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2 weeks ago

Aston Villa v Man City LIVE: Premier League result and final score as City’s miserable run continues

Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester City: Unai Emery’s side were dominant and inflicted a ninth defeat in 12 games for Pep Guardiola

Richard Jolly
at Villa Park
,Jamie Braidwood
Saturday 21 December 2024 21:31 GMT
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Guardiola 'optimistic' Grealish can rediscover goalscoring form in Villa return

Manchester City’s miserable run of form continued as Aston Villa leapfrogged Pep Guardiola’s side into fifth with a deserved victory over the faltering Premier League champions.

Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers, who struck against his former club, condemned City to a third defeat in a row and ninth loss in their last 12 games in all competitions.

City were out-run by Unai Emery’s side, who rediscovered their form with a stirring performance in front of their home fans. It was a day to forget for Jack Grealish, City’s brightest player on his return to Villa Park, who was booed throughout another lackluster performance from Guardiola’s team.

Villa started brightly and Duran had the chance to open the scoring after just 15 seconds. The striker converted his second opportunity to finish a flowing move on 15 minutes, instigated by a brilliant Youri Tielemans pass. Dominant after half-time, Rogers wrapped up victory on the hour.

City had no response, with Erling Haaland anonymous and Kevin De Bruyne remaining on the bench throughout as an unused substitute. Phil Foden pulled one back with seconds left, but it was too little too late as City drop to sixth in the table, with Villa climbing into fifth. Follow all the reaction in our live blog below.

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Resigned Pep Guardiola signals the complete breakdown of all-conquering Man City

An obsessive Spanish manager had taken his adopted club to rare heights. Then came a chastening spell of 11 games, littered with setbacks, sending his team tumbling down the table, bringing their ambitions into question. But this victory was emphatic and impressive, offering relief and respite. A slump may be over.

But not for Pep Guardiola. Because, for Unai Emery and Aston Villa, Manchester City came to town. They were duly and deservedly beaten.

Guardiola spent the first half gesturing histrionically, the second with his hands in his pockets, a man resigned to his fate.

This feels the complete breakdown of an all-conquering team.

Resigned Pep Guardiola signals the complete breakdown of all-conquering Man City

Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester City: Guardiola spent the second half with his hands in his pockets, appearing to accept defeat, as the champions plummeted to another low

Richard Jolly21 December 2024 16:24
2 weeks ago

Unai Emery admits Villa knew Man City are lacking confidence

Unai Emery said he sensed a drop in confidence from Manchester City which allowed Aston Villa to claim a third win in four.

He said: “Progressively, the mentality and confidence was increasing and theirs was going down, and it was fantastic how the players responded on the field.

“The first half we didn’t work completely because we were defending so low. In the second half we were getting more in the attacking third and the consequences we scored and the confidence increased more. Defensively we did a fantastic working 90 minutes.

“Manchester City are a little bit under the confidence they had normally.

“The second half was different, we dominated and we scored. Through those circumstances they were feeling worse than even in the first half.”

(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 21:31
2 weeks ago

‘Proud’ Pep Guardiola refuses to blame Man City players

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola felt a huge sense of “pride” after his side suffered their latest defeat at the hands of Aston Villa.

Guardiola refused to point the finger at his players following the 2-1 loss - their sixth defeat in their last eight games.

He said: “Thanks to some players today, the pride they showed on the pitch again.

“It happens since three months ago, nothing has changed. I have to deal with that. This is not an easy place to come, last season in the Premier League we didn’t win here.

“I take the positive things from here, reflect and the same with the players. What I see them doing before and after, how they behave and I feel pride, thinking let’s go, onto the next one.”

Pep failed to point the finger at his players for their poor form (Mike Egerton/PA)
Pep failed to point the finger at his players for their poor form (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire)
Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 20:31
2 weeks ago

Unai Emery on Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins

Unai Emery on how he is getting the best out of Jhon Duran and balancing his game-time with England international Ollie Watkins.

"We are in the process with the players, keeping their consistency of playing. Jhon Duran today played fantastic, Watkins is fantastic as well, very important for us.

“Of course you have to work with both strikers, sometimes they play together. I am very happy with them.”

(Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 19:31
2 weeks ago

Unai Emery hails Morgan Rogers for performance against Man City

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on ‘fantastic’ Morgan Rogers as the 22-year-old shone against Manchester City.

“He played fantastic today, he is very important. Through him we are getting the performance back because he links strikers with midfielder and wingers.

“Today he was fantastic in the second half, connecting with strikers and scoring the goals. He has to add goals to his numbers, and today he was fantastic.”

Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 18:31
2 weeks ago

‘I try to thrive in big games'

Aston Villa goalscorer Morgan Rogers reacts after his team’s victory over Manchester City:

"We knew it was going to be difficult. They have not had results, but we knew they were going to come firing,” he told TNT Sports.

"We knew we needed a reaction in the same way as they did. To a man I thought we were outstanding and I think we deserved the win.

"I try to thrive in big games and I want to show what I am about - it is nice to perform in the big games.

It felt tougher than it probably looked. They make you work and it is so demanding out of possession.

"We knew we had to be on it from start to finish. On the counter-attack we were good and that’s probably why we won the game."

(Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 17:31
2 weeks ago

Pep Guardiola on John Stones

"I would say I'm not in the right moment to make tactical and creative changes with some players and where they are at. There is a moment where I cannot overthink things right now. I try to be simple, go to the principles to give certainty to the team and the players of what they can do offensively and defensively. This is one of the points. He can't because he said in the last 10 minutes again he had the disturbance that he had in the last month."

The defender’s return from injury lasted just 45 minutes
The defender’s return from injury lasted just 45 minutes (Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 17:13
2 weeks ago

Jack Grealish sends three-finger gesture to goading Aston Villa fans

Jack Grealish held up three fingers to goading Aston Villa supporters as the Manchester City winger had an afternoon to forget on his return to Villa Park.

Starting against his boyhood club away from home for the first time since his £100m move to the Etihad, Grealish was on the end of a 2-1 defeat as City’s miserable run of form continued.

The England international helped Villa to promotion back to the Premier League in 2019 but was booed on every touch as he saw plenty of the ball during the first half.

Jack Grealish sends three-finger gesture to goading Aston Villa fans

Grealish and Man City suffered their ninth defeat in 12 games as the English international was booed on his first start at Villa Park since leaving the club

Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 16:54
2 weeks ago

‘I don’t agree with him’: Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland form

Pep Guardiola responds to Erling Haaland’s comments after the Man City striker said he has not been good enough.

“I don't agree with him. Without him he would be even worse but I like players to be that way. It's the only chance we have to get better.

“There are two options: like I judge myself, the only other situation is blame your side. That depends on them.

“I don't agree with Erling because he tried and he needs to be delivered the right balls in the right spots but now we recover and we fight for the next one.”

Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 15:47
2 weeks ago

Erling Haaland admits his form has not been good enough and backs Guardiola

Erling Haaland, who now has just one goal in his last six games for Manchester City,  speaking to TNT Sports:

“We have to continue working. The first thing I am looking at is myself, I have not been doing things good enough, have not been scoring my chances and everything. I have to be better. It’s a lot on me and I’ve not been good enough

“Of course it’s not the best. We know how important confidence is. You can see it. It affects every human being, these kind of things. That’s how it is. We have to continue. We have to stay positive even though it is difficult. We have to keep working hard.”

On Pep Guardiola

“He’s won the Premier League six times in seven years. We can never forget that. He will find the solutions. He’s been doing that every year, apart from one. We still believe in him and we have to work harder than ever right now “

(REUTERS)

Jamie Braidwood21 December 2024 15:20

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