack with the ball constantly being fed quickly into wide areas. PSG operated without a conventional number nine and the link-up play between the wingers, Lee Kang-In in the predominantly central position, and the full backs pushing up the pitch had City on the back foot whenever they moved at speed.
If Chelsea aim to replicate the success of the French champions, Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke will be encouraged to stay high and wide and attack City's under-fire full backs from minute one - whether they remain the same or if a different makeshift solution is found.
Nicolas Jackson's ability to link play is his most underappreciated attribute while Moises Caicedo has won more tackles than any other midfielder in the Premier League this season.
Chelsea have not beaten Saturday's opponents in 10 meetings, dating back to the 2021 Champions League final in Porto.
Given their overall resurgence under Maresca, and the uncharacteristic brittleness shown by City in recent months, this is surely the most confidence Chelsea will take into a meeting between the two sides since then.
'Marmoush is no upgrade on Alvarez'published at 17:25 24 January
17:25 24 January
Striker Omar Marmoush looks set to make his Manchester City debut against Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday, but how does he compare with former City striker Julian Alvarez, who was sold to Atletico Madrid last summer?
Ex-City midfielder Michael Brown tells The Football News Show why he believes Marmoush is not an instant improvement and where he will fit into Pep Guardiola's tactics...
'I was a lucky man to work with Maresca' - Guardiolapublished at 16:37 24 January
16:37 24 January
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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he was "a lucky man" to work alongside Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca before their two sides meeting on Saturday.
Maresca was manager of City's Elite Development Squad between 2020 and 2021 before returning as one of Guardiola's assistant managers between 2022 and 2023.
However, uncharacteristically poor form from City since and an impressive start for Maresca sees his side arrive at Etihad Stadium on Saturday two points above their opponents in fourth place.
"I recognised his Chelsea team from day one, even when we played them in the summer camp in the States," Guardiola said.
"Many things I started to see that we spoke about many, many times in the last years together. Really good.
"I'm very pleased. I was a lucky man to work with him in the last years, and everything that happens with his family and him being fine, then I'm fine. I'm happy for him."
Guardiola on injuries, new signings and 'confidence' in UCL qualificationpublished at 13:17 24 January
13:17 24 January
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's visit of Chelsea in the Premier League (17:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Guardiola confirmed "the players we had out are [still] out", including winger Jeremy Doku, who "felt something" during Sunday's win at Ipswich, and defender Ruben Dias, who has an abductor problem with no scheduled return date.
On City's three new signings: "Vitor [Reis] is young, he has a huge personality, needs time. [Abdukodir] Khusanov has already settled for the fact that he played in the French league, handling tough, quick, fast players. But he doesn't speak much English so communication will be one of the situations that we have to deal with. [Omar] Marmoush - I think he will adapt quickly..."
He added he does not know where the new acquisitions will fit into his team yet.
On how important new blood in his squad could be: "New players can help, of course. They are here for that reason. Again, this could not happen without the amount of circumstances that we had."
Guardiola believes Saturday's meeting is key: "Really important. We are very close in the table, even with the big, big problems we had in the recent past. The next two games [against Chelsea and Club Brugge in the Champions League] are really, really important - finals for us. Our people will support us."
Asked how much of a blow not qualifying for the Champions League next season would be, Guardiola said: "We can make it. Why should I think differently? I think it is going to happen. I am very, very positive."
On how impressed he has been by Chelsea this season, managed by his former assistant Enzo Maresca: "I recognised his team from day one, even when we played them in the summer camp in the States. Many things I started to see that we spoke about many, many times in the last years together. Really good."
Chelsea v Man City: Did you know?published at 09:20 24 January
09:20 24 January
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Manchester City are unbeaten in their past seven Premier League games against Chelsea (W5 D2), since a 2-1 home loss in May 2021.
After a run of just one win in nine Premier League games from the start of November (D2 L6), City have now won three of their past four (D1). They have scored 14 goals in this run, more than they had in their previous 11 league games (13).
Efficient or ineffective?published at 08:05 24 January
08:05 24 January
This Premier League pursuit becomes a lot easier if you take your chances.
BBC Sport has checked in on some data comparing goals versus expected goals this season.
You can see from the bar graph some teams aren't finding the goals (yellow) to outstrip the expected goals they should score (black).
Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Brentford, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Leicester have all scored more than expected.
Wolves in particular have found the net 32 times from an expected 23.56 - a significant overperformance.
League leaders Liverpool are pretty much bang on in returning what they should, while Arsenal have outperformed, with 43 goals from an expected 37.78.
Bournemouth - 36 goals from an expected 43 - are leaving opportunities on the table.
'A mixture of Salah and Alvarez'published at 19:01 23 January
19:01 23 January
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Watching new Manchester City signing Omar Marmoush feels like "you're watching some magical performance happen in front of you," according to Bundesliga reporter Archie Rhind-Tutt.
But despite such praise, he doesn't know if he will be the perfect fit for the club.
Speaking about the Egyptian on the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues, Rhind-Tutt said: "If he was playing through the middle I'd have more confidence of him fitting in, but they've got a guy up front who's just signed a nine year deal, so I wonder where he'll fit in and how he will.
"At Frankfurt he's proven himself as an incredibly quick, skilful, excellent reader of the game, sky high confidence, shooting technique out of this world, free-kicks - first player since Lionel Messi in Europe's top five leagues to score three free-kicks in consecutive games this season - he's on fire.
"When you watch him live, it does feel like you're watching some magical performance happen in front of you, just seeing someone like that - it's so engaging.
"The question is Pep Guardiola likes to have control in a game, and very specific moments of explosion. So I wonder how Marmoush, who has not been this explosively good until this half of the season with Frankfurt, how he will adapt to that.
"It's going to be fascinating to see how they work together. There is a player there. Being at Frankfurt on Friday and seeing how he was waved off by his team-mates and crowd was really beautiful.
"It's usually not the case when a player leaves for greater things where everybody is happy. It was nice to see a player get that appreciation in the moment."
BBC Sport columnist Guillem Balague also questioned whether the 25-year-old will fit into Guardiola's style and said: "I think he's a mixture of [Mohamed] Salah and Julian Alvarez - not really a winger, not really a number nine - he can be a number nine and has been, but he can fit in with another forward.
"Manchester City put a lot of players in front of the ball, as long as he does his role without the ball then that's it, that's the player they need to score goals as well."
'Solid start to necessary rebuild' or a 'bad time to bring in new defenders'?published at 15:14 23 January
15:14 23 January
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The past seven days has shown clear signs of a rebuild underway at Etihad Stadium after an uncharacteristically poor first half of the season from Pep Guardiola's side.
We asked for your thoughts of City's activity in the January transfer market and whether they can change the club's trajectory.
Here are some of your comments:
Craig: Khusanov, Reis and Marmoush are a solid start to a necessary rebuild that should have started last summer, but the most important piece is still missing - City desperately need a proper back-up for Rodri. Gundogan is finished and should never have been brought back in, and Kovacic is too much of an eight to fill the six role properly. Going in for Zubimendi, Ederson or Douglas Luiz is essential for us to secure a place in the top four. I think we also need a new goalkeeper but that can probably wait until the end of the season.
Yusuf: Despite the signings, I don't think it's the players. I think it's Pep Guardiola. He has had some incredible years at City but he's gotten older and a lot younger managers have been coming in. The tiki taka method he has done for a while seems to not be working due to new tactics being developed. Pep has a hard year and I feel it's getting to him personally, making him more stressed and not able to function as a manager anymore.
David: I wish Omar Marmoush all the luck in the world at City. But, what great business by Frankfurt - signed him on a free and 46 games later, he's worth £59m?!
John: These signings will not solve our problems.
Andrew: Keep signing exceptional talent in the under-21 bracket, combine with the stars from the academy and all will be well. Pep's team improves talent plus the examples set by the existing world-class experienced players create the perfect framework for the highest potential youngsters to become the superstars of tomorrow.
Brian: Man City have played a wise hand in a very challenging transfer market. Summer transfers take a long time and often frustrate both players and clubs. Moving strategically in the January transfer window allows for targeted transfers and in the case of Man City fills gaps. A holding midfielder is now essential to support Rodri and build confidence.
John: Upcoming games featuring the five other clubs in the top six seems like a bad time to bring in new defenders, at least without a few weeks to acclimatise. Marmoush on the other hand is a great addition alongside or as an alternative to, Haaland.
'Next week is like a final for us - we have to win'published at 13:44 23 January
13:44 23 January
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Jack Grealish believes Manchester City have been questioned many times since he's been at the club, but thinks they "have always come up" with an answer.
With City facing a decisive Champions League tie against Club Brugge next Wednesday, Grealish isn't understating the importance of it.
"Next week is like a final for us. We have to win," he said. "But since I've been here there's been so many moments when people have questioned us as a team and we've always come up. Hopefully we can do that next week and get through to the next round."
The 29-year-old was introduced as a half-time substitute in Wednesday's defeat at Paris St-Germain and scored the first goal, with Erling Haaland adding a second only three minutes later.
Then City conceded four.
"It's usually perfect for us if we come to these grounds and go two goals up," Grealish said.
"I think that's when we're at our best (in terms of) managing the game, keeping the ball, a lot of passes and stuff.
"Unfortunately, too many times this season we've been a couple of goals up and then we end up losing it.
"I'm not sure why that is, whether it's a confidence thing or not. I'm not too sure at the moment. We had the momentum and then it just switched all of a sudden.
"Credit to them. In the end they deserved to win the game and it's down to us now to try and win the game next week."
Despite the setback against PSG, Grealish thinks City are in a good position to qualify: "It's in our hands, which is lucky. We don't have to rely on anyone else, it's down to us.
"So we're going to need the Etihad rocking, like it is on Champions League nights. We all know it's a must-win game and hopefully we can go and get it."
How will Marmoush fit in at Man City?published at 13:22 23 January
13:22 23 January
Constantin Eckner German Football Writer
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The most important question for fans is how new £59m forward Omar Marmoush may be used at Manchester City, especially after another Champions League collapse at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday.
Following the sale of Julian Alvarez last summer, City have had only one genuine striker this season following the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid during the summer. Erling Haaland has only been substituted twice in the Premier League. Otherwise, he has played every single minute thus far this season.
The excessive use of the Norwegian, as important as he is to City, does not seem sustainable.
Hence, Marmoush might be the one to carry some of the load up front. But paying this kind of sum for a glorified back-up would be unreasonable. Instead, Marmoush could also work well in a two-striker set-up with Haaland.
At Eintracht Frankfurt, he occasionally featured on the wings, While he is nowhere near the dribbler Jeremy Doku or Savinho is, he brings a certain degree of cleverness on the flank.
Striker might be Marmoush's prime position, but his versatility is a big plus.
It is easy to understand why Guardiola fancies a tactically flexible and smart forward like him.
'The man to share goalscoring responsibility'published at 11:10 23 January
11:10 23 January
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
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Manager Pep Guardiola admitted a couple of weeks ago he made a mistake not following the advice of senior figures at Manchester City in the summer by refreshing his squad.
Now we are seeing the result of that self-reflection.
Omar Marmoush's arrival is slightly different to those of Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov in that the Egyptian is filling the void left by the sale of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid rather than having time to bed in before eventually replacing older players.
It has been clear for most of the season that Erling Haaland needed someone to share the burden of responsibility for scoring goals and threatening the opposition.
Marmoush is that man.
He has scored 20 goals in all competitions for Frankfurt over the first half of the campaign.
While it remains to be seen how Marmoush links with Haaland, who signed his own mammoth nine-and-a-half-year deal last week, Guardiola will at least feel he has more attacking options for the remainder of the campaign.
Marmoush is expected to be available for Saturday's Premier League game with Chelsea, although he cannot be registered for next week's crucial Champions League encounter with Club Brugge - a game City must win to secure a play-off berth.
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