Sports
Look out, Arsenal: Man City’s titles have been built on a dominant midseason run
Pep Guardiola had a stern message for his players after Manchester City‘s comfortable 3-0 over West Ham on Saturday, but the way it was delivered should worry Arsenal rather than anyone sitting in the Etihad Stadium dressing room.
Repeatedly on Saturday, Guardiola said elements of the performance against West Ham were “not good” and that his team “must improve.” But as he was delivering the message, the City boss was happy to joke with one reporter about a Christmas jumper he didn’t like, and he laughed that his animated on-field debrief with defender Josko Gvardiol was about “the beaches in Croatia.”
Guardiola knows what it takes to win a title, and he couldn’t look more relaxed about the situation he’s in. It was mirrored on the pitch when the City’s players celebrated Erling Haaland‘s first goal by doing the robot to mimic Rayan Cherki‘s attempt after he scored against Brentford three days earlier.
After beating Crystal Palace, Brentford and West Ham in the space of seven days — all without conceding a goal — City are on a run of seven wins in a row in all competitions. The last time they managed that was at the end of the 2023-24 season when they claimed their fourth consecutive league title.
– Premier League overreactions: Are Villa title contenders?
– Transfer window preview: What do Europe’s big clubs need?
– Schoenfeld: Sunderland’s PL return has revived a club, and a city
Arsenal, two points clear of second-place City, will spend Christmas Day at the top of the table thanks to their hard-fought 1-0 win at Everton later on Saturday. But it won’t be lost on Mikel Arteta that they were also top on Dec. 25 in 2022 and 2023 and were twice chased down by City.
The concern for Arsenal and Arteta is that Guardiola — the master at winning championships after lifting 12 in three countries — is already seeing signs that this group has what it takes.
“We will be there [at the end of the season],” he said in the Etihad’s media theater Saturday. “If they follow me, we will be there, but we have to improve. I know the level in Europe, in the Premier League, I know Arsenal and the other teams and how tough they are, it is not enough.
“The spirit is there. Last season we did not have the spirit or aggression or hunger — all the attributes they need. It is not about the highlights and how good the actions are. There is something that comes from inside.”
Guardiola’s City don’t usually lose title races in which they’re involved. His team hasn’t won the league only three times since his 2016 arrival in Manchester, but each time it was because City were nowhere near the leaders. In 2016-17 — Guardiola’s first season — City finished 15 points behind champions Chelsea. In 2019-20, they were 18 points adrift of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and last season, they finished 13 points behind Arne Slot’s side.
In every other season — six in total — City’s relentlessness after Christmas with the title on the line has been impossible to match for every other contender. Across those six seasons in which City and Guardiola have been crowned champions (2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24), they’ve played a total of 95 league games between Feb. 1 and the end of the season. They’ve lost only eight, and at least a handful of those came in May when the title was already won.
1:19
Have Man City gained momentum in the title race?
Steve Nicol assesses Manchester City’s Premier League title prospects after they move top of the table with a win over West Ham.
In 2019 and 2022, City lost once in the run-in. In 2019 and 2024, they went through unbeaten. Two times (in 2018-19 and 2022-23) City were able to put together winning runs at the business end that stretched into double figures. In securing their last title success in 2023-24, Guardiola’s team dropped only six points between Feb. 1 and May 19.
It’s a frightening history of finding form at the right time. Arsenal, meanwhile, are trying to get over the line in a title race for the first time in more than 20 years.
If the question about Arteta’s players is whether they have the mental strength to last the course, the doubt about City is whether they’re still the same team that won the Premier League four times in a row between 2021 and 2024.
The experience and leadership of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündogan, Kyle Walker and Éderson is gone. Rodri, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic are struggling with injuries. In the past few weeks, Guardiola has talked about his team being one in “a little bit of transition.”
He said the Champions League trip to Real Madrid would be a learning experience for the likes of Nico O’Reilly, Nico González, Matheus Nunes, Jérémy Doku, Savinho and Cherki. Equally, the two-legged Carabao Cup semifinal against Newcastle in the new year has been identified as another chance to prove they can make the step from a good team to trophy winners.
For now, though, Guardiola is cutting a relaxed figure. Right in mix with more than half the season left to play is exactly where he wants to be. As much as there was a warning delivered to City’s players after their win over West Ham, the alarm bells will be ringing for Arsenal.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, scheduled from 30 May to 4 June in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
The national selection committee confirmed that the squad will be led by captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, with Salman Ali Agha serving as vice-captain.
Star batter Babar Azam and pacers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah have been recalled after missing the previous away series against Bangladesh. Mohammad Rizwan has been left out, with wicketkeeping options now including Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and uncapped Rohail Nazir.
Besides Nazir, the squad includes two more uncapped players, Ahmed Daniyal and Arafat Minhas. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub remain unavailable due to injuries and are undergoing rehabilitation under the PCB medical panel, according to the PCB.
The 16-member squad will assemble in Islamabad later tonight and will train under the coaching staff from Saturday, 23 May. The media advisory regarding the camp will be shared in due course.
Australia men’s team will arrive in Islamabad on 23 May. They will also take part in training sessions at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, details of which will be announced in due course.
The ODI series opener will be played on 30 May at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, followed by matches on 2 and 4 June at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Squad
Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Sufyan Moqim.
Team management:
Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Hanif Malik (batting coach), Shane McDermott (fielding coach), and support staff including medical, fitness, analysis, and security units.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
NASCAR driver Casey Mears reflected on the death of Kyle Busch on Friday, saying his impact on the sports of professional racing “immeasurable.”
Busch died at the age of 41, hours after it was announced he was going to forgo any racing activities at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend due to a “severe illness resulting in hospitalization.”
Mears appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends First” as he mourned Busch’s death.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Casey Mears, driver of the No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota, during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., on June 27, 2014. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
“I would say, really, it’s immeasurable. What he’s accomplished in the sport is done by nobody else. Kyle’s won so many races,” he said of Busch’s impact on the sport. “I mean, there was a stretch there for a handful of years where if Kyle didn’t win a Busch race, a Cup race or one of the truck races throughout the weekend, something was wrong because he was constantly winning races.
“I think that the end of the day he was just a tremendous competitor you absolutely knew he was going to leave 110% on the table at all times. Just one of the best that’s ever been in a racecar. The biggest thing is that he’d just become such an amazing dad, father, husband, brother. I’m just thinking about everybody in the family. Tom and Gaye, his mom, and brother, obviously Samantha and the kids. He was a true champion at home as a family man as well.”
NASCAR, the Busch family and Richard Childress Racing announced the death Thursday evening, but did not offer a cause of death.
“On behalf of the Busch family, everyone at Richard Childress Racing and all of NASCAR, we are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch,” the statement said. “Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.
Kyle Busch celebrates his win in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Victory Lane at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., on Sept. 5, 2014. (Steve Helber/AP)
KYLE BUSCH ON ‘HANG OUT WITH SEAN HANNITY’
“Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’
“Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha’s parents, Kurt and all of Kyle’s family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.
“During this incredibly difficult time, we ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy and continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Further updates will be shared as appropriate.”
Busch was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and had been on the series since 2004, He made 762 career starts with 63 wins. Busch won the championship in 2015 and 2019, and had 234 victories across all three NASCAR national series.
Kyle Busch celebrates his victory in the NASCAR Shelby 427 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on March 1, 2009. (Isaac Brekken/AP)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Busch is the all-time record-holder for wins in both the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (102) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (69). His most recent win came last weekend at Dover, when he led 147 laps in a dominating Truck Series victory.
Fox News’ Zach Dean contributed to this report.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won back-to-back Bundesliga titles. Photo:AFP
LONDON:
Bayern Munich face holders Stuttgart in the German Cup final on Saturday knowing defeat will sour what had been one of their most promising seasons in recent memory.
Just weeks ago, Bayern were flying high and hopeful of a treble after beating Real Madrid for the first time in over a decade, in the Champions League quarter-finals.
But despite challenging defending champions Paris Saint-Germain over two semi-final legs in a breathless display, Bayern finished a goal behind in the tie on aggregate and were eliminated.
Bayern have beaten Stuttgart three times already this season by a collective 11 goals to three. However a defeat on Saturday will sting a club with their ambitions — and their resources.
With just three defeats in all competitions, Bayern have been incredible this season.
Finishing the Bundesliga 16 points ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, Bayern scored 122 goals in 34 matches to shatter the previous single season goalscoring record of 101, becoming the first side in league history to average over three goals a game.
But the Bavarian giants’ financial muscle has meant the league title has become par for the course in recent years, with 13 wins in the past 14 seasons.
A victory on Saturday would not just crown an excellent season, it would break what is becoming a surprisingly long drought in the competition.
The Bavarians have won the German Cup a record 20 times — 14 more than the next best side, Werder Bremen — but they have not lifted the trophy for six years dating back to 2020, the biggest gap between cup wins this century.
Bayern twice crashed out to lower league opposition in that run and only made it to the quarter-final stage once.
– ‘Painful’ –
In 2021-22, Bayern lost 5-0 to Borussia Moenchengladbach in the second round — their biggest defeat in any competition since the mid-1970s.
“We really want to win that again because it’s painful for us that we haven’t won the cup for six years,” Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said on Sunday.
Harry Kane finally broke through for a first team trophy when Bayern won the Bundesliga last season but admitted failing to win Saturday’s showpiece would put a different spin on the campaign.
“If we don’t win, it will leave a bitter taste in our mouths,” Kane said of the clash with Stuttgart at Bayern’s Bundesliga title celebrations in Munich on Sunday.
By lifting the cup on Saturday, Bayern would win the double for a remarkable 14th time. No other team in German history has done so more than once.
A Bayern-Stuttgart clash opened the season in the newly renamed Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, which features the league and cup holders.
That the domestic season should close with the same two teams duking it out shows how far Stuttgart have come under coach Sebastian Hoeness.
The coach, a nephew of Bayern powerbroker Uli, took over with Stuttgart in relegation danger in 2023 but guided them to two Champions League qualifications and their first silverware in 28 yeras.
Stuttgart may be the defending champions but striker Deniz Undav said the pressure is all on the Bavarian giants, with his side happy to play the role of spoilers.
“It’s a bonus game. We’ve got nothing to lose — we’re the complete underdog,” the Germany striker said, adding “there’s one clear favourite and that’s Bayern”.
Finland’s Amer Sports raises 2026 guidance after strong Q1 growth
Future King’s visit to Isles of Scilly leaves locals inspired
Why Matt Damon and Tom Holland got jealous of Zendaya during ‘The Odyssey’
-
Entertainment6 days agoWhere Pete Davidson, Elsie Hewitt stand after breakup: Details revealed
-
Entertainment1 week agoEmilia Clarke recalls near-death incident while filming ‘Game of Thrones’
-
Business1 week agoJersey Election 2026: Cost of living concern in St Helier Central
-
Politics6 days agoRising diesel costs from Iran war strain US school budgets
-
Tech1 week agoGreg Brockman Officially Takes Control of OpenAI’s Products in Latest Shakeup
-
Entertainment1 week agoDrake drops highly anticipated "Iceman" album, plus two surprise albums
-
Politics1 week agoUK’s Starmer faces survival battle as potential rivals circle
-
Politics1 week agoTrump says China will order 200 Boeing jets