'Players gave everything'published at 18:15 GMT 15 March
18:15 GMT 15 March
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Man City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC MOTD: "It was a good game. A tight game - I know how difficult it is to make the process which we're in now.
"The players gave everything - we take the point and we keep going.
"Of course, I have confidence and I always have. The young players played good. All the defenders were so clever.
"We were close, but unfortunately we couldn't do it."
On Bernardo Silva picking up an injury: "I don't know I didn't speak to the doctors. Bernardo is so strong."
Haaland makes more historypublished at 17:50 GMT 15 March
17:50 GMT 15 March
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Erling Haaland's opener from the penalty spot means he has now reached 100 Premier League goals involvements (84 goals and 16 assists) in 94 games - faster than any other player.
The division's record goalscorer Alan Shearer previously held the record, scoring 79 goals and registering 21 assists in 100 games.
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Brightonpublished at 13:02 GMT 15 March
13:02 GMT 15 March
This is not an easy one to call, because Brighton are on a great run - they have won four in a row and are right in the mix for the Champions League places.
The Seagulls will move above City in the table if they win, but everyone down to Bournemouth in ninth place could be in the top five by the end of the weekend, it is that tight.
I have been a bit gutless with City recently and have backed them to win games like this against the teams around them in the table - like last week against Forest, for example.
I don't really want to make that mistake again but, at the same time, I do think City look a lot more dangerous with Omar Marmoush in the team.
Also, I'm told that lot of FPL managers have piled in on Erling Haaland this week because they think he is going to score a hatful in City's next two league games, here and against Leicester at the start of April. I can see where they are coming from.
Guardiola on criticism from 'Mr' Capellopublished at 16:03 GMT 14 March
16:03 GMT 14 March
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
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There are some telltale signs when Pep Guardiola is really irritated by someone.
One, definitely, is when he adds Mr in front of their name.
So, to understand his view of former England boss Fabio Capello, you just need to read his response to my question regarding the comments about him made by the Italian earlier this week.
Capello had labelled Guardiola 'arrogant' for his management style, then said the tactical approach of City's boss actually killed Italian football for a time because everyone was trying to replicate it.
I started by asking Guardiola if he paid any attention to comments from the likes of Capello, who also managed at the highest level of the game.
"I listen to everything that people say about me, so be careful," he said.
"It's not the first time Mr Fabio Capello has said that.
"I'm not good enough to ruin Italian football. A big hug to Fabio. A big hug."
How Grealish needs 'confidence and love'published at 15:40 GMT 14 March
15:40 GMT 14 March
Speaking on The Football News Show, former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown assesses what Jack Grealish needs to return to form after being left out of Thomas Tuchel's first England squad.
Guardiola on City improvements, Ederson and Brightonpublished at 13:12 GMT 14 March
13:12 GMT 14 March
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton (kick-off 15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On showing signs of improvement in recent weeks before losing to Nottingham Forest last weekend: "We have to reach the highest possible level to qualify for Europe next season. We have to be consistent as possible. There are 10 games, six at home and four away. They are tough games at home and we have to do better because there are many teams with the same target as us."
He said they remain "not like they were" and "didn't deserve to win" against Forest based on their performance.
On the possibility of finishing in the top four: "It's not a disappointment to be here, it is a challenge. If we can qualify for the Champions League, then it would be a huge success from my point of view. It depends on our football as to whether we will be there or not."
He said he watched the Champions League games this week as a "spectator to learn and enjoy it" and did not feel resentful as City "didn't deserve to be there."
On criticism levelled at the form of goalkeeper Ederson, Guardiola said: "He is an incredible keeper. That is my thoughts."
On Jack Grealish who missed out on a place in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad: "I want the best for him, I want his best on and off the best. I cannot judge the England national manager."
On opponents Brighton, who are rivals for a European place: "Brighton are one of the best clubs on and off the pitch. An exceptional young manager, who is doing incredible things. It's not a secret. They deserve to be there."
On Saturday's match supporting City's official charity City in the Community: "Everyone knows [what it means to Guardiola]. Part of the area and city. To help people with problems and without problems. To be part of it is so nice. When the club do something, I am part of that through good and bad things."
Man City v Brighton: Did you know?published at 13:06 GMT 14 March
13:06 GMT 14 March
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Manchester City have never lost a home league match against Brighton (W12 D2), winning the past 10 in a row. It is the most they have faced an opponent at home without defeat in their league history (14).
Brighton are enjoying the longest ongoing winning run in the Premier League (four games). It is the Seagulls' longest sequence of league victories since April 2017 in the Championship (five) and their joint-longest in the top flight (also five from April-May 1981).
City 'will be fifth' in 'season of transition'published at 09:50 GMT 14 March
09:50 GMT 14 March
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We asked you to tell us in one sentence why Manchester City will qualify for the Champions League.
Here are some of your comments:
Trevor: City have the squad and depth of experience to qualify for the Champions League and they know they have the full support of the fans.
Brian: Man City have belief and that triggers uncertainty in others so the Blue Moon will shine.
Paul: City will be fifth this season and just qualify for Europe. A season of transition is what we've just seen and they will be stronger next season.
Abdul-Koza: City know how to grind out results.
Mark: Man City will qualify because the teams around them are even more unreliable when it comes to winning games
Scott: Manchester City will qualify for the Champions League via their league position after a run of eight wins from their final 10 games.
Tony: Experience at the end of the season.
Rashid: Simply because City is the best club in the Premier League.
However, not everyone was convinced so here is a flavour of the other side of the argument:
Chris: They won't because of a stubbornness to change.
Three times Doku got it right for Man Citypublished at 09:43 GMT 13 March
09:43 GMT 13 March
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On Wednesday, former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha said Jeremy Doku has the potential to be "one of the best wide forwards in the Premier League" but is "obviously not the finished article".
Now in his second season in Manchester, and already a Premier League champion, the 22-year-old winger represents a key figure in City's future and current transition period.
Here, BBC Sport looks at three performances that showcased Doku's high potential.
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Four assists against Bournemouth (4 November, 2023)
Four assists and a goal in a 6-1 win, this was the performance that truly announced Doku to the Etihad Stadium faithful.
"When he takes the ball everyone gets excited - me too," Guardiola said on the winger's showing, who scored the opener before setting up four more to equal the Premier League record for most assists in a single game.
After coming off the bench just after the hour mark with the score at 2-1, Doku exhibited the explosive way he can impact games.
Drifting in from the left-hand side, he produced a couple of his signature body feigns to create space for a shot before crashing a fearsome strike into the top corner.
It turned out to be the game's decisive goal after Fulham scored late to make it 3-2.
An unprecedented seven-game winless run for City under Guardiola was ended with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in December and, not for the first time this season, Doku provided the inspiration.
A calm assist for fellow Belgium international Kevin de Bruyne followed by an excellent finish into the far post showed a glimpse of the end product that, if shown more often, would make him one of the league's most productive wingers.
Why will City qualify for the Champions League?published at 08:22 GMT 13 March
08:22 GMT 13 March
Ten games to go and we need your positivity.
It is looking likely the Premier League will be awarded an extra Champions League spot for the 2025-26 season, so finishing fifth will mean a seat at Europe's top table.
We want you to tell us, in just one sentence, why City will qualify for the Champions League next season.
Gossip: Man City join race for Frimpongpublished at 07:16 GMT 13 March
07:16 GMT 13 March
Manchester City, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid are interested in 24-year-old Bayer Leverkusen and Netherlands winger Jeremie Frimpong. (Teamtalk), external
However, Leverkusen remain confident 21-year-old Florian Wirtz will extend his contract at the club, despite links with City and Bayern Munich. (Bild, via Get German Football News), external
Are City 'too predictable'? Fans on issues under the radarpublished at 18:51 GMT 12 March
18:51 GMT 12 March
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We asked you what one thing people are not talking about at Manchester City but should be.
Here are some of your comments:
Tom: Pep Guardiola's tactics are no longer efficient or effective. Teams know how to defend against it and we've been lucky to pick up results against some bad teams. It's also terribly boring to watch as a long-term fan.
Manish: It's too predictable! The same tiki-taka. Opponents have figured them out.
Brian: Do people have any idea how hard it is to maintain the levels we have done over the past four to five years? Plus we have had a bad year of injuries. Don't worry Pep will build and we will be back.
David: Abdudokir Khusanov is an amazing signing and, because he made a mistake against Chelsea, that's all commentators see but he is lightning quick.
Mujeeb: Pep Guardiola publicly downplayed the importance of the League Cup suggesting he might field academy players, yet he opted to start a full-strength senior squad against Tottenham. That decision proved costly, as several key players sustained injuries during the match - a turning point that seemingly sparked Manchester City's downward spiral this season. While hindsight invites speculation, it's impossible to say whether resting those players would have altered the team's trajectory - but the consequences of that game undeniably marked the beginning of their struggles.
Why Doku's dribbling stats need backing uppublished at 15:53 GMT 12 March
15:53 GMT 12 March
Joe Bradshaw BBC Sport Senior Journalist
On this page earlier, former Manchester City player Nedum Onuoha said Jeremy Doku's next step is to become more efficient.
The eye test is clear: Doku regularly has his opposing full-back on toast, often beating them more than once, just because he can.
Bafflingly, against Liverpool he had 21 successful dribbles but City lost the game 2-0 and rarely looked like breaching the league leaders.
That is a pattern.
The Belgium winger has completed the highest number of dribbles in the Premier League and is second for most attempted.
His success rate in second place is impressive too – and he is only a smidgen of a per cent below Brentford's Mikkel Damsgaard who has attempted 53 fewer dribbles than the City forward.
In total, there are nine players who have attempted 90 or more dribbles this season and Doku is seventh on that list for goal involvements. The graph above has removed the outlier of Mohamed Salah whose 40 goal involvements dwarfs everyone else.
On the face of it, four goals and three assists seems insufficient for someone of Doku's dynamism. Indeed, team-mate Savinho has seven assists and one goal from 33 fewer attempted dribbles over the season.
Perhaps a good point of comparison would be the likes of ex-City player Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa or Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth who both have seven goals and four assists from a similar stat profile to Doku.
They have also created more chances for their team-mates than Doku.
Of course, that comparison may not be fair. After all, City's possession-heavy style of play often leaves Doku taking on his full-back and forced to help break down a low block whereas Villa and Bournemouth get more opportunity for rapid counter-attacks.
Perhaps the onus is on boss Pep Guardiola to not only give his winger the freedom to dribble but to better harness Doku's undoubted talents in order to bring more goals.
That would be a way of making his ultimately fruitless dribbling numbers count for something.
'Efficiency' is Doku's next step - Onuohapublished at 12:44 GMT 12 March
12:44 GMT 12 March
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Jeremy Doku himself has to have the drive to understand efficiency is a big part of what football is.
The ability to beat a player is great but what is the end product?
Defenders who have faced him one-on-one know they will always be in for a tough game. He got the better of Trent Alexander-Arnold quite a few times against Liverpool and Ola Aina had to be at his absolute best for Nottingham Forest and seek help to slow him down.
But, efficiency is king and this is when you realise Doku is still a young player and still getting a feel for playing in the Premier League.
He will get better and the fans are really into the sense of excitement he brings.
The next stage of his development is to have more end product. It is not to say he does not have any, but a more conclusive output that provides others with big opportunities is key.
That comes from him, he will understand that himself. Relatively speaking, he has played a lot of games, he is a full Belgium international and he is playing under one of the best coaches and player developers in the history of the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola would not be picking him if he did not have the belief the end product will be there.
I think he is on the right track. Obviously he is not the finished article but if he does become that, as Guardiola believes he can, then I believe City will have one of the best wide forwards in the Premier League.
Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward
Paying top dollar - but is it for top quality?published at 09:25 GMT 12 March
09:25 GMT 12 March
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
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The reality for Manchester City is that they have lost great players to the ravages of time and their efforts to replace them seem less inspired than days gone by.
Other than Erling Haaland, who was a blindingly obvious acquisition that every football fan on the planet knew about, and maybe Phil Foden who was not bought, the players coming in lately have tended to be good or even very good, but not necessarily great.
The spending of nearly £200m in January should have given them an uplift, but it has been marginal at best. Compare that with the improvement at Aston Villa, in January they traded Jhon Duran out for £50m and acquired Marco Asensio (loan), Marcus Rashford (loan) and Donyell Malen (£21m), to find themselves immediately stronger and also in profit.
City are clearly buying for the long term, but can they match their previous ability to get excellent value for money. Kevin de Bruyne cost £55m for 10 years of brilliance. That's a measly £5.5m per season! David Silva at £43m also lasted 10 years, so £4.3m per season for that little genius. A long list of others were also cheap at the price considering their successful years.
Do we think that Jack Grealish (£100m) will be considered the same great value when he finally leaves? Will the likes of the youthful Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Savinho (two goals in 37 games so far), eventually be as good value, deliver as many trophies, dominate the game and show that they are as rounded players as their illustrious predecessors? It is a big ask.
You never know, that slippage from the acquisitions team might recover, but the problem is that others have caught up and City can no longer blow everyone out of the water financially due to PSR.
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