Pep Guardiola's eerily prophetic first conversation with Manchester City's record signing

straight to your inboxIlkay Gundogan says Phil Foden's recent form is proof that Pep Guardiola should be trusted to manage and make decisions his way.Guardiola has led Manchester City to top spot in the Premier League despite a number of injuries in key areas at various points of the season, particularly in attack.Gundogan has replaced the goals of Sergio Aguero in recent weeks, with 11 strikes in 12 Premier League appearances, while Foden has also produced some influential performances across

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola is eyeing Wednesday’s trip to Everton as the ideal time for Manchester City to put their foot down in the title race.The Blues moved seven points clear of Leicester at the top with a 3-0 victory over Tottenham, although United’s victory at West Brom reduces the gap to five.However, City have a game in hand on all of their nearest rivals and play at Goodison Park on Wednesday on an evening when the only other teams in action are Burnley and Fulham.With the

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola has seen enough from Liverpool to still consider them title rivals. Manchester City are 13 points ahead of the Premier League champions with a game in hand after they beat Tottenham 3-0 hours after Liverpool had collapsed to a 3-1 defeat at Leicester.

straight to your inboxManchester City welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad StadiumPep Guardiola 's side secured their passage through to the last eight of the FA Cup in midweek, beating Swansea City 3-1. In the Premier League, City have won their last 15 matches in all competitions and smashed Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield in their last Premier League outing.

straight to your inboxRodri and his teammates need to help each other out if Manchester City are to be successful, according to Pep Guardiola. The 24-year-old has been given huge responsibility in the team since signing from Atletico in 2019, taking on the holding midfield role that Fernandinho performed so brilliantly in as the Blues won back-to-back Premier League titles.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola called Tommy Doyle a 'special' player, but picked out an incident in Manchester City's win over Swansea as an area for improvement.Doyle, City's under-23 captain, started in the FA Cup fourth round tie at Cheltenham last month, and was included in the travelling party to face Swansea on Wednesday.

straight to your inboxJurgen Klopp sounded on Friday like a man who was getting in his excuses ahead of Liverpool's title crunch with Manchester City.The Anfield manager's crass - and untrue - comments about the Blues having a two-week "Covid break" which had helped their push to the top of the table, sparked some sharp responses from his opposite number.It surprised and puzzled Pep Guardiola, who said he had thought the German was "not that type of manager".The City boss promised to question

straight to your inbox Pep Guardiola tore into Jurgen Klopp's claim that Manchester City have benefited from a two-week " Covid break" to go top of the table. And the Blues boss promised to confront the Liverpool manager on the issue when they meet at Anfield in a big Premier League clash on Sunday.

straight to your inboxMicah Richards believes Ilkay Gundogan has become a "talisman" for title-chasing Manchester City.Gundogan has been in excellent form over the past 10 games - scoring seven goals and providing one assist in that time. The German midfielder's form has helped City go on a 13-game winning run in all competitions, as Pep Guardiola's side sit three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

straight to your inbox Gabriel Jesus gave notice he is rediscovering his goalscoring boots just in time for Manchester City ’s trip to Liverpool on Sunday. The Brazil striker has scored the opening goal in consecutive games to keep the Blues riding high at the top of the Premier League.

straight to your inboxManchester City will have to try to win the Premier League without a prolific goalscorer this season, Pep Guardiola has come to accept.Sergio Aguero has suffered a number of setbacks in his attempts to return from a knee problem that kept him out of the beginning of the campaign, while Gabriel Jesus has just three league goals to his name after another frustrating season.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola has labelled Manchester City captain Fernandinho as an 'authentic leader' and believes he is a great example for Rodri to follow in the defensive-midfield position. Despite suffering an injury setback at the start of the season, Fernandinho, 35, has enjoyed a brilliant return to form in recent weeks which may lead to his contract, which is set to expire in the summer, be extended once again.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City star Bernardo Silva 'struggled' in the aftermath of his ban last season over an offensive tweet.Bernardo was suspended for one game in November, 2019, after he compared teammate Benjamin Mendy to a character on a packet of Conguitos chocolates in a social media post.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola said he had already forgotten their 5-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in midweek as he treasured the more difficult memories that Manchester City have picked up. City played some glorious football at the Hawthorns in midweek as they strolled to a comfortable victory but were made to work incredibly hard by another team struggling against relegation as Chris Wilder's Sheffield United pushed them all the way at the Etihad despite conceding an early goal.

straight to your inboxIlkay Gundogan has emerged as Manchester City’s secret weapon as they power on without Sergio Aguero.The Blues have recently made light of the fact their all-time top goalscorer Aguero has hardly figured this season.And Germany international Gundogan, who normally plays in a deeper role, has flourished as a more advanced midfielder, scoring seven goals in the last eight Premier League games, including two in the 5-0 win at West Brom on Tuesday night.Pep Guardiola was not

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola praised Aleks Zinchenko for taking "an incredible step forward" in recent weeks for Manchester City.The only outfield player at the Etihad to have worked his way into the squad after a loan spell, Zinchenko deputised at left-back in the 2017/18 season during an injury crisis and has continued to be used there for his intermittent spells in the team.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola credits Manchester City's win away at Southampton in December with kickstarting their season. The Blues headed to St Mary's on the back of two successive draws where they had failed to inspire - first at Old Trafford and then at home to a struggling West Brom team - but battled hard to defend the lead that an early Raheem Sterling strike had given them and pick up a vital victory.

direct to your inboxManchester City will have to cope without Kevin De Bruyne for the next month or so as they challenge for honours on all fronts.De Bruyne has been ruled out for between four and six weeks due to a hamstring injury he suffered during the victory over Aston Villa. It is a significant blow for City, just as their campaign is gathering some momentum.