Pep Guardiola sent Man City centre back selection message ahead of Manchester United clash

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola was thrilled with Manchester City's performance in their 2-0 win over Newcastle.

straight to your inboxRuben Dias is hopeful that Manchester City's draws will prove useful in the final Premier League reckoning but admits they cannot get used to them. Pep Guardiola's side have lost just twice in the Premier League this season but are well down the table in 8th because of their inability to turn one point into three in more than a third of their matches.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola suggests that John Stones is the perfect partner for new signing Ruben Dias.The Manchester City manager added Dias to his defensive ranks from Benfica in the summer for a club record fee, offset by Nicolas Otamendi moving the other way.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola suggested that the financial consequences of the pandemic will prevent Manchester City from buying a striker in the January transfer window.The Blues were interested in signing a forward in summer but with money being used elsewhere to strengthen to defence - Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake arrived at a combined cost of more than £100m - and the club making a conscious effort to keep net spend down the decision was taken not to add another marquee forward.Sergio

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola was critical of Manchester City's finishing as they picked up a narrow 1-0 win at Southampton. The Blues won for the first time in three games to lift themselves up the Premier League table after difficult draws with West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United had halted their momentum.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola has named Oriol Romeu as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League as he warned his Manchester City side to be wary of Southampton.City travel to third-placed Southampton on the back of two draws in the league, while Ralph Hasenhuttl's Saints have kept in touch at the top after establishing themselves as one of the early pacesetters.

straight to your inboxManchester City players and staff have pitched in to ensure no primary school child in East Manchester goes without a Christmas present this year.In addition to the work that the club does through City in the Community through the year, particular attention was given to local children after research indicated that a third of kids in Manchester will not receive a Christmas present.City’s players, coaches and legends all got involved with the mammoth task, with Sergio Aguero

straight to your inboxRodri became the first outfield player for Manchester City to pass 1,500 minutes played this season during the draw with West Bromwich Albion.Pep Guardiola has made a point in recent weeks of saying that his squad have to perform well every game if they are to keep their place in the team, with John Stones and Ruben Dias examples of individuals that have risen to Guardiola's challenge.Rodri, signed from Atletico last summer for what was then a club record fee of £62.8m, has

straight to your inboxIlkay Gundogan admits Manchester City are struggling to meet the high expectations placed upon them this season.City were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by lowly West Bromwich Albion in Tuesday night's Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.Gundogan put Pep Guardiola's men ahead in the first half but a Ruben Dias own goal earned the Baggies a share of the spoils.City have failed to hit the heights they have shown themselves capable of in recent years so far this

straight to your inboxAlan Shearer has bemoaned Manchester City's lack of firepower - but is not writing them off just yet. Pep Guardiola's men were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by struggling West Bromwich Albion at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

direct to your inboxJohn Stones is not carrying an injury despite missing Manchester City's Premier League game with West Brom. The 26-year-old has fought his way back into the team after two years of injuries and personal issues preventing him from holding down a regular place, and started alongside Ruben Dias for the Manchester derby as they notched another clean sheet.

straight to your inboxRaheem Sterling has insisted Manchester City have coped with the loss of Vincent Kompany and David Silva in the dressing room and named Ruben Dias and Kevin De Bruyne as players who have stepped into those roles. Two of City's greatest ever players have left the Etihad Stadium in the last two summers, with Silva moving to Real Sociedad after 10 years in England, whilst Kompany joined Anderlecht as player-manager.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola decided against bringing on more than one substitute during Manchester City's goalless draw at Old Trafford because he felt his players were "sharp". The City boss has been a strong advocate of the Premier League bringing in five substitutions this season but he's now only used five replacements in the last four games, two of which very injury-enforced.

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola hailed a good point for Manchester City in the Premier League against Manchester United. The Blues played out a dull derby draw at Old Trafford that leaves them a point behind their neighbours and five off the top of the Premier League table after 11 matches.

straight to your inboxJohn Stones has insisted he is motivated by Ruben Dias' arrival at Manchester City and relishes the competition for places.The Englishman was linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium in the summer after falling out of favour with Pep Guardiola.

straight to your inboxPablo Zabaleta says John Stones would not be part of his ideal back four for Manchester City.The centre-back has been in excellent form since being recalled to City's starting line-up, having effectively found himself as sixth-choice centre-back during the summer.It has led to plenty of debate over what City's strongest defence is, with Aymeric Laporte missing four of their last five games.The likes of Nathan Ake, Eric Garcia and summer signing Ruben Dias are also vying for

straight to your inboxPep Guardiola wants his side to play their own game at Old Trafford as they go in search of a derby win to restore their status as top dogs in the city.For the first time in Guardiola's spell as Manchester City manager they go into a derby behind United in the Premier League table, but that is a status that could be reversed if the Blues claim success across town.City struggled against the pace of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's United last season, but the only win in four meetings

direct to your inboxJohn Stones looks set to start in the back four for Manchester City as they take on their cross-city rivals at Old Trafford on Saturday.The centre-back's recent renaissance has seen him come back into the favour of Pep Guardiola, and it seems that he'll be rewarded with a place in City's starting line-up against Manchester United, alongside Ruben Dias.Stones' return to form has been at the expense of Aymeric Laporte.

straight to your inboxRuben Dias has already stood out at Manchester City for the leadership qualities he has added to the squad. The 23-year-old, signed from Benfica for a club record £64m in September, was thrown into the starting XI to make his debut at Leeds after just a few training sessions.

straight to your inboxManchester City will head into the Manchester derby in their best rhythm of the season, according to Pep Guardiola. The Blues, similar to neighbours Manchester United, have had a difficult start with injuries and Covid adding to the problems for a depleted squad that barely had a break between seasons.