Manchester City

[Dunny]

Nasri ready to roll out the red carpet for Pellegrini's arrival after launching parting shot at former manager Mancini


By John Drayton
PUBLISHED:09:13, 22 May 2013| UPDATED:12:05, 22 May 2013

Samir Nasri has welcomed the imminent arrival of Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City after taking a fresh swipe at the man-management skills of former manager Roberto Mancini


Nasri enjoyed a rocky relationship with Mancini, the man who signed him for £24miilion from Arsenal in 2011.

But the Frenchman is already looking forward to working with Pellegrini, the Chilean who is widely expected to leave Malaga for the Etihad Stadium this summer.



At loggerheads: Nasri and Mancini endured a frosty relationship

He said: 'I think that (Manuel Pellegrini) is a great manager.

'He proved himself at Villarreal and Real Madrid as well even if he didn’t win the title but he finished with 96 points. And with Malaga as well.

'All his teams play attractive football. And I think that is what people want to see.

'You pay (for your) ticket to go to football to see something great and he is the kind of manager who can do it so we will see what can happen in the summer.'

Nasri and Mancini, whose three-and-a-half year reign ended when he was was dismissed last week, never saw eye to eye.

The pair were involved in a war of words towards the end of the season, when Nasri branded Mancini a liar after the midfielder's efforts in training were publicly questioned.

Etihad bound? Pellegrini has been tipped to head to Manchester City


Axed: Nasri questioned Mancini's man-management skills



Thanks: Mancini is still loved by the fans at his former club

In a thinly-veiled attack Nasri heaped praise on former boss Arsene Wenger, who gave him his Premier League break in 2008.

Now, as the dust settles on Mancini's exit, Nasri claims the Italian’s tough-love management style had not won everyone over in the Manchester City dressing room.

He added: 'Every single player has an ego so maybe to touch the ego of the player so that he can have a positive reaction – that’s what happened with me.

'But maybe it doesn’t work with everyone.

'That’s where you can see a big manager is someone who is really smart and knows how to deal with every player because everyone is different.

'Maybe for me it is going to be okay that you go public and criticise me but some players need more affection.

'So it is a tough call for a manager to find a good balance between those situations.'



Below par: Nasri has struggled to find his top form at Manchester City



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[HL]

I am trying to compose a song for Pellegrini...similar to the tune for Mancini.

I get stuck when I get to "he come from Chile...."

That does not make sense....don't rhyme.

I'll keep trying

[Dunny]

Manchester City target Manuel Pellegrini confirms exit from Malaga

• Pellegrini heavily tipped to replace Roberto Mancini at City
• 'I am going for sporting reasons,' says Chilean head coach

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• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 22 May 2013 13.47 BST

Manuel Pellegrini, tipped to replace Roberto Mancini at Manchester City, confirmed he will leave Malaga. Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed he will leave Malaga at the end of the season. The Chilean head coach had been heavily tipped to fill the vacancy left by Roberto Mancini at Manchester City this summer and has now stated he will not be in charge of the Champions League quarter-finalists next season.
"My coaching staff and I are separating from Malaga but our union with this city will be eternal," Pellegrini told the Spanish newspaper Marca. "I'm going for sporting reasons."
The 59-year-old's exit from La Rosaleda has been largely expected for weeks although the club themselves have yet to confirm his departure.
His name was being connected with City before Mancini's departure on 13 May, although Pellegrini denied that a deal had already been done following the goalless draw with Sevilla on 12 May.
"I deny here and now being the new coach of Manchester City, I haven't signed any agreement with anybody," Pellegrini said on his club's website at the time.
"I've been fortunate enough, and very proud, that every year the big clubs have shown an interest in me. I have an agreement with Malaga not to talk to anyone and nothing has been agreed with any other club.
"I hope in the coming weeks that things will become a little clearer about what is going to be the future here at this club."
That time appears to have come with Pellegrini confirming at a function today that he will leave Malaga after two-and-a-half years in charge.
Earlier Samir Nasri said he would welcome Pellegrini at City. Nasri said: "I think that [Manuel Pellegrini] is a great manager. He proved himself at Villarreal and Real Madrid as well even if he didn't win the title but he finished with 96 points. And with Malaga as well. All his teams play attractive football.
"And I think that is what people want to see. You pay [for your] ticket to go to football to see something great and he is the kind of manager who can do it so we will see what can happen in the summer.

[Paul Marin]

I am trying to compose a song for Pellegrini...similar to the tune for Mancini.

I get stuck when I get to "he come from Chile...."

That does not make sense....don't rhyme.

I'll keep trying

It took Beethoven 7 years to write the 9th symphony. City will have 8 new managers in the next 7 years. LOL!!! So by the time you're done with your masterpiece, my guess is Pellegrini will be long gone...probably gone back to Chile by then...tan deh...

[Assasin]

We will see what you see. When you leaving Arsenal you never give a thought to what kind of manager Mancini was, you was mad with Wenger only after years you realise how much the man cared for you. Now let us see what happen in the next few years.

[Dunny]

Chokers Chelsea commit Cardinal sin by letting three-goal lead slip as Kidd's spirited City win St Louis special

By Ian Ladyman
PUBLISHED:04:14, 24 May 2013| UPDATED:08:17, 24 May 2013

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In an interview published in England this morning, Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano said that his club will move in to the future playing attractive football and winning football.
Here in America’s mid-west, they managed both in this thrilling friendly fixture as they came from three down to grab a hugely entertaining victory at the St Louis Cardinals’ splendid Busch Stadium.
To say that City – coached by Brian Kidd in the wake of Roberto Mancini’s sacking – were the better team here would be an understatement. They played some terrific football in front of 48,263 people, especially in the opening half, and created a dozen good chances over the course of the 90 minutes.

Head boy: Manchester City's Micah Richards completed a remarkable turnaround against Chelsea




MATCH FACTS

CHELSEA (4-1-4-1): Cech (Blackman 61mins); Azpilicueta (Ferreira 45mins), Ivanovic (Luiz 45mins), Cahill (Ramires 45mins) , Christensen; Mikel; Mata (Oscar 45mins), Benayoun, Loftus-Cheek (Ake 80mins), Cole; Ba (Torres 45mins)
Goals: Ba 14, Azpilicueta 45 (pen), Oscar 53

MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Hart (Wright 45mins); Zabaleta (Maicon 62mins), Kompany (Richards 45mins), Rekik (Boyata 80mins), Clichy; Garcia, Y Toure (Huws 45mins); Rusnak (Milner 62mins) , Tevez, Silva (Nasri 45mins); Aguero (Dzeko 45mins)
Goals:Garcia 63, Dzeko 64, 85, Richards 90



The recently deposed Barclays Premier League champions had lost that winning habit in recent times, though, and somehow found themselves three goals behind inside an hour as Chelsea struck through Demba Ba, Cesar Azpilicueta and the Brazilian Oscar.
With 27 minutes left, City were still trailing by three but two strikes in a minute midway from Javi Garcia and Edin Dzeko breathed fresh life in to their challenge and they eventually earned a remarkable win thanks to an equaliser from their big Bosnian striker with five minutes left and a winner from defender Micah Richards right at the death.
By the end, Chelsea – still coached by interim manager Rafael Benitez – looked rather shell-shocked and it would have been easy to overlook the fact that this was just a post-season friendly.


Close encounter: Demba Ba headed Chelsea into a first-half lead

Cruising: Chelsea stormed into a three-goal lead





Spot on: Cesar Azpilicueta put the Blues 2-0 up from the penalty spot late in the first half







... and the game seemed won when Oscar rounded Richard Wright to make it 3-0 to Chelsea




Nevertheless they do have a rematch at New York’s Yankee Stadium on Saturday and we can only hope it is as absorbing as this.
City's caretaker coach Kidd said: 'I thought we were unlucky to go in 2-0 down but the players were tremendous.
'They have had a tough couple of weeks after losing the manager and the FA Cup final. It has been a draining, emotional couple of weeks.
'They have done great work in New York with the appearances and events for the club, they have done great work.
'We only had one training session, so that might be the secret. You can't say enough about them.'

In the first 15 minutes of the game Kidd's side dominated. Sergio Aguero had the ball in the net in the third minute after a Carlos Tevez pass but he was ruled offside. Then the same player was foiled by Petr Cech after a cushioned header from Gael Clichy at the far post set him up.



Battlestations: The game was played in a competitive spirit, with established stars happy to stick the boot in







This was, as it transpired, to be the story of Aguero’s evening. The South American was full of running but had no luck. In the 14th minute, for example, he was played in cleverly by David Silva but Cech was sharp once again to save with his foot at the near post.

At this stage, Chelsea had barely ventured outside of their own half. Out of nothing, though, they scored.
Juan Mata’s cross was as hopeful as anything the talented Spaniard will ever hit but Joe Hart’s rush from the City goal smacked of a goalkeeper who wasn’t really concentrating and, when he got nowhere near the ball, Demba Ba headed Chelsea into the lead.

It was a dreadful goal to concede and Hart was right to look sheepish. City’s response, meanwhile, was positive but still they couldn’t score as Aguero struck a post from distance, Yaya Toure was denied superbly by Cech and then Aguero – who else? – spurned two more chances.
With the crowd thoroughly entertained, City kept pressing but, peculiarly, it was Chelsea who went in at half-time two goals to the good. Mata seemed to go down rather easily under the challenge of young City defender Karim Rekik but a penalty was awarded and full-back Azpilicueta scored low to Hart’s left.


Centre of attention: Chelsea and Manchester City were watched by a sellout crowd inside Busch Stadium





Thanks: Players were appreciative of the crowd, and will hope for more of the same in New York





Both teams made a number of changes at half-time and Chelsea looked to have wrapped up the game when substitute Oscar rounded City reserve ‘keeper Richard Wright to score in to an empty net in the 54th minute.
Finally, however, City managed to find a route to goal and two goals in the space of a minute brought the crowd to life.

Garcia – who had such a disappointing first season at City - was first to pull a goal back with an instinctive shot from 12 yards in the 63rd minute. Chelsea goalkeeper Jamal Blackman had only just come on and the first thing he did was retrieve the ball from the back of his net.
Then, less than 60 seconds later, Dzeko ran on to a superb ball from James Milner to score City’s second and leave them chasing what transpired to be an unlikely win.

Fighting back: Richards congratulates Edin Dzeko, the scorer of City's second and third goals



Comeback completed: Micah Richards' goal was City's fourth and the one that decided the result


Looking on: Demba Ba took this photo from the sidelines in the second half

Certainly there were chances as young Blackman saved well from Milner at the far post and then from Dzeko. City’s Bosnian striker also headed another opportunity over the bar from a corner.

Just as it looked as though time would run out on them, however, Dzeko was played in by the excellent Tevez to score first time across Blackman with five minutes left and then, in the 90th minute, Richards appeared unmarked to volley in after Garcia had headed down a cross.
Up in the stands chief executive Soriano will have approved.


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[HL]

The best game I have seen Dzeko played.

Football is alive and well in Amerikah.

[Dunny]

The best game I have seen Dzeko played.

Football is alive and well in Amerikah.

Did you watch the game live or did you watch it on Tv?

[Assasin]

mi can't wait fi unnu sell Dzeko because unnu going to regret it. Mark my word.

[Dunny]

mi can't wait fi unnu sell Dzeko because unnu going to regret it. Mark my word.

He is the one striker me want fi see Arsene sign and it done!! Arsenal would be title contenders. Wonder if he wants to take a pay cut?

[Dunny]

Man City 5 Chelsea 3: Nasri and Co do the double over Blues in another US thriller

By Ian Ladyman
PUBLISHED:01:04, 26 May 2013| UPDATED:01:36, 26 May 2013 41 shares
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Playing in the world’s most famous ball park, Manchester City and Chelsea ended their brief visit to America by providing their audience with a baseball score.
Having scored seven times between them in St Louis on Thursday – City winning that game 4-3 – this time the two English teams came up with one more. City it was who won again but those who braved a rather chilly night here in the Bronx will have cared more for the entertainment.
If football – or soccer – is ever to take a real hold in America then this is the type of game that will help. They don’t like goalless draws over here so it was little surprise that another high-scoring game was greeted so rapturously.

Rampage: Man City won their second high-scoring game against Chelsea in a couple of days

Drafted: Samir Nasri, who was the star of the show, lifts the ball over Petr Cech



Match facts


Man City (4-2-3-1): Hart (Wright 45,mins); Zabaleta (Maicon 45mins), Kompany (Lescott 45mins), Boyata (Garcia 55mins), Kolarov; Y Toure (Rodwell 45mins), Barry; Nasri, Tevez (Razak 45mins), Silva (Milner 45mins); Aguero (Dzeko 45mins).
Goals: Barry 3, Nasri 29, 73, Milner 54, Dzeko 84.

Chelsea (4-1-3-2): Hilario (Cech 45mins); Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz (Mata 61mins), Ake; Mikel; Loftus-Cheek (Ferreira 42mins), Ramires, Oscar (Benayoun 65mins); Ba, Torres.
Goals: Ramires 48, 68, Mata 82.
Att: 39,462.



Once again City deserved their victory. Two up at half-time after goals from Gareth Barry and Samir Nasri, they scored three more after the break through Nasri again, James Milner and Eden Dzeko.
Chelsea, though, got within one goal on three occasions as two efforts from Ramires and a superb free-kick from Juan Mata brought them back in to the game.
At times the game got ridiculously stretched and by the end both teams looked as though they would score every time they entered the opposition half. Over here, though, that is just the way they like it. More than 80,000 people have seen the two games and it is hard to imagine that this experimental post-season visit will not be repeated.
With City fielding a more competitive side than Chelsea, it was not surprising that they started the stronger. They had been the dominant side early on in St Louis on Thursday but failed to take their chances and ended up two goals down at half-time.
Here in New York, though, they scored within three minutes thanks in part to a shocking error from Chelsea midfielder Oscar. The Brazilian is a fine player but the pass he tried to play across his own penalty area here went straight to City forward Sergio Aguero and when the South American’s shot was repelled by Chelsea goalkeeper Henrique Hilario, Barry was on hand to side foot the ball in to the empty goal.

Dead on: Juan Mata's precise free-kick which curled into the top corner wowed the crowd





All action: Ramires bundles his way past Gareth Barry while Joe Hart tips a cross-shot onto the bar
On a cold night, this was just the start the crowd of 39,462 needed. There is a genuine enthusiasm for football in this part of New York and this stadium could well be New York City’s temporary home when the club formed by City and the Yankees begin life in the MLS two years from now.
Barry’s goal was greeted enthusiastically – despite the fact there was once again more Chelsea supporters than City fans in the crowd – and it set the tone for the first half an hour.
City were superior in every way early on and almost scored again in the seventh minute when Pablo Zabaleta moved on to a low cross and fired a shot against Hilario’s legs when he really should have scored.




Up and over: Samir Nasri (centre) scored a sweet lob to put City 2-0 up

Torn apart: At time Chelsea were taken to pieces and David Luiz was not impressed
The Chelsea goalkeeper was on his game again soon after as he touched over a long range shot from Carlos Tevez but couldn’t do anything in the 29th minute when David Silva slid Nasri in and the French international chipped a delightful effort over the advancing goalkeeper and in to the far corner.
Two down now, Chelsea had to find their feet quickly and they did. City goalkeeper Joe Hart had already saved well with his leg from Demba Ba and was called upon again a minute after Nasri’s goal to parry a Fernando Torres drive and then touched a deep corner on to his own crossbar as Chelsea finally began to find some momentum.
City made seven substitutions during the break while Chelsea only changed their goalkeeper and within a minute of the restart the London club had a goal back.
David Luiz drilled a superb long pass over City’s back four and Ramires showed great skill to control the ball on the volley and then some terrific composure to ease it past the advancing Richard Wright and slide it in to the empty goal.




Iconic: Chelsea and City clashed at the New York Yankees baseball stadium



Head over heels: Torres rolls over as he struggled to help Chelsea into the game
This was just what the game needed and one wondered if Chelsea were about to mount a comeback similar to the one that City put together in St Louis on Thursday. Had Wright not saved from Ramires in the 52 minute then maybe it could have happened but it was City who scored next, Milner playing a lovely one-two with Eden Dzeko before driving a low shot across Cech and in to the far corner.
Once again these two teams had provided some great entertainment for another good crowd. Certainly the two games in America have been a step up from the standard pre-season games that usually see players struggling for fitness.

Happy days: Nasri sticks his tongue out as he celebrates but Demba Ba (right) is less happy



Here you go: David Luiz hands his jersey to a supporter with a banner for him

City could have wrapped this one up only for Cech to save from Milner and back came Chelsea to close the gap again, Ramires converting his second goal of the night from a Torres cross with 22 minutes left. The Brazilian looked well offside when he finished the move and City may have felt a little aggrieved had they not re-established their two-goal cushion soon after.
Once again it was Nasri who scored and this goal was perhaps even better than his first as he shimmied his way through the Chelsea defence before lifting the ball over Cech.
With nine minutes left, though, Chelsea came again. This time it was substitute Mata who brought the crowd to their feet as his floated free-kick found the net from the underside of the bar only for his own goalkeeper Cech to let him down a little by allowing Dzeko’s low drive to creep past him at the near post with six minutes to go.

High five: Torres, who captained Chelsea, congratulates double goalscorer Ramires



Sign up: Youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who started both games, signs autographs for fans

Having fun and making friends: Chelsea and City sold out both games on the tour

Ready for action: The teams prepared for their last game of a long and demanding season





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[HL]

Did you watch the game live or did you watch it on Tv?

Very good question Dunny!

It makes a BIG difference watching a player A-live. TV does very little in describing any game.

Yes, I have dissed Dzeko; but yes I know he has some talent. His passing is **** poor though.

[Dunny]

City sign £30m Fernandinho from Shakhtar... and he wants to win ALL the titles available


By John Edwards
PUBLISHED:22:30, 1 May 2013| UPDATED:21:48, 6 June 2013 66 shares
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Fernandinho has sacrificed a £4million pay-day to ensure Shakhtar Donetsk’s demands do not scupper his dream move to Manchester City.
The Brazil midfielder has been confirmed as a City player after a medical in Manchester. But he had to intervene after Shakhtar insisted that City meet a £42.5m buy-out clause. Talks brought the price down to £34m, but the deal was deadlocked until Fernandinho waived a £4m entitlement.
Scroll down for videos


Big move: Fernandinho arrives at the club for a fee of £34m from Shakhtar

On the dotted line: New signing Fernandinho with Chief Executive Ferran Soriano





City will now pay about £30m for the 28-year-old, who is determined to use the Premier League as a platform to earn a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.
Fernandinho said: ‘Playing for a huge club in a huge league makes me so happy. I hope to repay City for what they have done for me.
'My ambition here is to win all the titles, the team here is strong, and so is the greatness of the club and the supporters. Professionally this is a spectacular thing.

'I know I will face challenges but I am prepared for them. Every player at a high level faces pressure and must respond and I am ready for that too. I know a lot about City. Ever since they expressed an interest in me, I have been learning more.'
Spain’s Jesus Navas has also come cheaper than thought. Sevilla claimed they had agreed a £22m fee for the winger, but it has emerged City will pay £15.9m.

VIDEO: Fernandinho signs for Manchester City

V


On the bounce: Fernandinho becomes City's first signing of the summer, but Jesus Navas should follow soon


The 28-year-old, who wanted a move to the Barclays Premier League to boost his hopes of making Brazil’s 2014 World Cup squad, is City's first signing of the summer.
Fernandinhohad feared his Premier League dream was being threatened by Shakhtar’s attempt to squeeze as much out of the super-rich English club.
The Brazilian had made public his desire to leave the Ukrainian side, but feared Shakhtar would hold out for an offer close to his whopping £42.5m release clause.

Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu had vowed to hold on to his prize asset but Fernandinho, who netted against Chelsea in the Champions League group stages earlier this season, said last month that even his international team-mates wanted him to move to City.





Arrived: Brazillian midfielder Fernandinho arrived for a medical at a Manchester hospital


In demand: Shakhtar had vowed to hold on to prize asset Fernandinho








Pedigree: Fernandinho, left, scored against Chelsea




What are Fernandinho's strengths and weaknesses?


Fernandinho is a strong tackler, an athlete and a driving force. Defensively dilligent, he also works double-time as a deep-lying playmaker.

Although not as immediately skillful or naturally talented as, for instance, Andrea Pirlo, he is good on the ball, intelligent in his movement and capable of turning defence into attack in the blink of an eye.

The closest comparison to a player in English football at the moment would be Chelsea's lighting-quick Brazilian Ramires, but Fernandinho's passing is more reliable than his compatriot's.




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[HL]

He looks great powder-blue!!!

[Lazie]

He looks great powder-blue!!!

"The team here is strong, and so is the greatness of the club..." (Fernandinho). Greatness of the club? Here is another Brazilian that got the MAnchester club wrong.