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Pep Guardiola’s Greatest Man City 11 Includes Haaland Over Aguero

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The era of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City has come to an end after ten seasons, with 20 trophies to show for his performance.

The Catalan boss won six Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, three FA Cups, five League Cups, three Community Shields, a UEFA Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup, cementing himself as the greatest manager in the club’s history.

Following the announcement of his departure, the club announced they would be naming the new North Stand in his honour, while a statue has also been comissioned to celebrate his achievements in the blue half of Manchester. But it also sparked a big debate: what is his greatest ever XI during his time at the Etihad Stadium?

GIVEMESPORT has taken a look at the options and settled upon this lineup as the only possible answer to what will forever be a controversial question.

Goalkeeper

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson

While Guardiola was at the club for ten years, there is one player who was there for almost the entirety of that spell, and that is goalkeeper Ederson.

The Brazilian spent eight seasons with the club, joining the year after Guardiola and leaving last summer, following an incredible 372 appearances for the club. He won every trophy available to him during his time at the Etihad Stadium, keeping an unbelievable 164 clean sheets in the process, including a club-record 122 clean sheets in the Premier League.

While Gianluigi Donnarumma has had a great maiden campaign, there was no other option than Ederson for this position.

Defenders

Manchester-City-Vincent-Kompany
Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany

Another position that almost picks itself in this team for Guardiola is at right-back, where Kyle Walker became one of the best in the world during his time under the Catalan coach.

His unbelievable pace and technical quality made him one of the first names on the team sheet, and despite some competition, there was no other logical choice. At left-back, however, it’s a much more difficult decision.

The position has regularly been a problem area for Pep during his time in England, with the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, Gael Clichy, Fabian Delph, and most recently, Nico O’Reilly all having success. But one name was better than the rest in that role, despite it not being his natural position, and that was Joao Cancelo.

The Portugal international was a creative force from the back and made the inverted full-back role his own, and deserves his place in this side.

At centre-back, there were some difficult decisions to be made, also. Vincent Kompany, the legendary City skipper has to go in based on everything he achieved with the club, and the likes of Aymeric Laporte and Manuel Akanji also had a fair shout. But it ultimately came down to Ruben Dias and John Stones, with the England international getting he nod as he also prepares to depart the club.

Midfielders

Kevin De Bruyne in action for Manchester City

The midfield is both the most difficult and easiest area of the pitch to select.

Guardiola has had an abundance of quality in his squad over the years, with the likes of Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, and Phil Foden all playing key roles in separate title wins for Guardiola. He even had Yaya Toure available to him at one point, although the pair never really saw eye to eye.

But it’s incredibly difficult to argue that the 55-year-old’s midfield three of choice would be anything other than Rodri sitting behind David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. The Spaniard won the Ballon d’Or he was so good during the treble season, while Silva is considered by many to be the club’s greatest ever player.

Then you have the creative force that is De Bruyne, who registered 177 assists and scored 108 goals in 422 appearances for the club. That simply cannot be ignored.

Forwards

Sterling, Aguero, De Bruyne - Premier League - Manchester City vs Leicester City

In attack, there has to be room for former England winger Raheem Sterling on the left-hand side. The electric forward managed 120 goals and 77 assists under Guardiola in 292 games, and was key to the club winning trophies consistently for years before his move to Chelsea.

The opposite wing is a bit more difficult. Leroy Sane, Jeremy Doku, and Riyad Mahrez all have a fair shout at a claim for the right wing, with each player having had phenomenal careers at the Etihad Stadium. But it’s impossible to have a team of Guardiola’s best players without including Bernardo Silva, and the Portugal star takes it ahead of his ex-colleagues.

Up front, there are only two options – Erling Haaland or Sergio Aguero. The Argentine was absolutely lethal during his time in the Premier League, but there was always something about him with Pep that never felt completely natural. Enter the Norwegian, and the team went up a whole new level.

Haaland has scored 162 goals in 198 games for the club, more than anyone else during Guardiola’s time at City, and has earned his spot as the number nine.

Pep All Time Man City XI


Pep Guardiola


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My Football Idol was Man United Cult Hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko has exclusively revealed to GIVEMESPORT who his footballing idol was, and it’s a face familiar to fans at Old Trafford.

Sesko has just completed the first season of his career at the Red Devils following a £74m move from RB Leipzig last summer, where he finished the season as the club’s joint top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions, including strikes against Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, and Everton.

The 22-year-old has excited fans at the club with his high intensity and highly athletic style, and is tipped by many to become the long-term solution to the number nine position in years to come.

sesko

While speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Slovenia international was asked about his greatest influences and footballing idols growing up, and he revealed that his main influence is a man who lit up Old Trafford during his career.

“My idol is Ibrahimovic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” he said. “Great player, of course. He was amazing. I looked at him a lot, but not just him.

“Just in general football, skills, goals, it was just something that I used to try to go out and copy. It could be in the summer when it’s really hot, I just wanted to get better.”

Ibrahimovic joined Man Utd on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain back in the summer of 2016, and scored a brilliant 28 goals in 46 appearances in his debut season, helping the club win the Carabao Cup and the Europa League under Jose Mourinho.

But he suffered a serious knee injury towards the end of that campaign, and while he returned to feature seven times the next campaign, the Sweden legend then departed mid-season to move to the MLS with LA Galaxy.

Sesko Reveals ‘Love’ for Cunha, Fernandes, and Mbeumo

Manchester United's Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko react after the match

During his exclusive interview with GMS, Sesko was also asked about his relationship with his current teammates, having joined alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha last summer.

All three players notched double digits for goals in their first season at the club, and Sesko believes the relationship they have off the pitch has contributed to their success on it.

“I think everyone has different kinds of skills that they can bring on the pitch, which is really important,” he said.

“We don’t have everyone with similarities, and it’s important in the club that they have all these skills. I think we’re all really skilled, and the quality that we brought this season, I think we can be more than happy.

“Not just that, I think we also work great as friends. It’s important to have good relationships that can bring success in the end.”


Benjamin Sesko with his Man United team-mates


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Rangers Want to Sign ‘Incredible’ Casper Widell Alongside Luke Graham

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Rangers have already made a strong start to their summer transfer window with the arrival of Lawrence Shankland, but they are already looking at the next deals they want to complete.

The Ibrox club have completed a move to sign Shankland on a free transfer from Hearts, with the striker penning a three-year deal at the Glasgow club and taking the number seven shirt ahead of his participation at the World Cup.

Now Danny Rohl is looking to add more options to his defence during the upcoming window, with a number of central defenders leaving and needing to be replaced.

Rangers Eyeing Casper Widell Deal

Rangers manager Danny Rohl looks on

According to a report by Rangers Review journalist Chris Jack, Rangers are eyeing up a move to sign Excelsior defender Casper Widell this summer.

Widell, who stands at 6ft 3 and has been described as ‘incredible’, enjoyed a strong season in the Eredivisie making 34 apperances as the team finished 13th in the Dutch top-flight.

The 23-year-old’s performances have attracted the attention of English Championship sides Derby County and Blackburn Rovers, but Rangers are also understood to be showing an interest in his services as they look to bolster their defensive options.

Derek Cornelius and Nasser Djiga have both returned to their respective parent clubs following their loan spells this season, leaving Rohl with just Emmanuel Fernandez and John Souttar as senior centre-back options

But even Fernandez has been heavily linked with an exit away amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, and that means that new defenders are a priority for Rohl.

Rangers Have a Huge Summer Ahead

Danny Rohl

After throwing away their chance at the Scottish Premiership title this season, Danny Rohl knows that this summer is of the utmost importance for him and Rangers.

The club have already addressed the issue of a lack of goals in their squad by adding long-term target Shankland, but defence is a big problem for them now after so many absences.

Widell may be a bit of an unknown, but he has experience playing at a high level, is only 23 meaning there is plenty of room for improvement, and physically looks more than capable of being able to cope. For the right fee, it could be a shrewd bit of business, and would help to fill a glaring hole in their squad.


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Liverpool In Talks to Sell Curtis Jones to Inter Milan

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Liverpool are in talks to let another first-team star leave Anfield this summer after it was confirmed that Ibrahima Konate would be on the move, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Reds confirmed during the season that both Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson would leave in the summer transfer window, and it was revealed earlier this week that France international Konate would follow them after failing to agree a new contract.

Manager Arne Slot was also sacked on Saturday in a surprise move, with GMS sources understanding that Andoni Iraola is the frontrunner to replace him. But there could yet be even more exits to come on Merseyside.

Liverpool In Talks to Sell Curtis Jones

Curtis Jones

According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool remain in talks with Inter Milan over a deal that could see Curtis Jones leave permanently.

The midfielder, who has been described as ‘incredible’, has emerged as a top target for the Serie A champions, after showing an initial interest in January, although a deal never materialised.

Inter were hoping to pay around €20m (£17.3m) for the 25-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, and it’s understood that Jones would be willing to make the switch to the San Siro.

An agreement is not believed to be close, with Liverpool valuing him higher, but an exit has not been ruled out as the club look to raise funds ahead of a big summer window, following their record-breaking spend last year.

Jones Exit Would Be Final Nail

curtis jones

There’s some big exits planned at Anfield, but losing another academy talent for a minimal fee a year after losing Trent Alexander-Arnold for nothing would be a nightmare decision.

Jones has showed his quality over recent years, and there’s no doubting that he absolutely loves Liverpool having come through their academy as a child and supported them all his life.

That type of connection is what has been missing at Anfield for a long time, and letting him leave would just further desecrate the feeling around the club. He deserves to be given a chance and a new contract, not sold to the highest bidder.


Liverpool manager Arne Slot


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