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“The future is bleak, because there is no way we can improve on what we have achieved so far.”

Pep Guardiola said those very words after Barcelona won the Club World Cup in 2009. The game, against Estudiantes, was nondescript, really, with few on these shores even paying it much mind. But in Catalonia it sparked wild celebrations and an uncharacteristically downbeat response from Guardiola. The reason? It confirmed that Barcelona had won six trophies in 2009. Six. For those counting, that’s La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey at the end of the 2008-09 campaign and, at the beginning of 2009-10, the Supercopa de Espana, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

Guardiola had told his biographer, Guillem Balague, that he motivated his men by telling them they would be “eternal” if they won the Club World Cup. It was the first time they had won the competition.

Guardiola left Barcelona in 2012. At the end of his reign, he had won 13 trophies, having established a staggering stranglehold on the Spanish game.

What Guardiola has done since is enjoy a sabbatical, move to Manchester City, achieve a century of Premier League points and, this season, bring the excitement of the title race to a juddering halt.

He is a visionary, of course, a genius of a manager capable of building teams into irrepressible winning machines. City, at this point in time, are on a 12-game winning run. They last dropped points in the Premier League on January 29, losing 2-1 to Newcastle United. In the run since they have thumped Chelsea 6-0, beaten Arsenal 3-1 and also enjoyed victories over both Manchester United and title rivals Liverpool.

They have also won the Carabao Cup and will play in the FA Cup final in May. They are out of the Champions League but even that came after a 4-3 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

It is the Premier League, though, where the story is, and where the boredom lies.

City are currently slugging it out with Liverpool at the top of the table. They are two of the greatest teams the Premier League has ever seen and this, in turn, should be the most exciting title race in history.

Liverpool have 91 points but are second. In all but two seasons in Premier League history – last season, when City clocked 100, and 2004-05, when Chelsea won 95 points – they would have won the competition already. They have already amassed one more point than Arsenal’s Invincibles. They are 12 clear of the tally amassed by Manchester United’s treble winners. City, though, are a point clear. They have 92 and could end the season with 98. The only other team to ever better such a tally was, inevitably, Pep’s vintage from last season.

Why, then, is it so dull?

It has been grindingly predictable as a race. City, in particular, have reverted to their win-by-all-costs mantra that has so characterised the best teams in the league. Their 1-0 win over Burnley at the weekend was a prime example of this; it was three more points, yes, and it leaves City two wins away from the title, but they were not convincing, they did not play well and it was not particularly good to watch, with Burnley reduced to merely defending for their lives.

Liverpool have played their part in this but they are more thrilling to watch, more exciting, more explosive. They have pace in attack and defence but they have flaws too; were it not for Virgil van Dijk, they would probably be scrapping for Champions League football and the Premier League trophy would already be sitting in the Etihad Stadium.

City, though, are almost omnipotent. They move the ball quickly and precisely but they are patient almost to a fault and have become synonymous with the ‘cut-back goal’, when a winger reaches the byline, fires the ball across the six-yard box and either Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling or another of City’s cherry-picked superstars taps it in. It works but it’s a bit like exploiting a cheat code that isn’t available to anyone else.

Indeed, the best title races have featured fallibility. Think of Manchester United and City duking it out in 2011-12, the year of Aguerroooooooo. United were eight points clear with six games remaining. A loss against Wigan Athletic and a chaotic, pulsating and simply brilliant 4-4 draw with Everton, followed by a derby defeat to City, saw Roberto Mancini’s side back on top. You don’t need reminding about what happened on the final day. The drama was only added to by the context of the season before it.

Look, too, at 2013-14, when City again swooped in to snatch the crown, this time from Liverpool, their rivals this year. Brendan Rodgers’ side, featuring the likes of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard, were five points clear of Chelsea and nine ahead of City – who had two games in hand – after a 3-2 win over Norwich City on April 20th. A loss to Chelsea was followed by that collapse at Crystal Palace and, poof, the title had gone.

Again, set against the context of the season before it, this was genuinely thrilling stuff for the neutral.

But this season, there has been no such drama. This title race has just been two very good teams who are very good at winning football matches, winning football matches. City play Leicester and Brighton & Hove Albion in their final two matches, while the Reds take on Newcastle United and Wolves. Both teams are likely to win out because that is just what they do.

And Guardiola will be given the Premier League trophy. He may well weep, just as he did in 2009.

For what else is there to do but merely go and win it again? The competition – the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur – either don’t have the financial clout or the ability in the starting XI to match the feats of City and the Reds next season.

So we may see a duopoly established, with Guardiola yet again establishing a stranglehold.

City fans, surely, will love it. But the rest of us – we’ll call it what it is: boring.

تلقى المدرب الإسباني بيب جوارديولا المدير الفني لنادي مانشستر سيتي، أنباء سارة، اليوم الثلاثاء، في تدريبات السكاي بلو، بشأن ظهير الفريق الأيسر، بنجامين ميندي.

الدولي الفرنسي يغيب عن مانشستر سيتي بسبب مشاكل عضلية، إذ يغيب عن السيتي مُنذ 3 أكتوبر الماضي، بعدما أصيب في مواجهة ليدز يونايتد، بالجولة الرابعة من البريميرليج.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوائز نورث ويست.. دي بروين أفضل لاعب في موسم 2019/2020

ورد ميندي عبر موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “إنستجرام”، بشأن موقفه من العودة لتدريبات الفريق، حيث أوضح أنه عاد بالفعل.

وقال ميندي: “نعم، لقد عدت، وبدأت التدريب مرة أخرى، وكل شيء يسير على ما يرام”.

وبذلك يُمكن أنّ يصبح ميندي مُتاحًا لمباراة توتنهام ومانشستر سيتي، بعد العودة من فترة التوقف الدولية، يوم السبت 21 نوفمبر الجاري.

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Leeds United fans on Twitter have highlighted the striker position as the area the team needed to improve on to make the next step.

The Whites have relied on Patrick Bamford and Kemar Roofe to lead their line this season and despite the pair netting 23 league goals between them, Leeds fans aren’t satisfied with the output of their attackers.

Leeds average 16.8 shots per game in the league yet they have scored just 70 goals so far this campaign which is only good enough to make them the fifth highest scorers in the division.

Elland Road has seen some prolific strikers in recent seasons with fans using the likes of Chris Wood and Jermaine Beckford as examples of the type of front-man they have been missing.

Other fans have been envious of their rivals strike forces, wishing they had the likes of Teemu Pukki or Tammy Abraham.

Leeds supporters have been quick to criticise Patrick Bamford’s performances this season despite the forward’s impressive minutes to goal ratio which has him scoring on average every 141 minutes.

Here’s what Leeds fans have been saying on Twitter…

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According to reports in The Sun on Sunday (May 19, Page 63), Norwich City want to make Jordan Rhodes’ stay at Carrow Road a permanent one.

The Scottish striker spent 2018/19 on loan at the East Anglian club, and he has seemingly impressed Daniel Farke enough for the Canaries to look at bringing him back.

Rhodes’ season

Norwich’s continued interest in the Scotland international is surprising. Rhodes has long been praised for his goalscoring ability, but that appeared to desert him this term as he found the back of the net just six times in the league.

He also only provided one assist for teammates, so it’s hard to see what has impressed Farke so much that he wants the 29-year-old in his squad next season.

The former Blackburn striker has been one of the most prolific scorers in the Championship over the past few years, but he has never been given a real chance at the Premier League, and perhaps Norwich believe he still has something to prove in the top flight.

Wednesday mustn’t hesitate

Rhodes had an awful first couple of seasons at Hillsborough after becoming the club’s record signing. He netted just eight league goals over two campaigns whilst collecting a hefty wage.

The forward reportedly earns £38,500-a-week at the Owls, and if the opportunity comes to shift him off of their wage bill, then they must take it.

The decline has seemingly already begun for the former Huddersfield man, and aged 29 it’s hard to see him ever rediscovering the form that saw the Yorkshire club pay £10 million for him a few years ago.

Steve Bruce may be tempted to attempt to coach Rhodes back into form, as the striker hasn’t yet played under the tutelage of the Owls’ new manager, but he must resist this temptation and allow him to go to Norwich if an offer comes in.

Wednesday could easily use his saved wages to bring in a different striking option who can help fire them into the top six next season.

Manchester United fans will be relying on the summer transfer window after a rather disappointing performance in the Champions League last night. 

The Red Devils have a number of changes to make with the current defensive line struggling to ensure consistency.

Manchester United fans must be getting fed up of their defence by now as it continues to hold them back in key games, with Lionel Messi having a field day at the Nou Camp last night.

But, it appears as if the Premier League club are eyeing a move for a playmaker at this moment in time, as according to Corriere dello Sport (via Metro), Manchester United are interested in Nicolo Zaniolo.

Indeed, the youngster has made a name for himself in the current campaign having produced six goals and two assists at current club AS Roma. He’s everything you could want in an attacking midfielder as he has the ability to create and produce goals, and the crazy thing is that he’s only 19 years of age.

Ed Woodward took a big gamble when he signed Anthony Martial as a youngster for £54 million (as per Transfermarkt), but his decision to sign him has proved to be a masterstroke as he’s developed into one of the best attackers in European football and he’s still only 23 years of age.

The Manchester United man could pull off another masterstroke by signing Zaniolo, who is valued at £36 million (as per Transfermarkt), as he has all the ingredients to become a future star. Indeed, the attacking midfielder is at an identical stage in his career to what Martial was when he joined as the Frenchman was also 19-years-old, so it makes perfect sense for United to adopt a similar strategy.

Of course, if the Italian goes on to become half the player Anthony Martial is then signing the Roma man would be seen as a success, so Woodward must go all out to bring him in this summer.

Manchester United fans, do you think Zaniola can follow in Anthony Martial’s footsteps at Old Trafford? Join the discussion by commenting down below!

Kalvin Phillips has had a season to remember for Leeds United, hasn’t he?

One of the many benefactors from Marcelo Bielsa’s arrival at Elland Road last summer, the midfielder has developed into a key player for his side this year and has all the ingredients needed to become a modern-day hero for the Yorkshire-based outfit.

With Phillips expected to start in the first-leg of Leeds’ play-off semi-final against Derby County on Saturday, he will be hoping that by delivering yet another outstanding performance for the club, he can help them move one step closer to securing promotion to the Premier League.

If the Whites are successful in achieving this goal over the coming weeks, they will be able to provide the 23-year-old with the platform to thrive against the very best that England has to offer.

However, despite already being an extremely gifted player, Phillips could take his game to new heights if Bielsa brings in Ander Iturraspe when the transfer window opens in July.

According to El Gol Digital, the Athletic Bilbao midfielder is reportedly interested in reuniting with his former manager next season if Leeds make it into the top-flight via the play-offs.

Although the arrival of Iturraspe at Elland Road would lead to him directly competing with Phillips for his position, he could use his wealth of experience to help mentor the Whites ace.

Having played over 300 games for Bilbao during his 11-year career, the 30-year-old knows just what it takes to compete against the world’s best and so by passing on what he has learned to Phillips, he could help him fulfil his potential.

Available on a free transfer in the summer having failed to agree a new deal with Bilbao (via HITC), Iturraspe could turn out to be the perfect signing for Leeds as he not only would he be a significant upgrade on Adam Forshaw but he could also develop the talents of those around him.

What do you think Leeds fans? Should Bielsa bring in Iturraspe in the summer? Could the Spaniard’s arrival turn out to be a boost for Phillips? Let us know below.

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According to French outlet L’Equipe, Brentford defender Yoann Barbet is attracting the interest of Wolves. However, a number of other clubs are also tracking the player so his signature won’t be easy to obtain.

What’s the word?

Barbet has been a rock at the back since moving to English football and has shone in a Brentford side who have defied expectations over the last few seasons.

The French defender’s contract is due to expire in the summer and as a result, there is no shortage of interest for the 25-year-old. L’Equipe is reporting that Wolves will face competition from Ligue 1 sides Angers and Montpellier, as well as Norwich and Leeds.

In previous months the Frenchman has been targeted by Aston Villa too. Back in December, the Express & Star claimed that Dean Smith had been looking at him. It’s unknown whether the Villans still have an interest in the player though.

At the moment, Transfermarkt rates the centre back at £900,000 but given he’s out of contract in July he wouldn’t cost a penny should he became a free agent.

Exactly what Wolves need

Wolves would be foolish to miss out on the chance to sign Barbet this summer. Their squad has looked particularly thin in recent months and a lack of squad depth has been a pretty major problem.

Considering there is the possibility of playing in the Europa League next season, they’ll need to invest in more bodies to help spread the workload.

However, given that their first team is already pretty settled Nuno Santo needs to be targeting squad players, rather than international stars who might upset some of their key figures.

Barbet wouldn’t walk straight into this Wolves team and as a result represents the perfect example of what kind of signings the club has to make this summer.

On a free transfer, there would be no risk to the deal and they should have no concerns about whether he can make the step up to the Premier League.

Wolves’ defence is primarily made up of players who flourished in the Championship so Nuno will be hoping Barbet can repeat the trick if he signs.

They say that there is a fine line between genius and madness, and no player encapsulates that more than Alfredo Morelos.

The Rangers striker is without question one of the most talented players in the Scottish Premiership, spearheading Steven Gerrard’s side that will comfortably finish second in the table largely down to the Colombian’s 17 goals and eight assists in the league this season, but with all these contributions in front of goal comes eight yellow cards and four red cards.

Morelos’ disciplinary record has been the centre of much attention, with some fans thinking that the striker might be better off away from Scotland if this unwanted record continues into next season, and according to the player himself, he won’t be short of suitors.

Speaking to Primer Tiempo via Football Scotland, Morelos has revealed he has significant interest from clubs heading into the summer transfer window, saying: “There is a lot of speculation about my possible departure, but there is nothing concrete yet.

“I know that there are many interested clubs asking and as soon as there is something official I will be announcing it.”

Rangers could be in for a big payday if they decide to cash in on their troublesome attacker, but even if a massive bid comes in for Morelos, who is valued at £2.7 million on Transfermarkt, Gerrard must do all he can to keep hold of his star striker.

Morelos’ yellow and red card record is something to behold, but what the striker offers in terms of goals and assists is something Rangers will find hard to replace, and although a big fee will be tempting, the club simply can’t let go of their most important player if they are to challenge with Celtic next season.

Rangers fans, should the club keep hold of Morelos at all costs? Let us know!

Given their transfer embargo, you can expect Chelsea to promote a few players from their loan army to the senior squad for the next campaign.

As things stand, though, it does not look like Fikayo Tomori will be one of them, with the 21-year-old continuing to be linked with another loan move.

Tomori, who has impressed at Derby County this season, is said to be a summer target for Celtic (Daily Record).

And given the confidence Maurizio Sarri has in David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger, it would not be a surprise to see the England U21 international depart Stamford Bridge temporarily again.

Needing regular minutes, from Tomori’s perspective, it would be the correct call, with Sarri unlikely to give him that.

That being said, a move to Celtic is probably not what the Chelsea academy product needs.

After such a strong campaign in the Championship, the next step for Tomori has to be the Premier League.

And while it would be a huge step up for the central defender, he looks more than ready for it with his strength, pace to make recovery tackles and composure on the ball.

A Chelsea loanee who has gone under the radar compared to others, he really could be the Blues’ secret weapon next season if Sarri gives him a chance, and the transfer ban makes it even more logical for the Italian to do just that.

A defensive partnership that involves Rudiger and Tomori would be daunting for any onrushing attackers, as their pace, power and tackling ability would make them a frightening combo.

With his ability, to move to a division as weak as the Scottish League would be a side or even arguably a backwards step.

At 21 and considering his talent, Tomori really needs to be playing in one of Europe’s top leagues now.

Chelsea fans, where would you like to see Tomori playing his football next season? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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Southampton played out a 3-3 thriller with Bournemouth at the weekend and could have taken all three points had they managed to hold on in the final ten minutes but, given that they had already forfeited their 1-0 lead, the result against an attacking Cherries side was impressive nonetheless.

The point meant that the Saints are mathematically safe with two games remaining and so much credit has to go to Ralph Hasenhuttl, who has completely turned their season around since taking over back in December.

A number of players have benefitted greatly under the Austrian’s guidance but none more so than Yan Valery, who has blossomed into one of the brightest, young defensive talents since.

When Cedric Soares departed on loan to Inter Milan in January, huge pressure to hold down the right-back spot was placed on 20-year-old Valery’s shoulders, but he has coped with it remarkably well and his performance at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday was the latest in a number of impressive showings.

Completing five tackles – more than Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse put together – the Frenchman was a rock at the back for Southampton but was equally important on the front foot, as he teed up Matt Targett for his side’s third of the afternoon.

From last minute penalties to being taken apart by local rivals, fans pick the moments that defined their clubs’ seasons in the video below…

Only Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (86) took more touches than Valery (67) while the number 49’s seven crosses were bested only by Ward-Prowse – Saints’ creative hub.

With a performance like that far from a fluke, Southampton will be extremely thankful that they managed to tie the starlet down until 2023 just over a month ago – there would surely have been a number of suitors in the summer otherwise, with Valery’s previous deal set to expire imminently. Certainly, the decision was Ralph Krueger’s last great contribution to the south coast outfit before his departure was announced earlier this month.