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Pep Guardiola said he doesn’t see Manchester City winning the Champions League because of their current form, but that he thinks his team will do better next time they face Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

To beat Club Brugge 3-1 on Wednesday, City needed a late comeback from 1-0 down to avoid falling out before the knockout stages for the first time since 2012.

Their punishment might include a stay of execution against Bayern, the defending champions, or Guardiola’s former team.

City are also a less effective team in the Premier League this year, finishing fourth, 12 points clear of Liverpool.

However, Guardiola is optimistic that the injury-related returns of key players like Vitor Reis and new signings Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov will strengthen them.

READ ALSO: Rashford ‘ Must Be Ashamed ‘ Of Man Utd Exile, Says Keane

“Right now no. I’m so realistic”, said Guardiola when asked if the 2023 champions could win the competition again.

“Madrid is back in terms of results, Bayern played an incredible season so far with (coach) Vinny (Kompany). Tomorrow’s game will be challenging, but in two weeks we won’t know.

” We are going to prepare well, be fit and try it and see what happens. “

Despite their struggles, City have won six and drawn one of their last eight games.

” At least lately we are getting results, “added Guardiola”. We are fourth in Premier League, not in the title race, no way, but still we are there.

“FA Cup we are there. Although it’s sometimes impossible right now, tomorrow’s mindset, the vibes will change, and I’m confident that Bayern or Madrid will try to have problems.

The dramatic finale of the new Swiss model format’s first season featured a key role for City’s narrow escape.

Guardiola acknowledged that the change had heightened his fans’ interest in the competition’s early stages, even if it had caused him to become more agitated.

And he anticipates future struggles for other significant clubs.

“As a spectator how many things (were still to be decided) is nice. The issue is that important teams will continue to play what we did this season by playing more games in October, November, and December.

” We were on the verge, 45 minutes from being out. It is an incredible lesson for me, the club that nothing is (taken) for granted.

“We’ll see how we arrive in two weeks,” the team said, “congratulations because they still have pride.”

Marcus Rashford, a former Manchester United captain, “must be ashamed” under Ruben Amorim’s rule, according to former manager Roy Keane.

The 27-year-old hasn’t played for United for seven weeks, and manager Amorim has vehemently stated to him that he “has to change” if he wants to succeed at Old Trafford.

Despite working alone for a while before training with the group, the England international was not selected for Thursday’s Europa League game against Romanian side FCSB.

Although Rashford has been linked with a loan move to Barcelona, the transfer window is closing on Monday at 2300 GMT, which means there is limited time.

Keane expressed his outcry over the situation while speaking on the podcast Stick to Football.

“I can’t get involved in the conversation, I still can’t understand at any level”, he said. “Whatever’s going on with players leaving, months left on contracts, a player who doesn’t train properly… I don’t understand it.

” You might as well leave me out of this conversation. Particularly if you believe he wants to move, which serves as a more effective motivating factor so that when you join a new club you are up to speed and at least you displayed a respectable attitude when you leave. He must be ashamed. “

READ ALSO: Man City Will Pose Problems For Madrid Or Bayern, Promises Guardiola

Wayne Rooney, a former United player, revealed on the podcast that he had witnessed Rashford working alone with a fitness instructor in front of his kids at the Carrington training facility.

Marcus Rashford was out on the training field with the fitness coach when my kids were playing at Carrington on Sunday, and he pointed out where the parents were passing, “and he was just over there.”

I pondered how embarrassing it must be for him as his parents pass by.

Rooney acknowledged speaking with Rashford and that he needed to leave if he wanted to start a new career.

He said, “I’ve spoken to Marcus a few times and I’ve told him that he needs to leave the football team because he’s not the same as me at Manchester United and whatever is going on in my life.” For him to have a fresh start, he needs to leave the club. “

Rashford, who came through the youth ranks at United, has scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for the club, netting seven times in 24 games this season.

Any potential move is complicated by his reported £300, 000-a-week ($374, 000) salary on a deal that runs until 2028.

After 18 months in charge, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who has been in charge of Saudi Arabia, has agreed to leave.

Gérard had been in charge since the summer of 2023, and he had just signed a new contract that would extend him until 2027.

Steven Gerrard and Ettifaq football club have reached a mutual agreement to dissolve their business, the statement read.

READ ALSO:  Villa Won’t Sell Watkins To Arsenal, Insists Emery

Last season, Al-Ettifaq finished sixth but the 44-year-old departs with the club 12th in the 18-team Saudi Pro League, having lost eight of their 17 matches.

He has taken charge of 59 matches in all competitions, winning just 23.

Gerrard remarked, “It was a wonderful opportunity to work in a new country with a different culture.

Overall, I’ve learned a lot, and it’s helped my family as well as myself.

Football is unpredictable, but events occasionally don’t go our way. ”

After Arsenal reportedly made a $ 60 million ($74 million) bid just hours before the England striker’s team reached the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, Unai Emery insisted that Aston Villa would not sell Ollie Watkins.

Emery’s side won 4-2 at a raucous Villa Park to advance to the playoffs after going over Celtic in the first half of the competition.

Morgan Rogers’ double in the opening five minutes gave Celtic a 2-0 lead before Adam Idah scored twice in 145 seconds to bring the score level just before half-time.

Watkins saved Villa from the rumors with a brilliant second-half strike to restore their advantage.

READ ALSO: &nbsp, Aston Villa Seal Spot In Last 16 Of Champions League

After scoring, the 29-year-old missed a penalty, but Rogers’ first career treble came in stoppage time to help Villa advance without a play-off.

Arsenal’s mooted approach for Watkins was ill-timed from Villa’s point of view, given the significance of their clash with the Scottish champions.

After the game, there was a suggestion that Villa had rejected Arsenal’s offer, and Emery failed to give any incentives to the Gunners to make an even greater purchase effort.

“Watkins is our striker. Although I’ve told you, today is not the day, Emery said, “I know you want to inquire about it.”

After Gabriel Jesus’ season-ending knee injury, Arsenal are searching for a striker.

There is a good chance that Jhon Duran will leave for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr if Watkins, who left Brentford in 2020, is still with Villa when the transfer window closes on Monday.

Emery has mostly replaced the Colombia striker despite some impressive performances this term.

&nbsp, ‘A huge challenge ‘

Asked about Duran’s future, Emery wouldn’t rule out selling him in a reported £64 million deal.

The Spaniard said, “I don’t know if Jhon Duran is leaving, but if he is, it is good news for us because he is leaving because it is good money.”

“Tomorrow or Friday we can talk about the transfer. I don’t want to speak until everything is said because everything can happen in football.

Because we need some players, the club is working and trying to compete in the transfer window. Some can leave, but it is not time to speak about it. “

After winning against Young Boys last week, Celtic were already certain to advance to the play-off round.

However, when Real Madrid or Bayern Munich were to become their next opponents, Celtic’s hopes of avoiding one of the tournament’s giants were scuppered.

The team under Brendan Rodgers must wait until the draw on Friday to determine which of the two European heavyweights will prevent them from advancing to the last 16.

The Celtic boss acknowledged that defeating either team would be a difficult task, but he thinks they can cause a major stir.

” We know it’s either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the next round, so that’ll be a huge challenge, “Rodgers said.

The players deserve it because of the sacrifices they made in the eight games.

We’re gaining more confidence and demonstrating that our team can play and challenge the best players.

Despite a humiliating 7-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund in October, Celtic have now advanced to the knockout stages for the first time in 12 years.

“Scotland gets a wee bit of stick in its football. You can see that we have some brave players, Rodgers said.

“Pride is the word that most appeals to me right now.” We’re nowhere near the resource levels of teams in the Premier League, but we can still be competitive”.

The 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup final will be played in Sydney, World Rugby said Thursday as it released the official draw for the Australia-hosted tournament.

World Rugby chair Brett Robinson stated in a statement that “we are delighted to have reached yet another significant milestone in our journey to the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup.”

Local media reported that the final would be played at the Sydney Olympic stadium, an 80, 000-seat venue purpose-built for the 2000 Olympics.

Sydney hosted the World Cup final in 2003, when Australia lost to England in a thrilling encounter that ended in extra-time.

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Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh, who played for the Wallabies in that game, said playing a home final was the “absolute pinnacle” of his career.

“I’m delighted that this generation of Wallabies will have the opportunity to wear the gold jersey in front of our passionate fans at a Men’s Rugby World Cup in our own backyard,” said one fan.

Sydney will also host two semi-finals, the third-place playoff, and a string of other knockout and pool stage games.

The rest of the schedule is split between Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Adelaide and Townsville.

According to the World Rugby schedule, the tournament will take place from October 1 through November 13.