Latest news with #OmarMarmoush
New York Times
18 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester City have been busy this summer, but still aren't favoured for any trophies next season
The 2024/25 campaign offered a rare sight from Pep Guardiola — a sign that his teams are not bulletproof. Not in the slightest. After winning four Premier League titles on the trot, City went from looking immortal to looking like imposters as they went through a turbulent period of 11 games without a win and plummeted down the table. Advertisement They did manage to recover mid-way through the campaign and added signings like Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez as they rallied to secure a third-placed finish — despite fears they could miss out on Champions League football altogether. It was only the second trophyless season of Guardiola's managerial career and now it's up to the Spaniard to build up City's fear factor again, starting with the Club World Cup. The Sky Blues are currently 5/1 with Betfair to win the tournament. City can lay down a real marker in the United States by showing the rest of the world they mean business — and they're already on the way to doing just that with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wydad. The game saw Phil Foden impress with a goal and assist after having a difficult last campaign. Two of their new signings started the game — midfielders Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders. Cherki scored 12 and assisted 20 times for Lyon last season and is seen as the long-term successor to the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne. He could be the difference for City this season. With Cherki pulling the strings and providing for forwards like Erling Haaland, Marmoush and Savinho, City have a great chance of toppling champions Liverpool this time around. Meanwhile, Reijnders joined for £43million from AC Milan and Guardiola admitted he was happy with how both players looked on the pitch after the game — but it was the return of Ballon d'Or winner Rodri that really boosted them. 'Of course, Rodri will be important,' the coach said after the game. 'We have to adjust to many things, but step by step.' Rodri managed to play half an hour and suddenly a huge hole from last season has been filled. With his presence in midfield alongside the likes of Reijnders, Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic, City can really dominate games again and play the way the manager wants them to. Another problem that has been solved is at left-back. Guardiola started last season without many recognised options in the position and was forced to play youngster Nico O'Reilly there at times. Now they have Wolves star Rayan Ait-Nouri to call upon, providing more solidity at the back — though he did not feature against Wydad. Advertisement So all of a sudden, you start to think City could become a global force again. They've got a superb midfield — with Rodri at the heart of it — and an attacking frontline that any team in world football would love to have. Perhaps only more defensive reinforcements are necessary. With no recognisable right-back present and Kyle Walker on his way out, a new man in that role would complete the set. Of course, going toe-to-toe with Liverpool will be a challenge, given that Arne Slot's side are set to sign Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz — who is rated as one of the best players in the game right now — for an English record fee of £116.5m. The Reds have also added Jeremie Frimpong and fellow full-back Milos Kerkez is about to join from Bournemouth. With Chelsea still looking like a work in progress under Enzo Maresca and Arsenal lacking the star forward they need to challenge for the title, you can't look beyond Liverpool and City as the favourites for the Premier League title. Betfair have Liverpool as 15/8 favourites to retain their crown, but City's position as the nearest challengers is reflected with odds of 9/4, making them second favourites ahead of Arsenal (5/2). As for the Champions League, City look like outsiders to become champions again, with odds of 8/1. Liverpool are the favourites to become champions of Europe for the first time since 2019 at 11/2, with Real Madrid (13/2) and Arsenal (7/1) the next best-backed teams. Reigning champions PSG are also at 7/1, with City the fifth-favourites. Betting/odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Tijjani Reijnders: David Ramos / Getty Images)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Man City fined more than $1 million for repeatedly delaying Premier League kickoff times
Manchester City's Omar Marmoush, left, and Wydad AC's Guilherme Ferreira fight for the ball during the Club World Cup group G soccer match between Manchester City and Wydad AC in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Manchester City's Phil Foden walks on the pitch during the Club World Cup group G soccer match between Manchester City and Wydad AC in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) Manchester City's Phil Foden walks on the pitch during the Club World Cup group G soccer match between Manchester City and Wydad AC in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) Manchester City's Omar Marmoush, left, and Wydad AC's Guilherme Ferreira fight for the ball during the Club World Cup group G soccer match between Manchester City and Wydad AC in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton) Manchester City's Phil Foden walks on the pitch during the Club World Cup group G soccer match between Manchester City and Wydad AC in Philadelphia, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) Manchester City was fined more than one million pounds ($1.35 million) by the Premier League on Thursday for repeatedly delaying kickoff times 'without good reason' last season. City, managed by Pep Guardiola, admitted to nine breaches of league rules related to kickoffs and re-starts after halftime and has apologized. Advertisement The most dominant team in English soccer over the past decade was handed fines for each breach, amounting to 1.08 million pounds ($1.45 million). The biggest individual fine was 210,000 pounds ($283,000) for a delay of 2 minutes, 22 seconds at the start of the second half against Ipswich on Jan. 19. 'Rules relating to kickoffs and re-starts help ensure the organization of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs,' the Premier League said in a statement. 'It also ensures the broadcast of every Premier League match is kept to schedule.' City, currently in the U.S. for the Club World Cup, delayed kickoffs for the start of both halves in a match against Manchester United in December. The start of the second half was delayed 2 minutes, 24 seconds — the longest of all the breaches. Advertisement Last year, City was fined 2.09 million pounds ($2.8 million) for 22 breaches of the same rule over the previous two seasons. City is still waiting on the outcome of a hearing into more than 100 charges of alleged financial breaches over a nine-year period. The hearing began in September last year after charges were made in February 2023. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Erling Haaland to score a hat-trick is 13/2 as Manchester City take on Wydad Casablanca in their Club World Cup opener
Sky Bet are offering several Price Boosts for Manchester City's FIFA Club World Cup opener as Pep Guardiola's side clash with Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia. The first two boosts require Rayan Cherki to win 2+ fouls, and Omar Marmoush to score 2+ goals. The odds for those two bets have been enhanced to 1/1 and 9/2 respectively according to Sky Bet. Marmoush had a fantastic campaign in 2024-25 - with the City forward netting 28 goals across all competitions. Among the other boosts are Erling Haaland to score a hat-trick at 13/2, and Haaland and Marmoush to have 3+ shots on target each, also priced at 13/2. Haaland has scored 15 headed goals in the Premier League since joining the Sky Blues in 2022-23. Rayan Cherki 2+ fouls won WAS 8/11 NOW 1/1 Omar Marmoush to have score 2+ goals WAS 7/2 NOW 9/2 Erling Haaland to score a hat-trick WAS 11/2 NOW 13/2 Haaland and Marmoush to have 3+ shots on target each WAS 11/2 NOW 13/2
The National
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
Top 10 Middle East footballers to watch at the Club World Cup
The revamped and expanded Fifa Club World Cup may be the biggest chance yet for domestic teams to represent themselves on the global stage. But there will be plenty of national and regional pride at stake, too. Some of the leading players from the Mena region will be vying for attention at the competition in the United States, and they are not solely confined to Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal or the UAE's Al Ain. Here is a selection of outstanding players from the region to look out for this summer. 1). Achraf Hakimi Club: Paris Saint-Germain National team: Morocco Slotted the opening goal in PSG's rout of Inter Milan in the Uefa Champions League final, and was eulogised by many observers as the best right-back in the world. Given's PSG's form, he might expect to go one better than the semi-final exit he managed with the Morocco national team in the Qatar World Cup. 2). Omar Marmoush Club: Manchester City National team: Egypt Scored 15 goals in 17 games in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt before being summoned to City in the January transfer window to try to breathe life into their ailing season. The form of the outgoing English champions did pick up after the arrival of their new Egyptian forward. They may have ended defeated in the FA Cup, but they could make up for that with a trophy in the US. 3). Ali Al Bulayhi Club: Al Hilal National team: Saudi Arabia Makes this list not so much for the merit of his defending as the fact his confrontations with star opponents are usually box office. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Son Hueng-min have all been on the receiving end of the Hilal centre-back's antics. Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Erling Haaland had better be ready. 4). Soufiane Rahimi Club: Al Ain National team: Morocco Asia's MVP when he fired Al Ain to the AFC Champions League crown in 2024, and he then top-scored in the Olympics for Morocco, too. The Garden City club have fallen flat in the time since, going through three managers this season. Rahimi's form has coolled, too, but expect him to revel on the big stage in the US. 5). Mehdi Taremi Club: Inter Milan National team: Iran Cut a disconsolate figure as an unused substitute on the bench in Inter Milan's capitulation against PSG in the Uefa Champions League final. The striker, who has been central to Iran's march to World Cup qualification, will be itching to right some wrongs when Inter face Monterrey, Urawa Reds and River Plate. 6). Ramy Bensebaini Club: Borussia Dortmund National team: Algeria The Algerian defender has been deployed on the left side of a three-man defence as Dortmund closed out a largely disappointing season strongly, most notably with a big win away at Bayer Leverkusen. He might not be everybody's cup of tea: German great-turned-pundit Lothar Matthaus has been one outspoken critic. But Bensebaini is valued by his club and is said to have suitors that include Marseille. 7). Brahim Diaz Club: Real Madrid National team: Morocco The dual-national winger was born in Malaga, signed for the Manchester City academy age 16, and plays for Morocco at international level. He will be looking to aid Madrid's bid to complete a Club World Cup and Intercontinental Cup double. 8). Salem Al Dawsari Club: Al Hilal National team: Saudi Arabia An Arabian Gulf great, as a legend of Hilal and the Saudi Arabia national team. His finest moment was his goal in their shock win over the eventual champions Argentina in the group phase of the Qatar World Cup. His celebrity has yet to extend too far beyond Asia, though. His one crack at broadening his horizons ended prematurely with an ill-fated loan spell with Villarreal in Spain in 2018. 9). Wessam Abou Ali Club: Al Ahly National team: Palestine Danish-born but proudly Palestinian, he also acknowledges he feels Egyptian now, given how well loved he has become since joining Al Ahly last year. The striker enjoyed an extraordinary 2024, moving from the Swedish lower leagues in January, then becoming the top scorer in Egypt, and contributing to the CAF Champions League win, which qualified Ahly for this tournament. 10). Oussama Idrissi Club: Pachuca National team: Morocco Netherlands-born and raised, but the tricky left-winger had had a good look around since. He represents Morocco at senior level – having previously played for the Dutch age-group sides – and has found his way to Mexico via Spain. He knows what success tastes like in cross-border club competition, too. Idrissi scored a fine goal as Pachuca beat Brazil's Botafogo to reach the 2024 Intercontinental Cup final, where they lost to Real Madrid.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'It really was the best job in local radio'
As the 2024-25 season comes to an end, it is expected to be a summer of change at Manchester City. It is also going to be one at BBC Radio Manchester. After eight seasons with the team, I have decided now is the time to go for a new challenge and that means leaving my role as the station's Manchester City six of those eight seasons I have been lucky to be the voice of the Blues on local radio. I have witnessed four Premier League titles in a row, three final-day dramas, two Manchester derby FA Cup finals and one are too many moments to provide a single standout. Big nights, big games, it really was the best job in local started with a one-off opportunity as Manchester City beat West Ham at London Stadium 5-0 in January 2017. It ended with a full-time job and watching Omar Marmoush scoring the club's goal of the season at home to club, the manager and the players have been brilliant to speak to and work with through those have given me stories some can only ever dream of.I want to say thank you to the listeners. I tried to call each game fairly, with passion and pride in my work. Win, lose or draw, I hope I made you laugh, cry (but in a good way) and get feels like the right time to explore new broadcasting opportunities and push myself further. Listen to Total Sport on BBC Radio Manchester, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to We're Not Really Here: A Manchester City podcast on BBC Sounds
