Author: Gabby

The impending exit of two long-serving Manchester City coaches has sparked fresh speculation about Pep Guardiola’s future at the Etihad Stadium. According to sources close to the club, fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura and goalkeeper coach Xabi Mancisidor are both set to leave this summer.

Buenaventura, who has been a trusted member of Guardiola’s backroom staff for over 15 years, will depart at the end of the season. Mancisidor, whose contract expires in June, is also expected to move on. These departures represent a significant shake-up in the coaching setup.

Industry insiders suggest that these exits could be the first clear indication that Guardiola himself may be preparing to leave Manchester City this summer. However, a final decision on the manager’s future is not expected until the end of the current campaign.

The club has already lined up a potential successor in Enzo Maresca, who is being groomed to take over if Guardiola departs either this summer or at the conclusion of his contract in June 2027.

Former Chelsea star Chris Sutton has shared his forecasts for the upcoming Premier League matchday 37 fixtures, scheduled across Friday, Sunday, and Monday.

On Friday night, Aston Villa will host Liverpool at home. Sutton expects a tightly contested match, predicting a 1-1 draw between the two sides.

Manchester United welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford on Sunday. Sutton’s prediction is a comfortable 2-0 victory for the Red Devils.

Arsenal take on Burnley at the Emirates Stadium on the same day. The former player foresees a dominant Gunners performance, ending 3-0 in favor of the hosts.

Newcastle United face West Ham United, with Sutton calling for a 1-1 stalemate. He also predicts Brentford to edge Crystal Palace 1-0, Leeds United to share spoils 1-1 with Brighton, Wolves to lose 1-2 to Fulham, and Everton to secure a 1-0 win over Sunderland.

Real Madrid’s star forward Kylian Mbappe has confessed that his primary shortcoming during his debut campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu was his inability to help the team secure silverware. The France international addressed reporters after Los Blancos’ 2-0 LaLiga victory over Real Oviedo on Thursday night.

“My biggest mistake was not contributing enough to bring titles to this club. Everything else surrounding my performance is just noise,” Mbappe stated during the post-match interview.

Regarding his controversial mid-season vacation, the 26-year-old clarified: “Nobody knows the real reason I left. I had full permission from the club. My only focus remains on winning championships.”

He added, “Real Madrid is never wrong. It’s the greatest institution in football. What stung the most was hearing people claim I didn’t want to play.”

Despite his self-criticism, Mbappe currently leads the scoring charts in both LaLiga and the UEFA Champions League this season.

Jose Mourinho has disclosed that he recently refused to engage in discussions regarding a new contract with Benfica, choosing instead to postpone any decision until next week.

The ex-Chelsea and Manchester United boss admitted that the Portuguese club presented a fresh offer to his agent midweek. However, the 63-year-old felt it was an inappropriate moment to negotiate, as speculation continues to link him with a summer move to Real Madrid.

Mourinho, whose current Benfica contract includes an option for an additional year, confirmed that he deliberately ignored the proposal details. He plans to carefully evaluate his future after Benfica’s weekend clash with Estoril, with Champions League qualification at stake.

“The offer came on Wednesday,” Mourinho told reporters. “It was handed to my agent, but I refused to look at it or consider it. I’ll turn my attention to it from Sunday onward — maybe Sunday itself.”

The former Real Madrid manager has repeatedly been tipped to return to the Santiago Bernabéu, where he previously enjoyed a successful tenure between 2010 and 2013. Insiders suggest that an agreement could be finalized in the coming weeks, with Mourinho’s vast experience making him a prime candidate to lead a new project.

With Benfica aiming to secure a top-four finish and Champions League group-stage entry, Mourinho’s immediate focus remains on the pitch. He made it clear that his allegiance to Benfica remains solid until a final decision is announced.

Manchester United’s skipper, Bruno Fernandes, has expressed his regret that Declan Rice opted to join Arsenal instead of his club. Speaking in a recent interview, Fernandes admitted he was genuinely disappointed when the English midfielder chose the Gunners over a potential switch to Old Trafford.

The Portuguese playmaker recalled his impressions of Rice from their encounters when the latter played for West Ham, noting that he always believed Rice possessed the qualities needed to succeed at Manchester United. Fernandes remarked that he had long envisioned Rice as an ideal candidate for the Red Devils.

Rice’s transfer to Arsenal in 2023 made him the most expensive signing in the club’s history, with a deal worth £105 million. Since then, he has become a cornerstone of Mikel Arteta’s squad. However, both Manchester United and Manchester City were also linked with the midfielder before he eventually moved to north London.

Fernandes stated, ‘I was really sad when he chose to go to Arsenal. I don’t know if there was the opportunity or the chance to come to Manchester United, but I always thought that he would be the perfect fit for our club.’ His comments highlight the lingering sense of what might have been for United.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has opened up about what he believes cost his team the Premier League crown this season. In a candid interview with The Athletic, the Portuguese star singled out two specific factors that derailed City’s campaign.

According to Silva, if Pep Guardiola’s side had not been going through a transitional period and had avoided the numerous errors they made, they would have secured the title. “I honestly think our biggest rivals were Liverpool,” Silva stated. “I am convinced that if we weren’t in a season of transition and if we hadn’t made so many mistakes, we would have won the league. I’m not saying it would have been easy, but we would have won it. That’s very frustrating.”

With only two matches left in the season, Manchester City currently trails Arsenal by two points in the standings. Silva’s comments highlight the team’s self-reflection as they look to close the gap and finish strong.

Fulham manager Marco Silva announced during a Friday press conference that Alex Iwobi is set to make his return to the squad ahead of Sunday’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. The Nigerian midfielder has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in the goalless draw with Brentford last month.

Iwobi’s absence has been felt by the Cottagers, who managed only one victory and suffered two defeats in the three Premier League games he missed. Silva expressed optimism about Iwobi’s recovery, stating that the player has resumed full training and has been participating in team sessions throughout the week. ‘Alex is back in contention for the game. Last week, he did some training sessions with us. And this week, he’s been working with us. It’s been a good week for him,’ the Fulham boss explained.

The return of the 28-year-old provides a significant boost for Fulham as they prepare to face Wolves. Iwobi’s creativity and energy in midfield will be crucial for the team’s attacking play. The match is scheduled for Sunday, and Silva will have a full week of training to integrate Iwobi back into the starting eleven or use him as an impact substitute.

Manchester United’s midfield maestro, Bruno Fernandes, has openly shared his regret over the club’s failure to secure Declan Rice before he moved to Arsenal. In a candid interview with the Football Writers’ Association, Fernandes described Rice as a player he admires both on and off the pitch, expressing sadness that United did not manage to sign him.

Fernandes recalled that he first met Rice during a training session in Portugal’s Algarve region three years ago, where they bonded and stayed in touch ever since. ‘I’ve always believed Rice was a perfect fit for Manchester United,’ Fernandes stated. ‘Not just for his footballing ability, but for the person he is – his professionalism and character impressed me deeply.’

United were among the frontrunners for Rice’s signature before he ultimately chose a £105 million move from West Ham to Arsenal in 2023. Since then, Rice has become a pivotal figure for the Gunners, helping Mikel Arteta’s side challenge for the Premier League title for the first time in two decades, and even reaching the Champions League final.

This season, Fernandes himself has been in brilliant form, registering 19 assists – just one short of the record jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. His contributions earned him the Football Writers’ Association Men’s Footballer of the Year award, with Rice finishing a close second, trailing by only 28 votes.

Fernandes concluded by praising Rice’s development: ‘I knew his qualities from his West Ham days, and he has only improved. It’s a shame he’s not wearing red, but I’m happy for his success.’