Juventus vs Man City LIVE: Champions League reaction as Vlahovic and McKennie goals earn fine win
Juventus 2-0 Man City: Pep Guardiola’s team slumped to a seventh defeat in 10 games
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Your support makes all the difference.Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a seventh defeat in 10mgames when they were beaten 2-0 away at Juventus leaving them on the verge of an early Champions League exit.
For all the pre-match talk of legacy and a fighting mentality, City looked nervous and slow as they attempted to assert some control on the game by maintaining possession. Too often they failed to create openings for Erling Haaland and the striker only had one good opportunity to score in the first half but was denied by Michele Di Gregorio.
Playing with a mid-low block worked to frustrate City and Juve opened up more in the second half, pushing higher up the pitch and opening the scoring through Dusan Vlahovic’s headed effort. City’s defence, which at times looked shaky, failed to properly clear the danger and were punished.
The hosts added a second with a superb counter attack that was finished off by American duo Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie with the former Leeds United midfielder putting the cap on a fine night for the Serie A side.
Relive the Champions League action with our live blog below:
Pre-match thoughts from Thiago Motta
Juventus coach Thiago Motta says his team must be ready to defend when they take on Man City who he is expecting to be creative in possession.
At the pre-match press conference yesterday Motta said: “Tomorrow we face a team with certain characteristics: we must be ready to defend well when they attack and play with great quality when we have the ball.
“We will face a team that likes to attack, but we can also create problems when we have the ball. We must have maximum concentration on what we have to do tomorrow.
“In recent years Manchester City has won everything and you just have to congratulate them on the value they have shown. Guardiola is a very good coach, I don’t just say that, the facts prove it. He has won and he has done it consistently.”
Guardiola’s job not at risk
Dion Dublin says Pep Guardiola’s previous success at Manchester City mean he is in no danger of losing his job despite a concerning decline in form for his team .
Speaking about whether the club would take the decision to depart with Guardiola’s services if things don’t start to improve Dublin said: “That is never going to happen, they are not going to get rid of him, I think he has got a bit in the bank to be honest.
“Pep will leave the club when he wants to leave the club. Even if they lose another five or six games, it still wouldn’t change anything, in my opinion.
“They will turn it around, I don’t know when they are going to do it, but they are too good, he’s too good and they have too good players. We shouldn’t look into it too deeply.
“Everybody is surprised by City and their slump. I don’t think it’s going to continue, they will go on a run of winning games at some point, they are too good to continue in this state.”
Dion Dublin believes Pep Guardiola is fireproof despite Man City slump
Former England international Dion Dublin says Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola remains fireproof even if his side’s slump continues.
City’s season has fallen in on its self in recent weeks, winning just one of their last nine games, which included a sequence of five successive defeats.
They look to be out of the Premier League title race already while also being far from certain to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League ahead of Wednesday’s tie at Juventus.
Dion Dublin believes Pep Guardiola is fireproof despite Man City slump
City have won just one of their last nine games.
‘City inspired to be greater’ says Dias
Defender Ruben Dias also believes City will emerge stronger from their tough period.
He said: “That people doubt us is the one thing that brings you strength, inspires you to be greater.
“This is our legacy – more than the treble, four in a row. All of it is spectacular but I do believe what defines a legacy is how you react in the most difficult moments of your career.
“I’m a true believer that those moments are the ones that define you. We embrace it. Those are the ones I’ll for sure remember later.”
Guardiola on Man City’s downturn in form
“It’s not a mental thing. It’s about doing the simple things better,” said Pep Guardiola when trying to explain his team’s dip in form.
The Man City boss added: “They are professionals and as much as we are all together, we will be a stronger team. The way we want to play is not going to be changed for obvious reasons, because our success was there.
“I know when we are able to do it, we are able to play good.”
Guardiola’s next job
Pep Guardiola says he will not manage another club once he finishes his time at Manchester City and would look to coach a national side if he remains a manager.
Speaking in an interview on the YouTube channel of celebrity chef Dani Garcia, the 53-year-old said: “I’m not going to manage another team.
“I’m not talking about the long-term future but what I’m not going to do is leave Man City, go to another country, and do the same thing as now.
“I wouldn’t have the energy. The thought of starting somewhere else, all the process of training and so on. No, no, no! Maybe a national team, but that’s different.
“I want to leave it and go and play golf but I can’t. I think stopping would do me good.”
Pep Guardiola thinking about life after Man City as he hints at next job
Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City will be his final managerial job in club football.
The inspirational former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has won 18 trophies since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016.
He ended speculation over his short-term future last month when he signed a contract extension through to 2027 but he is now thinking about life after City.
Pep Guardiola thinking about life after Man City as he hints at next job
The Spaniard signed a contract extension through to 2027
Juventus vs Man City prediction
Despite a huge and unexpected downturn in form for Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions they have a squad full of talent that enjoys European nights.
Juventus proved stubborn opponents to Aston Villa in their last Champions League outing but City should be able to edge past them even if the scoreline isn’t flattering.
Juventus 0-2 Man City.
Predicted line-ups
Here’s how we see the two teams lining-up tonight as both go in search of three points:
Juventus XI: Perin; Danilo, Gatti, Kalulu, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Weah; Vlahovic
Man City XI: Ortega; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Lewis; Gundogan, Bernardo Silva; Savinho, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
What is the team news?
Pep Guardiola will be unable to call upon some of his key players as Nathan Ake, John Stones and Rodri are all on the sidelines with respective hamstring, foot and knee injuries. Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden are also doubts for the game with Akanji missing the draw with Crystal Palace and Foden coming down with illness.
Juventus have been undergoing an injury crisis of their own with up to nine first team players absent earlier in the season. Dusan Vlahovic and Nicolo Savona made their returns to the team while Douglas Luiz and Weston McKennie should be available as well.
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