Sport
Guardiola Blames Missed Chances as City Fall 2-0 to Juventus
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered his thoughts on their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Juventus in the Champions League, attributing the loss to a lack of sharpness in attack and vulnerability on counterattacks.
Goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie at the Allianz Stadium handed the Serie A side a significant win and left City struggling to find form.
This defeat adds to City’s recent woes, as they have now managed just one victory in their last 10 matches across all competitions.
Even more concerning, the Premier League champions currently sit in 22nd place in the league phase standings of the Champions League, putting them at risk of an early exit from the competition.
This scenario is unfamiliar for Guardiola’s squad, who have been dominant in Europe in recent years.
Speaking to the press after the match, Guardiola reflected on his team’s performance.
“We played really, really well in terms of overall build-up and possession,” he said.
“But in the final third, we missed that decisive pass and finishing touch.
Juventus punished us on the counterattack, and we couldn’t recover from that.”
Despite the result, Guardiola remained positive about his team’s effort.
“I am so proud of these players. They gave everything and tried their best,” he emphasized.
“We’re going through a tough period, but I believe we can turn things around with better results.”
Guardiola also acknowledged the difficulty of the Champions League. “It’s never easy at this level,” he admitted.
“We’ve played well in recent matches against Feyenoord and Inter Milan, but mistakes at crucial moments have cost us.
We need to focus on getting at least one win in our final two games.”
City’s current form is raising concerns among fans and analysts.
After winning the treble last season, expectations have been high, but injuries, fatigue, and inconsistent performances are starting to take their toll.
The absence of key players like Kevin De Bruyne, who has been sidelined for months due to injury, has left City struggling to maintain their usual fluidity and creativity.
Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has urged Victor Osimhen to avoid a move to Saudi Arabia this summer. Mikel Obi described it as a “shame” if Osimhen were to join a Middle Eastern club, believing the striker still has plenty to offer at the highest level in Europe.
Osimhen is set to return to Napoli after a successful loan spell at Galatasaray, where he netted an impressive 37 goals in 41 games. The 26-year-old is widely expected to make a permanent transfer before the start of the 2025/2026 season.
“I’m hoping he gets a chance to play in the Premier League this summer,” Mikel Obi told Metro. “I don’t want to see him heading to Saudi Arabia right now because his talent deserves to shine in Europe. “It would be a real shame to see him go there. Clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus, and PSG could be good options for him. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”
Ademola Lookman has opened up about how choosing to play for Nigeria over England has been a turning point in his football journey. Born in England to Nigerian parents, the 27-year-old winger once wore the English colours at youth levels, featuring for the U-19, U-20, and U-21 teams. But in 2022, he made a bold move—switching to represent Nigeria at the senior level, debuting in a tense clash against long-time rivals Ghana.
Since then, the Atalanta star has made a name for himself in the green and white jersey. He was a key figure in Nigeria’s run to the final at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, scoring three times and assisting once. His standout performances earned him the title of Africa’s best player in a ceremony held in Marrakech last December.
Reflecting on his decision in a chat with ARISE TV, Lookman said, “No doubt, choosing Nigeria changed everything for me—my career and my life. This is where I belong. I feel at home here. I’m truly a son of the soil.”
Former Spartak Moscow star Eduard Mor has shared his thoughts ahead of the upcoming international friendly between Russia and Nigeria, calling it a match to look forward to. Set to be played this Friday at 6 p.m. in Moscow, Mor believes the clash will be both exciting and filled with quality play. He praised Nigeria’s attack, describing it as one of the most dangerous on the global stage—not just in Africa.
“Nigeria are a strong side by international standards,” Mor said in a chat with Match TV. “They have players who’ve been doing well in top European clubs for years.” He pointed out that the Super Eagles’ frontline is packed with talent, saying each attacker seems to outshine the next. According to him, this balance of strength makes the team a real threat.
“Nigeria’s attackers are known around the world. They’re all strong individually, and that makes them even more dangerous as a unit. I believe this match is going to be very entertaining and full of action.” The Super Eagles go into the friendly with momentum, having recently defeated Jamaica in the Unity Cup final.
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