Sports

EPL: Guardiola jokes about ‘wine reward’ from broadcasters for nine-goal match

Published

2 months ago

December 5, 2025

Pep Guardiola joked Friday that he and Fulham manager Marco Silva deserved a bottle of wine for serving up a nine-goal thriller, but admitted Manchester City must tighten up defensively.

City, second in the Premier League, led 5-1 at Craven Cottage on Tuesday but were left hanging on as the home team pushed for an equaliser.

City manager Guardiola described the match, which finished 5-4, as “one of the games of the season”.

“If I were at home and watching that game, I wouldn’t change the channel,” he said on the eve of his team’s clash against Sunderland.

“I’m pretty sure the broadcasters are happy with us. They have a consideration for Marco and me, giving me a bottle of wine for all of us. No, I’m not joking. Broadcasters must be happy.”

City, dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool last season, have conceded 16 goals in the league so far this season — nine more than leaders Arsenal.

Guardiola admitted his team had to improve at the back but but said at least they were not conceding many clear-cut chances.

“Of course I don’t like to concede two goals (in a 3-2 win against Leeds) and four goals (against Fulham) — six goals in two games –, but at the same time we are the team scoring the most, and we have to build from that,” he said.

“We have to fix these kinds of things. I believe we can do better, and we create chances and score goals and goals because we have built a team for that… but we have to be more solid. It belongs to everyone, not just the goalkeepers or defenders.”

Guardiola said Sunderland, sixth in the table in their first season back in the Premier League, would be tough opponents.

“They deserve to be where they are,” he said. “When you are promoted, and you play well for five games, OK, momentum. It can happen.

“But for 14 fixtures in the Premier League with opponents like everyone suffers to take results in that position, they deserve it.”

Guardiola said midfielder Rodri, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury, would not be fit to play against Sunderland.

“He’s getting better,” said the City boss. “I don’t know how long (until he’s back), but he will be ready.”

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Sports

Atletico push for Lookman as Fenerbahce near deal

Published

23 hours ago

January 31, 2026

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Atletico Madrid have intensified efforts to sign Ademola Lookman as the Turkish club Fenerbahce edge closer to completing a deal for the Nigeria forward, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Spanish side tried to sign the 28-year-old last summer but failed to reach an agreement with Atalanta.

Their primary midfield target, Leon Goretzka, announced on Friday that he would not leave Bayern Munich until the summer, forcing Sporting Director Mateu Alemany to pursue alternative options.

Atletico are now targeting Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi for midfield reinforcement, but Lookman remains their priority signing.

However, competition for the Nigeria international is fierce. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Fenerbahce’s deal is at the final stages, with the Turkish club offering a package worth €40m including variables.

According to Spanish publication Marca, Atletico acknowledge that Fenerbahce’s bid is currently higher than theirs, though they will do all they can to bring Lookman to Spain.

The player had expressed interest in a move to Spain during the summer.

Diario AS reports that Fenerbahce sporting director Devin Ozek is currently in Bergamo trying to finalise the deal.

Romano posted on Friday that while Atalanta and Fenerbahce have a verbal agreement on a €40m package, they are yet to agree on payment terms and conditions.

He added that Atletico Madrid have been calling in recent hours to ask about deal conditions.

Atletico could return for both Goretzka and Lookman in the summer, depending on what business Alemany completes before February 2.

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Sports

Bayern confirm Goretzka’s end-of-season exit

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

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FC Bayern Munich have confirmed that midfielder Leon Goretzka will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.

The confirmation was given by Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund, who said the 29-year-old will complete the season with the club before moving on as a free agent in the summer.

According to Fabrizio Romano’s post on Friday, Freund was quoted as saying, “Leon Goretzka will leave FC Bayern in the summer as a free agent, not now. Leon’s time at FC Bayern will be over in the summer. He will go another way after 8 successful years. We’ll fight together in the coming months to achieve big things.”

The statement rules out any immediate departure, with Bayern expecting Goretzka to remain part of the squad for the rest of the campaign.

Goretzka joined Bayern in 2018 from Schalke and has been a key member of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.

During his time in Munich, he won multiple Bundesliga titles, domestic cups, and the UEFA Champions League.

Despite increased competition for places in recent seasons, the Germany international has remained an experienced figure within the squad.

Bayern and Goretzka are now set to focus on their remaining objectives for the season before the midfielder begins a new chapter in his career this summer.

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Sports

West Ham sign Fulham winger Traore

Published

4 days ago

January 28, 2026

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West Ham announced on Wednesday that they had signed winger Adama Traore from Fulham for an undisclosed fee.

The 30-year-old will be reunited at the London Stadium with manager Nuno Espirito Santo, with whom he worked previously at Wolves.

The Premier League strugglers described the forward as “strong, quick and able to create and score goals”.

Traore, who has been a peripheral player for Fulham this season, came through Barcelona’s youth system before joining Aston Villa in 2015. He has also played for Middlesbrough and Wolves.

The winger, who has made 262 Premier League appearances, scoring 14 goals, said he wanted to help relegation-threatened West Ham to the “maximum”.

“I love the challenges,” he said. “I think, of course, we have to go game by game. And this is what we’re going to do, trying to do our best. I think everything comes from belief. And I believe we’re going to achieve what we’re looking for.”

Nuno is relishing the chance to link up again with Traore, who has won eight caps for Spain.

“Adama is someone who knows the Premier League very well, and his qualities, both as a player and a person, will help us between now and the end of the season,” he said.

“He will give us a different option in attacking areas. He is also motivated to fight for us and ready to bring energy, commitment and determination to our challenge.”

West Ham are third from bottom of the Premier League, five points from safety, but have won their past two matches, against Tottenham and Sunderland.

The club has been active in the January transfer window as they battle for survival, signing forwards Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos earlier this month.

The January window closes on Monday.

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