A goal from Gabriel Jesus was enough to beat a lackluster Chelsea side in Saturday’s early Premier League kick-off, giving Pep Guardiola a measure of revenge on Thomas Tuchel for defeat in last season’s Champions League Final.
All eyes were on Guardiola and City after a run of three successive defeats to Tuchel’s Chelsea but it was the Spaniard who earned the bragging rights after his side suffocated the Blues, denying Romelu Lukaku and co. even a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
It was an unusually inert performance from Chelsea, who have been so impressive in the opening games of the season. With the team shorn of the creative influence of the injured Mason Mount, Tuchel and Chelsea were made to pay for their conservative approach.
Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus proved to be the difference maker when his 53rd-minute shot deflected off Jorginho and glided past a wrong-footed Edouard Mendy into the Chelsea goal.
Tuchel’s Chelsea have become known for their backbone throughout his reign but the German was unable to galvanize his side into a response – and it was City who looked the more likely of the two teams to score, with Mendy showcasing a series of impressive saves to keep the rampant Mancunians at bay.
Jesus could have had a second, too, but for Thiago Silva’s agile goal-line clearance while $139 million summer signing Jack Grealish was also denied on two occasions by the Senegal shot-stopper.
Debate in the press all week had suggested that Saturday’s game was among the most crucial of Guardiola’s spell in charge. Another setback against Chelsea, which would have made it four defeats on the trot in the fixture, would have plainly suggested that the Premier League champions had ceded invaluable ground to their London rivals.
1 – Man City have conceded just one goal in their six Premier League games this season – the fewest they’ve shipped at this stage of a league season in their history. Statement. pic.twitter.com/jTw7acbE9Y
Now, ahead of crucial games with Paris Saint-German in the Champions League and a Premier League trip to Anfield next weekend, it is Guardiola and his City charges who will start next week with a pep in their step.
“Today we played for each other, ran for each other and passed the ball for each other,” said a content Guardiola after the final whistle. “Now I’m watching the Ryder Cup and I’m seeing how they play for each other. That is nice when you play football too. It’s just three points of course, but the way we played was so good.
“Sometimes we believe we need a proper striker to finish, but the important thing is the way we play. The most important thing is doing it as a team and as a unit.
Guardiola on whether playing a defensive midfielder vs Chelsea was the reason Man City won (a nod to criticism about the UCL final): “When we win, the manager is a genius, when we lose, the manager is a loser. I understand everything.” #CFC#CHEMCI
Brilliant performance by @ManCity ⭕⭕⭕ our demise was greatly exaggerated by the clowns in the media all we heard was city can't score, City doesn't have a striker, we can't defend, they said we can't replicate what we did last season. I wonder what will they say now?
“It’s like last season. Sergio [Aguero] was injured all year and we won the Premier League. It’s a good way to start this fascinating week that we have ahead of us.”
As for Tuchel, he admitted that his side were second best throughout the game.
“We lost the game and City deserved to win. Until the goal, we were very strong in the last 20 metres of the field – but only there, unfortunately. Everywhere else, we were not good enough to relieve pressure and to hurt them,” said the German.
Pep Guardiola got the best of Tuchel tactically this time and that’s all there is to it. We can’t throw a fit at every game we lose, this is just a blip and I’m sure we’ll be back running again.
Got exactly what we deserved today. Bit of a shocker, that performance, City were excellent too but they wanted it more. Tuchel got it wrong but some poor displays there, might be time to try Chilwell again, Alonso had a shocker.
“The performance was not complex enough. Overall, simply, we were not at our best level. After the goal it felt a little bit like the belief in winning was bigger than the fear of losing. I don’t know why. We tried to push and get the crowd behind us. It was a very emotional game but never on our highest level.
“We conceded a goal from a set play. Even if we wanted to go for long balls for Romelu [Lukaku], it was not precise enough. I didn’t really feel the belief that we could escape the short balls. It was doubtful and it felt like we had something to lose. We lacked a little bit of freshness also.”
Reacting online, several fans were more than impressed by Guardiola’s tactical masterclass.
“Brilliant performance by Man City,” said one fan. “Our demise was greatly exaggerated by the clowns in the media. All we heard was city can’t score, City don’t have a striker, we can’t defend.
“They said we can’t replicate what we did last season. I wonder what will they say now.“
“Pep Guardiola got the best of Tuchel tactically this time and that’s all there is to it. We can’t throw a fit at every game we lose; this is just a blip and I’m sure we’ll be back running again,” wrote one Chelsea fan.
“Got exactly what we deserved today. Bit of a shocker, that performance, City were excellent too but they wanted it more. Tuchel got it wrong but there were some poor displays there. It might be time to try [full-back Ben] Chilwell again, and [defender Marcos] Alonso had a shocker,” said a third.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future at Old Trafford has again been called into question, with #OleOut trending on Twitter in the wake of Manchester United’s surprise 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday.
A late Kortney Hause header was enough for the Villans to secure a shock three points and their first win at United in 12 years – and the manner of the defeat has raised further questions about Solskjaer’s long-term future at the club.
Solksjaer included two of his big money recruits and left Jadon Sancho on the bench, but neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Raphael Varane could help their new side avoid defeat – especially after Bruno Fernandes skied a 93rd-minute penalty into Row Z of the Stretford End in injury time as United surrendered their unbeaten start to their Premier League campaign.
In truth, it could have been worse. Matt Targett and Ollie Watkins both missed gilt-edged opportunities, while Ezri Konsa nodded a header over the bar and Watkins again forced an impressive stop from David de Gea in the second half.
This fraud shouldn't be Manutd manager by tomorrow.
Fernandes’ woeful late penalty was a fitting end for Solksjaer’s men, who created 28 shooting opportunities in the game – wasting every single one of them.
It was also the first time Ronaldo has failed to score after rejoining the club from Juventus in August.
The result caps a miserable few days on the red half of Manchester, coming after they were eliminated from the EFL Cup on Wednesday by West Ham.
United also failed to find the net at home on that occasion as part of a run of three defeats from their past four games, including a 2-1 loss to unheralded Young Boys in the Champions League.
Manchester United with players like Ronaldo, Pogba, Varane, Cavani just lost to Aston Villa at Old Trafford for the first time since 2009. Progress?#OleOutpic.twitter.com/Q9etoTSICG
This latest example of United’s patchy form has again commanded a chorus of #OleOut hashtags on social media as the pressure rises on the under-fire Norwegian boss.
“Thank you for 1999, you’re still a legend – but you have to go,” wrote one critic on social media.
“Manchester United, with players like Ronaldo, [Paul] Pogba, Varane, [Edinson] Cavani, just lost to Aston Villa at Old Trafford for the first time since 2009. Progress?” added another.
“Great player, sh*t manager,” wrote a third. “Sack Ole. Save the season.”
A tennis star has admitted he does not know when he will return to the sport and fears he may have to bring forward his retirement because of health problems he says he has suffered since taking the Pfizer Covid vaccine.
World number 73 Jeremy Chardy has become the latest tennis star to speak out against vaccines after experiencing what he describes as violent, near-paralyzing pains across his body since taking the jab, warning that there is “no hindsight” once people have received the treatment.
The 34-year-old says he his priority is to “take care of myself” after seing two doctors and taking tests in a bid to deduce why he has found physical exertion so difficult since being vaccinated.
“Suddenly I cannot train, I cannot play,” the 2017 Davis Cup winner told AFP, explaining that he received the jab between this summer’s Olympics, when he was beaten by gold medalist Alex Zverev in the quarterfinals, and the US Open, when he lost in straight sets in the first round to Matteo Berrettini at the end of August.
Jeremy Chardy says he suffered a severe reaction after getting his Covid-19 vaccine: “I cannot practice, I cannot play. I started feeling a big pain on my entire body. I regret getting vaccinated” (Via RMC Sport)
“I went to see two doctors, I did some tests, so I know what I have and the most important thing is to take care of myself. I prefer to take more time to heal myself and be sure that in the future I won't have a problem, rather than trying…..
“In my head, it’s difficult because I do not know how long it will last. For the moment, my season is stopped and I do not know when I will resume.
“It’s frustrating because I started the year really well, I was playing really well. And then I went to the Games, where I felt great too.
“And now my season is at a standstill and I do not know when I will resume. It is especially frustrating that I do not have ten years to play… suddenly, now I regret having had the vaccine, but I could not know [what the consequences would be].”
Covid vaccination requirements have been a contentious topic across sports, with some athletes and coaches enthusiastically extolling treatments while others have voiced their reservations and even been released by clubs as a result of their reluctance to be jabbed.
The issue has been notable among tennis players, including pleas by arguably the current headline act of the sport – Novak Djokovic – for vaccines not to be made compulsory.
While high-profile figures such as Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have encouraged the public to become vaccinated, Stefano Tsitsipas became embroiled in controversy when he appeared to suggest that the spread of the virus could be a positive development, leading to the government in his homeland of Greece seemingly distancing itself from the contender despite the fact that he had acted as a figurehead for their vaccination campaign.
Tsitsipas has since said that he is willing to be vaccinated this year, having previously stated that he would only do so if it was made mandatory.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash has claimed that Covid vaccines are experimental and been outspoken in voicing his opposition to players being forced to take them – a standpoint Chardy evidently agrees with.
“I even prefer to take more time to take care of myself and be sure that, in the future, I will not have any problem, rather than trying to get back on the court as quickly as possible and finding myself still having health problems,” he said, describing a “series of struggles” he has faced.
“I’m 35 in February, so right now I might be a little bit negative – but it’s the first time that I have thought that next season might be my last… it’s difficult because I was having fun and I wanted to play longer.
“The problem is that we have no hindsight on the vaccine. There are people who have had similar [experiences], but the durations [of their issues] have been really different.”
According to World Health Organization (WHO) guidance updated in September, the group “thoroughly assessed the quality, safety, and efficacy of the vaccine” before recommending it for people over the age of 16 at the end of 2020.
The WHO says that the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, a group of experts providing independent and authoritative guidance on safe vaccine use, receives and assesses reports of suspected safety issues that are “of potentially international impact.”
The vaccine is said to have a 95% efficacy against symptomatic contraction of the virus.
The motorsports world is in mourning after the loss of 15-year-old Dean Berta Vinales, who has died after suffering ‘severe head and thoracic injuries’ in a crash at the Supersport 300 race in Jerez, Spain.
The youngster, who was the cousin of MotoGP star Maverick Vinales, died after being involved in a five-rider crash during the World Supersport 300 World Championship feeder series race.
The severity of Vinales’ injuries was made apparent after race organizers immediately flew a red flag before making the call to cancel the rest of the day’s racing. Initial reports state that the other riders involved in the accident are unharmed.
In a statement confirming their worst fears shortly afterwards, World Superbike announced: “Following a serious incident during Race 1 of the Motul Spanish Round of the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, it is with great sadness that we report the passing of rider Dean Berta Vinales.”
We’re deeply saddened to report the loss of Dean Berta Viñales.
The #WorldSBK family sends love to his family, loved ones, and his team. Your personality, enthusiasm, and commitment will be hugely missed.
The update also confirmed that Vinales had been treated for severe injuries to his head and thorax and had been transported to a Seville hospital by emergency airlift.
Vinales had been competing in his maiden WorldSSP300 season as part of his family-run Vinales Racing Team, founded by his uncle – Maverick Linares’ father – to help promote young Spanish racing talent.
The teenager had shown significant promise in his rookie campaign, finishing fourth in a race at the Magny-Cours event in August before qualifying in 10th on the grid for this weekend’s WorldSSP300 races.
Oh not again. Such tragic news about Dean Berta Viñales. But how many times does this need to happen?
Following a serious incident in Jerez this morning, FIM Supersport 300 World Championship rider Dean Berta Viñales, cousin of MotoGP rider Maverick, has sadly passed away.
The thoughts of everyone at BT Sport are with Berta's friends, family and team-mates. pic.twitter.com/qQEEu37xTc
Confirming the news on social media, the team said it was “devastated” by the loss.
“It’s with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Dean Berta Vinales,” they wrote. “We’re devastated and, at this time, all of our thoughts are with Dean’s family. You’ll be sorely missed and never forgotten, Dean.”
Linares’ passing comes just months after 14-year-old Hugo Millan was killed after crashing during a race in Spain. In May, Swiss MotoGP rider Jason Dupasquier, who was 19, died after a crash involving two fellow riders during a qualifying session in Italy.
“We’re deeply saddened to report the loss of Dean Berta Viñales,” the official World Superbike Twitter account said.
“The World Superbike family sends love to his family, loved ones and his team. Your personality, enthusiasm, and commitment will be hugely missed. The whole motorcycle racing world will miss you, Dean. Ride in Peace.”
“Oh, not again. Such tragic news about Dean Berta Viñales. But how many times does this need to happen?” added a racing fan on social media.
“2006-2021,” wrote broadcaster BT Sport. “Following a serious incident in Jerez this morning, FIM Supersport 300 World Championship rider Dean Berta Vinales, cousin of MotoGP rider Maverick, has sadly passed away.”
The Vice-Chairman of Premier League side West Ham has told footballers to ignore “conspiracy theories” and accept a Covid vaccine – and taken aim at Qatar over the 2022 World Cup.
Outspoken Karren Brady is known as a female pioneer in English football who is unafraid to make her views abundantly clear – and now the reality TV businesswoman has blasted footballers for not coming forward more readily to endorse vaccination campaigns.
The influential 52-year-old baroness has expressed her misgivings with people who ignore the advice of Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the UK’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, and England manager Gareth Southgate to take a jab, accusing their critics of preferring to listen to “cranks on social media”.
“It’s bizarre that men are frightened to face a couple of needles when they are prepared to face the flailing boots of defenders,” Brady wrote in her column in newspaper The Sun, reacting to reports that the Premier League has the highest proportion of players reluctant to receive a vaccine, with up to 40% of stars rumored to have refrained from treatment.
“Some players are reluctant to have it — believing that even if they get the virus, they are unlikely to be badly affected.
“Some are worried about the imagined detrimental long-term effects and a host of other conspiracy theories that are too ludicrous to repeat.
“All of the professional advice points otherwise. And while the Covid virus is known as a consistent killer of the elderly and weak, it is also a nasty threat to young people — footballers among them.”
Brady pointed to Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who became seriously ill with Covid and has since urged people to become vaccinated, as an example of the risks involved in avoiding being jabbed.
Reports this week have suggested that the organizers of the World Cup could bar players from taking part if they are not fully vaccinated, and Brady evidently backs that idea.
“I might be wrong but I suspect the FA will resolve to rule that all our World Cup squad will have to follow the example of players such as Raheem Sterling, who has announced publicly that he has been jabbed,” she claimed, adding that becoming vaccinated should be a matter of choice.
“Good for him. I just hope that others now follow suit and set an example.”
The life peer of the UK’s ruling Conservative party also issued a scathing appraisal of the decision to award the tournament to Qatar.
“Qatar practically bought the 2022 World Cup,” she alleged. “Most of the FIFA committee who voted for it have been charged in America with corruption or are, I suspect, currently thriving in mansions by the sea.
“Not only that: next season’s European and domestic calendar has been distorted by the World Cup.
“The tournament will now be held from November 21 to December 18 after it was discovered that the desert would be boiling hot in the summer. Really, you couldn’t invent it.”
