1. Guardiola denies having dinner with Haaland
Pep Guardiola has claimed he does not know if Erling Haaland will be fresh for Manchester City’s final Champions League group game against Galatasaray on Wednesday because they “did not have dinner last night”.
City are 11th with 13 points before hosting the Turkish champions, one of eight teams with the total. These include Chelsea, who are eighth, the last position that secures automatic qualification to the last-16, the goal difference of Liam Rosenior’s side being superior by two.
This means victory by a wide margin would give City the best chance of avoiding a two-legged playoff for a second successive season, so a return to goalscoring form by Haaland would be welcome. City’s top-scorer was dropped for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Wolves and did not register after coming on as a 72nd-minute substitute, meaning he has not scored from open play in his last seven appearances.
Guardiola was asked if Haaland will be fresh after only featuring as a substitute at the weekend. “I didn’t have dinner with him last night so I don’t know. We will see,” said the manager. “It’s the team. We have to play better: create more chances and he will score. Never underestimate the goalscorers because they will always make you silent.”
Asked if he would speak to Haaland about his comparative goal drought, Guardiola said: “I’m an overthinking manager, I’m not a man manager. The new generation of managers are just videos. I haven’t talked with the players for the last three years. Less problems.”
Guardiola apologised for his criticism of referee Farai Hallam after he did not award City a penalty against Wolves . Hallam, on his Premier League debut, was sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR after deeming Yerson Mosquera had not illegally handled the ball after it struck his outstretched arm as Omar Marmoush tried to scoop it behind the defender. Hallam stuck with his on-field decision.
“I’m so sorry,” Guardiola said. “If he feels offended, I’m so sorry. I know it’s not easy on debut. And it’s happened. Everyone is so sensitive, I know that.”
Guardiola insisted that he rarely criticises officials and never after losing. “Take a look when we have had defeats over the last 10 years,” the manager said. “When we lose in the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup – the first statement is to congratulate the opponent all the time. But when you say one or two times over 10 years that I am the type [to complain] then OK, it’s fine, everyone defends his position.”
Jeremy Doku returned from a leg injury to play the last 18 minutes of the Wolves win. He sustained the problem when Diogo Dalot fouled him in the 2-0 defeat at Manchester United the previous Saturday, the right back receiving a yellow card when, by common consensus, he should have seen red. “You guys know my feelings about it,” said Doku. “I could have [been out for a long time]. Thanks to the Lord I didn’t get injured badly.”
Nico González will have a late fitness test regarding his availability for the visit of Galatasaray. Jamie Jackson
2. Conte faces crunch in midst of ‘emergency’
Napoli are on the brink of being eliminated from the Champions League as the troubled Italian club face Chelsea on Wednesday, racked by a deep injury crisis and a faltering Serie A title defence. Sat just inside the elimination zone on only eight points from seven matches after last week’s miserable 1-1 draw at Copenhagen, Napoli must beat Chelsea to scrape a place in next month’s playoffs.
That will be no easy task with Chelsea, Antonio Conte’s former club, needing a win to stay in the top eight and bag direct qualification for the last 16. And Napoli come into the game still stinging from a 3-0 defeat at Juventus which left the Italian champions nine points behind the current Serie A leaders, Inter.
Sunday’s loss in Turin was a slap in the face for Napoli and Juve icon Conte, who was full of praise for his players who have had to dig deep in the face of a host of injuries. “For us [injuries are] something that we have to accept, it’s a difficult situation which is not easy to manage,” said Scott McTominay. “It’s difficult for the staff and the players to continue with that rhythm.
“But it’s part of the game, you have to accept it, you have to turn up as often as you can for the ones that are ready and prepared to play. Tomorrow night the absolute maximum of our level of performance is going to be required.”
Conte has lost the first-choice goalkeeper, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, to a hamstring injury while the winger David Neres flew to London for ankle surgery on Monday which will likely keep him out until April. Kevin De Bruyne has been out since October and won’t be back until the spring after surgery on his right hamstring, while another key midfielder in Frank Anguissa was supposed to be back on Sunday from another hamstring injury but was left out due to back problems.
“I challenge anyone to find me a team which has had all of these problems, because we’re still only halfway through the season,” Conte told reporters on Tuesday. “We started with the idea that the emergency would finish, the problem is that the emergency hasn’t finished, in fact it’s got worse.
“The boys are doing something incredible which is going unnoticed because of where we are in the league and results. I honestly believe that if we started the season a month ago saying that this was the squad for the season, you’d say: ‘You’re going nowhere’. But we’re still here, fighting and with our heads held high.” Reuters
3. Flick targets top-eight spot for Barça
Barcelona welcome Copenhagen, knowing a top-eight finish and direct ticket to the last 16 are on the line in their final group fixture. Hansi Flick’s side moved up to ninth on 13 points after last week’s dramatic comeback win at Slavia Prague, leaving them level with seven other sides battling for a top-eight finish, suggesting goal difference is likely to be a major factor in deciding the final placings.
Their Danish visitors, who are 26th and currently in the elimination zone on eight points, will hope to secure a playoff spot, being tied with four other teams targeting a top-24 finish. Barça’s task has grown in difficulty as they prepare to navigate the match without two key midfielders. Creative linchpin Pedri is sidelined with a muscle injury sustained against Slavia, which will keep him out for several weeks, while Frenkie de Jong is suspended.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Flick acknowledged the challenge of the crucial fixture, but expressed optimism about his squad’s depth and determination. “I hope the team is feeling good and confident,” said Flick. “We have to respect Copenhagen. The most important thing is that we do our job and play at our best. It won’t be an easy match. The goal is to finish in the top eight.
“We’re concentrating on our own game, on what we have to do. This is the Champions League and it’s about reaching our highest level. We’ll have a tough game, and we won’t make excuses. We’re eager and confident in our style of play.” Addressing Barcelona’s weakened midfield, he added: “We have a good team, also on the bench. We play as a team, and we’re eager to compete. It’s very important for us. That’s what I want to see.” Reuters
