'I don't know if they can be controlled': Man City manager Pep Guardiola queries new protocols in Covid confusion

straight to your inboxNew Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed he spoke with Pep Guardiola before taking the job at Stamford Bridge.Tuchel took charge of Chelsea for the first time on Wednesday night in a goalless draw with Wolves after replacing Frank Lampard as manager earlier this week. The 47-year-old knows Guardiola well after they faced each other in Germany when the Man City boss was at Bayern Munich and Tuchel was in charge of first Mainz and then Borussia Dortmund.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola has backed Thomas Tuchel to gain success at Chelsea.The German has been appointed head coach at Stamford Bridge following Frank Lampard's sacking earlier this week. He is a manager that Man City boss Guardiola knows well, with the two having faced each other in Germany on a number of occasions.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola suggested Eric Garcia could leave Manchester City this month after resigning himself to losing the centre-back.Garcia stunned his club last summer when he informed them that he no longer saw a future for himself at the Etihad and wished instead to return to former club Barcelona.

straight to your inboxManchester City manager Pep Guardiola had a special request to make after hearing that his star-studded squad will be changing in a bar for the FA Cup tie at Cheltenham tomorrow.The Blues head to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium for the fourth round tie, and Covid-19 restrictions mean the normal dressing rooms are too close to those of the home side.To comply with pandemic rules, City will be given a lounge underneath the stands, the same as Cheltenham’s normal League Two

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola believes the focus should be on improving current leagues rather than starting new ones. There has been regular suggestions for years that the best clubs in Europe could break away and form a new competition, and reports this week suggested Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan were driving plans for 15 permanent clubs as well as five other clubs to play between 18 and 23 matches a season against each other.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola was left hoping on Wednesday night that the injuries that forced Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne off against Aston Villa will not be too serious.Manchester City continued their good form, winning their sixth straight league game and ninth in all competitions to reach the Premier League summit for the first time this season thanks to late goals from Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.However, they had to make do without two of their starting XI for long spells.

straight to your inboxManchester City will be again without Sergio Aguero and Aymeric Laporte when they face Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow.But French defender Laporte - who has not played for the Blues since the Carabao Cup quarter-final win at Arsenal before Christmas - could be in line for a return to the side in the FA Cup fourth round tie at Cheltenham on Saturday.Pep Guardiola said that Aguero, who has been self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who tested

direct to your inboxPep Guardiola called upon an answer he has used before when asked how he will spend his 50th birthday today.The Manchester City boss saw his side produce a professional performance mixed with moments of individual quality on Saturday to beat Crystal Palace 4-0 and move up to second in the Premier League with a game in hand over leaders Manchester United.United had earlier drawn 0-0 with Liverpool, allowing City to move above Liverpool and to within two points of United with a

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola could not rule out a January transfer for Eric Garcia but hopes that Manchester City will be able to keep hold of the player. Garcia stunned the Blues last year when he opted not to extend his contract at the Etihad and decided that he wanted to return to Barcelona.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola is not sure when he will be able to call on Sergio Aguero with the Manchester City striker isolating after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola asked his Manchester City side for the same level of intensity in the second half of their Carabao Cup semi-final win over Manchester United to book their place in a fourth successive final.City and United had exchanged blows in the opening 45 minutes, with both sides having goals ruled out for offside and both goalkeepers making superb saves.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola is confident that Kevin De Bruyne will sign a new contract at Manchester City despite the absence of a breakthrough in negotiations. The Blues are keen to tie the 2019/20 Premier League Player of the Year down to a bumper deal that will commit him to the club beyond the terms of his current contract that expires in 2023.

straight to your inboxManchester City weren't mentally or physically prepared to begin the new season in September, Kevin De Bruyne has admitted. Just three weeks after exiting the Champions League to end 2019/20, City began their new 2020/21 campaign at Wolves in the Premier League, and would go on to take just eight points from their first five games.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola admitted he didn't know when his Manchester City side kicked off at Chelsea if they would have lost their Premier League momentum. The Blues boss was elated after the 2-0 win over Boxing Day not just with the result but with the way his team played in the victory over Steve Bruce's Newcastle.

straight to your inboxPhil Foden should be starting every game for Manchester City from now on, according to Micah Richards.Foden starred as City beat Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in Sunday's Premier League clash. The England international has not been a regular starter for Pep Guardiola 's side this season.

straight to your inbox Pep Guardiola has told Benjamin Mendy's critics to look themselves in the mirror after suggesting the Manchester City defender wasn't the only person to break Covid-19 rules on New Year's Eve. City have launched an investigation after Mendy's breach of protocols when he invited a small number of friends and family around to celebrate the New Year.