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Yorkshire’s attempts to secure the return of international cricket this summer have suffered a setback after the club was forced to delay a proposed Emergency General Meeting (EGM), which had been expected to confirm governance changes in the wake of the Azeem Rafiq racism scandal.The EGM had been due to take place on Wednesday evening, but was cancelled after Yorkshire admitted it “had not been properly called under club rules”. The news was followed by claims from former chairman Robin Smith that the process to appoint Lord Kamlesh Patel to lead the board last year was “invalid”.Patel has been the driving force behind Yorkshire’s response to being stripped of the right to host international matches by the ECB, following their mishandling of a report into Rafiq’s claims of institutional racism. Patel was brought in as chair in November, shortly after the incumbent, Roger Hutton, resigned.He said last month the club had made “significant progress” but warned that they could not remain “financially viable” without the restoration of major match status, with Headingley otherwise set to lose out on hosting a Test on New Zealand’s tour and an ODI featuring South Africa.Related

• Lord Patel: Black Lives Matter opponents are behind Yorkshire reform delays

• Yorkshire settle employment tribunal with Rafiq as Patel takes helm

• Rafiq: 'Time is right' for Yorkshire to get international cricket back

• English cricket must 'clean up its act' on racism – DCMS report

• Graves told by MP: 'Put up or shut up', amid row over influence

However, the reported on Thursday that Yorkshire’s failure to register a rule change, which had been voted on at last year’s Annual General Meeting, with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), meant that Patel’s authority had been called into question.Smith, who had two spells as Yorkshire chairman between 2002-05 and 2018-20, raised the issue with Yorkshire, who belatedly contacted the FCA this week. Until that point, the club should not have been able to appoint “a non-member or a member with less than two years’ membership like Patel,” according to Smith.Smith had previously written to Yorkshire claiming that Patel could not table proposals without being formally elected by members.”Lord Kamlesh Patel was appointed by the rump of the old board,” Smith told the . “He had not been a member for two years and therefore his appointment is invalid.”As he was not validly appointed, he could be personally liable for the decisions he has made. Why should the club or its members pay for decisions taken by someone who shouldn’t even be in office?”Among Patel’s first actions taken as chair was settling an employment tribunal with Rafiq, and overseeing the removal of Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s long-serving director of cricket, and Andrew Gale, the head coach, as part of a cull of 16 staff members.Yorkshire had been hoping to push through changes to the structure of their board, which reportedly included the ECB being given a seat on the club’s nominations committee, this week – with the outcome expected to influence the possible return of international cricket to Headingley.Martin Darlow, the ECB’s deputy chair, said during an appearance before the Department of Culture, Media and Sport select committee last week that the governing body “will be making a decision and considering their options” following the EGM. Rafiq himself said last month that the “time is right” for Yorkshire to regain its hosting rights.Yorkshire released a statement saying that it had cancelled the EGM after taking “specialist legal advice”, suggesting that the failure to notify the FCA of changes to its rules was “a legacy issue” attributable to the previous leadership. The club also said that it hoped to rearrange the EGM before the end of the month.”The decision to cancel the EGM scheduled for February 2 was based on specialist legal advice, after it had come to the club’s attention in recent days that the meeting had not been properly called under club rules,” the statement said.”Specifically, this was a legacy issue as the previous leadership of the club had failed to ensure registration of the amended club rules with the financial conduct authority. The relevant amendments to the club rules had been approved overwhelmingly by members at the March 2020 and March 2021 annual general meetings.”Owing to this failure to register the changes, the club now understands that the notice of the 2021 meeting and this EGM should properly have been given to members by post only, rather than by post and electronic means including the YCCC website (as members had approved by passing the resolution at the 2020 meeting).”Accordingly the notices of the meetings at the time they were called – before the registration of the changes with the FCA – were invalid until the FCA registration was completed.”Following discovery of this oversight, YCCC has now rectified the position: the rule changes in 2020 and 2021 have been filed with the FCA as required, and they are available for public inspection.”

Ipswich Town chiefs have been left unhappy with summer signing Kalvin Phillips, according to a new report.

Ipswich Town still searching for first Premier League win after busy summer

The Tractor Boys and Kieran McKenna are still searching for their first Premier League victory of the 2024/25 season, with Saturday’s defeat to Everton making it eight without a win in the top flight.

Ipswich have drawn four of those eight games and remain outside the relegation zone, but goals from Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane were enough for the Toffees to hand McKenna’s side a second home Premier League defeat.

Talking after the game, McKenna said: “It ended up being a poor day for us. The first half was pretty even but at the moment the moments are going against us. It was an error from us for the first goal and the over-rule for penalty is a very surprising one considering everything I’ve been told about clear and obvious – that makes it 1-1 and shortly after we didn’t defend a corner well enough in the second phase.

“We knew it would be a challenging season and the step up into the Premier League was always going to be a big challenge. In eight games we’ve got a result in four of them. We know where we need to improve and it’s up to us to turn those margins in our favour. The last two games have got away from us.”

One player to start at Portman Road was Phillips, who has now made five league starts since joining on loan from Manchester City in what was a busy summer window for the newly promoted side.

Ipswich Town’s summer signings 2024
Player	Fee (Transfermarkt)
Omari Hutchinson	€23.5m
Jacob Greaves	€21.5m
Liam Delap	€17.85m
Jack Clarke	€17.7m
Dara O’Shea	€14.2m
Sammie Szmodics	€10.6m
Arijanet Muric	€9.55m
Chiedoze Ogbene	€9.5m
Conor Townsend	€590k
Jens Cajuste	Loan
Kalvin Phillips	Loan
Ben Johnson	Free

The 28-year-old only managed 71 minutes on the weekend and has only played 90 minutes once for his new side, and it looks as if those behind the scenes aren’t too impressed with the £150,000-a-week star.

Ipswich Town chiefs not happy with Kalvin Phillips

As shared by Football Insider, Ipswich Town chiefs are not happy with Phillips and specifically, the condition he is in.

The report adds that Ipswich are “amazed” at Phillips’ lack of mobility and running power, whereas ‘insiders say his condition is nowhere near the level of a top Premier League footballer’.

Phillips is comfortably Ipswich’s highest-paid player in 2024/25 but has been the club’s 12th-best performer in the Premier League so far, as per WhoScored, averaging a match rating of 6.36/10.

Ipswich Town may sell Liam Delap to rivals for record £30m+ fee in January

Not the news Tractor Boys supporters will want to hear.

By
Charlie Smith

Oct 22, 2024

Those at Portman Road don’t seem too happy with what they’re seeing at this moment in time, and it’ll be interesting to see if Phillips continues in McKenna’s starting XI over the coming months.

نجح لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ساوثهامبتون، ويل سمولبون، في تسجيل الهدف الأول لفريقه في شباك ليفربول، خلال اللقاء الذي يجمعهما بمنافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويواجه ليفربول نظيره ساوثهامبتون، في منافسات الجولة الـ28 من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، على ملعب “أنفيلد”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي بعد هزيمة مانشستر سيتي أمام نوتينجهام فورست

وأحرز لاعب ساوثهامبتون، ويل سمولبون، الهدف الأول لفريقه في اللقاء عند الدقيقة 45 من عمر الشوط الأول.

هدف الضيوف جاء من خطأ فادح من أليسون ودفاعات ليفربول واستغله سمولبون ووضع الكرة في الشباك الخالية معلناً تقدم ساوثهامبتون في نتيجة المباراة.

ويقدم بطولات تغطية مباشرة لأحداث مباراة ليفربول وساوثهامبتون في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز من خلال الرابط. هدف ساوثهامبتون في مرمي ليفربول

 

England lost Jason Roy to injury, and ended up falling short by just 10 runs

Valkerie Baynes06-Nov-20213:58

Moody: SA must be feeling robbed

An unbroken century stand between Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram handed England their first defeat of the T20 World Cup but it was not enough to put South Africa through to the semi-finals.Watch cricket live on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the USA. Match highlights of England vs South Africa is available in English, and in Hindi (USA only).

Van der Dussen provided the brains with his 94 not out from 60 deliveries and Markram the brawn with 52 from 25 to propel their side to 189 for 2. But South Africa needed to restrict England to 131 or fewer in their run chase to leapfrog Australia into the semi-finals on NRR. England topped the group, despite their 10-run defeat, which followed the dramatic loss of Jason Roy to a calf injury in the fifth over of their innings.Moeen Ali came in when Roy retired hurt and top-scored for England with 37 from 27 deliveries. He shared a 51-run partnership with Dawid Malan, who was England’s next-best scorer with 33. But a late flurry of wickets – including a hat-trick to Kagiso Rabada in the final over – meant they fell short of their target. The sight of Roy on crutches at the conclusion of the match provided greater concern for England heading into the knockout stages.Rassie rises to the topMoeen made early inroads for England when Reeza Hendricks, having been stymied at 2 off eight balls, attempted a release shot, the ball beating his attempted slog sweep to clatter into middle and leg stump in the third over of the match. Quinton de Kock, who came in with 35 runs from three innings in the tournament, reached 34 before he was caught by Roy off Adil Rashid.Van der Dussen’s innings was South Africa’s highest individual score in a men’s T20 World Cup. He unleashed a four and a six off consecutive balls from Chris Woakes in the sixth over to bump up his side’s powerplay score to 40 for 1, the best against England in the tournament.He survived two England appeals to the DRS, the first an ambitious attempt to have a not-out decision for caught behind off Rashid overturned when he was on 27. That was followed by a much closer appeal for lbw to Chris Jordan, with ball-tracking showing impact on off stump but the batter was a long way forward and across and he prevailed on umpire’s call. Adding insult for England, van der Dussen struck the next ball for four to bring up his fifty stand with de Kock. In all, van der Dussen struck six sixes and five fours in an excellent knock to lead a resolute South Africa innings.Jason Roy fell to the floor with an apparent leg injury•AFP/Getty ImagesMarkram muscleMarkram, muscled the England bowlers around during the closing stages of South Africa’s innings to complement van der Dussen’s knock. With two overs remaining, he had 35 off 18 balls and he stretched that to 52 from 25 by the end, as he helped himself to nine runs from the penultimate over, bowled by Mark Wood, who conceded 13 off the over and 47 runs for no wicket from his four in his first match of the tournament. Markram’s fourth six of the match came off the final over, an attempted yorker by Jordan which Markram dispatched over long-off to bring up his half-century. Jordan went for 36 off his four overs. Chris Woakes also came in for some van der Dussen – Markram punishment, conceding 21 off his final over, the 16th of the innings, to finish with no wicket for 43 runs.Roy dramaRoy pulled up alarmingly just a couple of steps into a run after being called through by Jos Buttler on the first ball of the fifth over. He hobbled to safety and then lay prone on the pitch for some time, clearly in agony. As he was helped from the field, Roy was unable to put any weight on his left leg and, having made 20 off 15 balls he retired hurt. Roy was to be sent for scans with England medical staff to make an assessment of his condition after that.Moeen came in at No. 3 and struck two sixes en route to his score, his second – a massive swipe off Tabraiz Shamsi over long-on the highlight of England’s innings until Liam Livingstone smashed a 112m effort over deep midwicket for his first of three sixes in a row off Rabada.Rabada hat-trickRabada had come in for some punishment at the hands of the England batters, with 0-45 from his first three overs. But he returned in the final over of the match to all but end England’s hopes of victory with a hat-trick off the first three balls. Needing 14 runs, England lost Woakes for seven, caught by Anrich Nortje running round at deep midwicket, then Eoin Morgan, their captain, who picked out Keshav Maharaj at deep backward square. When Jordan was caught by David Miller at long-off, Rabada had his three from three. England managed just one run off each of the remaining three balls, via Rashid and Wood as Rabada finished with 3 for 48 and South Africa ended with a bittersweet 10-run victory.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has heaped praise on a player who’s been an “enormous help” to him behind-the-scenes, as his presence elevates those around him and encourages members of the squad to perform at a higher level.

Tottenham 3-0 Qarabag – 10-man Spurs seal first Europa League win

Spurs’ task of defeating the Azerbaijani champions was made all the more tricky when defender Radu Dragusin was sent off just seven minutes into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium clash on Thursday evening, but Postecoglou’s men performed very well, despite the disadvantage.

Tottenham can't afford "big blow" as £22m "mainstay" faces 12 games out

It would be a real dampener for Ange.

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 26, 2024

Qarabag had their opportunities to get on the scoresheet – some gaping ones at that – but it was the Premier League side who came out on top, courtesy of goals from the on-fire Brennan Johnson, midfielder Pape Matar Sarr and summer signing Dominic Solanke.

Postecoglou wants to give Solanke a significant confidence boost – which reportedly motivated his decision to start Solanke against the European minnows – and it was a call that paid dividends as the Englishman adds to his Lilywhites goal tally this week.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League games	Date
Man United vs Tottenham	September 29
Brighton vs Tottenham	October 6
Tottenham vs West Ham	October 19
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham	October 27
Tottenham vs Aston Villa	November 3

Johnson was also subject to online abuse after his performance in the North London Derby against Arsenal nearly two weeks ago, with the Wales international deleting all of his social media channels as a result.

The 23-year-old has now responded in fine fashion with three goals in his last three games, which we can all agree is a testament to Johnson’s elite mentality as an athlete under pressure to perform at the highest level.

The victory over Qarabag means Tottenham have also won their last three consecutive games on the spin in all competitions, and Postecoglou apparently has an esteemed member of his squad in particular to thank.

Winger Son Heung-min – signed from Bayer Leverkusen for just £22 million by chairman Daniel Levy nearly 10 years ago – has gone on to become a superstar for the club, but his importance stretches far beyond his performances on the field.

Postecoglou says Son "constantly pushes" the Tottenham squad

Speaking in an interview with TNT Sports before their win over Qarabag, Postecoglou revealed that Son “constantly pushes” his Tottenham teammates, and the South Korea international is an “enormous help” to his manager.

“Pretty much what you see is what you get with Sonny,” Postecoglou told TNT.

“Anyone who’s had any sort of interaction with him or watched him from afar will know he’s a really positive guy.

“He’s very competitive, he’s constantly pushing himself and others around him. He’s got a real positive energy and been an enormous help for me since I’ve been here, because he’s been at the club for quite a while now. He knows the ins and outs of it. Having a guy like him, particularly with his positive nature works well with the environment I want to create. So, it’s great to have him as part of the group.

“He’s no different to what you see behind the scenes compared to on the football pitch. He’s ultra-competitive, but always positive with everything he does, his interactions with people and the way he engages with people is always with a positive backdrop.

“He can’t do enough for anybody that he comes across, but always in the back of his mind he’s a winner and wants to be the best that he can be. He’s an ideal person to have as a leader.”

The 32-year-old is out of contract next summer as things stand, but reports claim that Tottenham are set to trigger Son’s one-year extension clause to keep him at N17 for another year. This will come as music to the ears of supporters, as a player of Son’s calibre is extremely hard to replace in this market.

Manchester United flop Antony's stance on a possible Olympiacos transfer has been revealed with ten clubs chasing the Brazilian's signature.

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Antony's thoughts on Olympiacos move revealedGreek giants want the Brazilian on loanTen clubs have shown interest in the wingerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

On Monday, reporter Dharmesh Sheth reported that a Greek Super League club had shown interest in Antony, with later revealing that Olympiacos are the side in question. However, Caught Offside's has now claimed that the Brazilian winger does not want to join Olympiacos in a potential loan deal this month.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Konur further added that a total of 10 clubs are interested in Antony, with United ready to offload the player in the current window. Antony has proved to be one of the club's worst-ever signings at £85 million ($107m) and the Red Devils will have to accept a big loss on the Brazilian if he leaves on a permanent deal.

DID YOU KNOW?

Antony's agent Junior Pedroso has confirmed to GiveMeSport that his client is ready to move out on loan if United force the issue, however, in the long run, the Brazilian is willing to work hard and fight for a place in Ruben Amorim's starting lineup. In the 2024-25 campaign, Antony has appeared in just 12 matches across all competitions and has clocked only 356 minutes on the pitch.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

After a spirited performance at Anfield last weekend where they managed to hold league leaders Liverpool to a 2-2 draw, Amorim's side will aim to get back to winning ways next Sunday as they take on Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been told his fellow Saudi Pro League players are "overweight" and "eat McDonald's" daily in a staunch defence of Ligue 1.

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Ronaldo says Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1Ex-player defends French top-flightSays Saudi league players "eat McDonalds" daily Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Hot on the heels of Ronaldo reiterating that the Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1 and that outside of serial winners Paris Saint-Germain, the rest of the teams are "finished", World Cup-winning former France international Adil Rami has hit back at the Al-Nassr man. The ex-Lille and Marseille defender said the Portuguese did not "realise" how good the French top flight is and hit out at the Saudi league in derisory fashion.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT ADIL RAMI SAID

He said, via : "CR7, we may love him but that doesn't mean because he had a fantastic career that as soon as he says something it's the truth! The guys in Saudi Arabia are overweight. They eat McDonald's every day! Come to France overweight and see how long you last! You don't realise the level of Ligue 1."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As the poster child of the Saudi Pro League, it is understandable that Ronaldo is trying to talk up the division he is playing in. While lots of great players have headed to the Middle East for the riches it provides, few would argue Ligue 1 is weaker than the Saudi division.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

While this back and forth about the quality of the two leagues may continue, Ronaldo is back in action for Al-Nassr on January 9 against Al Akhdoud.

There are now whispers that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could actually start a highly-rated 17-year-old starlet in the North London Derby this weekend.

Team news ahead of Tottenham vs Arsenal on Sunday

Their first game back from the international break could hardly be a tougher test, with a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium awaiting an Arsenal side who are pretty short of numbers right now.

Arsenal could now sign 153-goal striker with offer above £96k-per-week

He’s a proven goalscorer.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 12, 2024

Arteta will be without star player Declan Rice through suspension after the England international picked up two yellow cards in their last Premier League game against Brighton, and he won't be their only midfield absentee either.

Summer signing Mikel Merino has been sidelined by a shoulder injury, and may not feature for Arsenal until after the October international break. The Spaniard fractured his deltoid after a collision with Gabriel Magalhaes in training at London Colney, with Merino now forced to wait for his full Gunners debut after joining from Real Sociedad.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Fellow new recruit Riccardo Calafiori is a doubt for Arsenal's next game too, after the Italy international sustained a calf injury on international duty against France. The biggest worry of all, though, revolves around club captain Martin Odegaard.

Odegaard looks certain to miss the Tottenham game after he twisted his ankle in Norway's 2-1 win over Austria on Monday, with supporters now waiting for official confirmation on the severity of his injury.

This series of hammer blows means Arteta is planning to drop Kai Havertz back into midfield, despite the German shining in a makeshift centre-forward role. It is believed Raheem Sterling could make his Arsenal debut this weekend in a false-nine role, but the good news for Arteta is that Gabriel Jesus could be available to play against Tottenham following his comeback from fitness issues.

Arteta could start Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri against Tottenham

As Arteta ponders how best to set up his team in one of their biggest games of the season, BBC journalist Mark Chapman has now shared rumours he's heard that Arsenal could start teenage talent Ethan Nwaneri against Tottenham on Sunday, which would come as a bold move.

“They have some issues in midfield Arsenal, Declan Rice is suspended, Martin Odegaard picked up an injury during the week, their signing in the summer, Merino is already injured. So there are these rumours that they may start a 17-year-old, Ethan Nwaneri," said Chapman on the BBC Planet Premier League Podcast, relayed by Caught Offside.

The 17-year-old has played in two Premier League games, first making his debut with a one-minute cameo against Brentford two years ago. Since then, Arteta has handed him the nod on just one other occasion – with the attacker playing 13 minutes during Arsenal's thumping 6-0 win at West Ham last campaign.

Following Emile Smith Rowe's £35 million move to Fulham in the summer, journalist Charles Watts has tipped Arsenal to play Nwaneri far more often.

“Ethan Nwaneri is someone Arsenal fans will have been aware of for some time now and he really caught the eye for England Under-17s at this summer’s European Championships,” Watts said to CaughtOffside.

“So what next for the latest homegrown wonderkid to come out of Hale End? I think we’ll see Nwaneri stay at Arsenal next season and become more of a fixture in the first-team. I can’t see him being a regular, but I think we’ll see Mikel Arteta start to give him some minutes to ensure he continues to develop at the rate that Arsenal want him to.

“There are certain players that you look at and think that they can skip going out on loan and move straight into the first-team picture. Bukayo Saka was one and I think Nwaneri is another.

“If Smith Rowe goes, it could be the perfect chance to promote Nwaneri. He’s such a talent and it’s really important that Arsenal leave him a pathway to continue to develop."

As transfer deadline day approaches, Chelsea still have it all to do when it comes to fine-tuning a packed squad and now reportedly want to use Raheem Sterling in a deal that would kill two birds with one stone.

Chelsea transfer news

Whilst the Blues brought some calm amid the transfer chaos with a 6-2 mauling of Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, there's no getting away from just how busy they could be before Friday's deadline.

Enzo Maresca's squad is still full to the brim with talents that he has no plan for, including Sterling, who has even been stripped of his squad number. The Chelsea boss recently spoke about the England international's Stamford Bridge future, admitting that he will not be getting minutes in his side this season.

Sterling's agent has since reportedly done the rounds, offering his client to the likes of West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, but it could be those at Stamford Bridge who come up with the best solution.

According to Jason Burt of The Telegraph, Chelsea now want to use Sterling in a swap deal to sign Jadon Sancho, who finds himself in a similar position at Manchester United.

Related Maresca must instantly drop Chelsea star who was given a 0/10 match rating

Chelsea demolished Wolves but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Aug 26, 2024

In what would be a sensational deal, Chelsea could kill two birds with one stone by showing Sterling the door and welcoming a younger reinforcement in Sancho. Given how the former Borussia Dortmund star has struggled at Old Trafford too, the deal should suit all parties.

That said, Sterling would certainly be making a controversial move by adding Manchester United to his list of clubs alongside both Liverpool and Manchester City.

"Gifted" Sancho wouldn't solve Chelsea's problems

After Noni Madueke scored a hat-trick last time out and Pedro Neto Neto came from the bench in place of Mykhailo Mudryk to grab his first assist, the last player that Chelsea need is a winger and one who has struggled for form in the Premier League. Signing Sancho would simply see the Blues add to the depth problem that they're currently looking to solve.

What's more, clearing Sterling's £325,000-a-week salary off their wage bill would almost become null and void if the Blues then signed Sancho, who earns a reported £250,000-a-week at Manchester United.

Sancho is, of course, capable of rediscovering the form that saw him become one of Europe's best wingers during his Borussia Dortmund days, but Chelsea simply don't have the squad space to take another gamble.

Dubbed "gifted" by former manager Edin Terzic during his loan spell back at Dortmund last season, Sancho is running out of time to steal a move away from Old Trafford, as is the case with Sterling at Stamford Bridge. A swap deal, on paper, would have made sense earlier in the window, but Chelsea have since added superior attacking reinforcements.

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City's dire performance against Tottenham "cannot happen" after they sustained their fifth successive defeat.

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• City thrashed 4-0 by Spurs
• On run of five losses in all competitions
• Guardiola criticises performance but backs players

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Spurs ran riot at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, as a brace from James Maddison and goals from Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson condemned City to a thumping defeat. Guardiola's side have now lost five games in all competitions, two of which have come against Tottenham, along with losses to Sporting CP, Bournemouth and Brighton.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Guardiola had never before lost five competitive games in a row in his managerial career and this defeat leaves the Premier League champions five points behind leaders Liverpool, who face Southampton on Sunday. Guardiola insists his players must bounce back and ensure such a performance is not repeated – he claims his side forgot how to defend – but he has restated his belief that the club can come out of what is fast becoming a crisis.

• WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

  Guardiola told : "We are fragile at the moment, we could not defend properly. We started well, struggled to score and then conceded. Then situation is more difficult. I’ve been here as a player, maybe not as a manager, first three games at Barcelona we lost. The only chance we have is stay there. Last eight years the results have been there, it would be a mistake to change the approach.

  "There are not fairytales in life and sport, sometimes you have to live through these situations. You have to accept it. You can't blame each other, stay together, continue to do what we have done. Run away? Absolutely not, we have to stand up more than ever. What will define us is when we fail, we stand up and face it.

  "I don’t know what will happen this season, but not for one second will I not believe in these players. There is no team in the world that can sustain success for eight, nine, 10 years in a row."

  To , he added: "Chances were there. The moment they create the chances the build-up, we couldn't handle the duels like normally. Now we're struggling a little bit.

  "It cannot happen. When you play top level teams we can concede chances but it's part of the process. In our situation it's a bit tougher. I have to see the situation. The players came back late [from internationals]. There were a few reasons we're not able to be consistent. Now the balance is not in the right moment. But it happened. We have to do it, talk and on Tuesday against Feyenoord have the chance to try."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Guardiola has now lost nine games to Spurs across his career; no team has beaten him more often than the Lilywhites, with those defeats coming in a variety of competitions, including the Champions League.