‘Man City Are Back’, Says Guardiola After Thrashing Ipswich

Published

7 months ago

January 19, 2025

Pep Guardiola claimed Man City are back to their best after Phil Foden starred in a 6-0 rout of struggling Ipswich on Sunday.

Foden netted either side of Mateo Kovacic’s eye-catching goal as City blew Ipswich away with three first-half goals at Portman Road.

Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and James McAtee scored after the interval to give fourth-placed City their biggest league win this season.

Guardiola’s side have won three of their last four league games as they begin the long climb back to respectability after a dismal start to the season.

“We are really pleased, we are back in many things that have defined this team in the last decade, the last years,” Guardiola said.

“Really pleased for the players, they deserved it a lot. We recovered some identities that we lost in this path.

“Really pleased for the three points and to climb a little bit because qualification for the Champions League next season will be really tough.”

Sterner tests lie in wait for City, including a vital Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday and looming Premier League clashes with Chelsea and Arsenal.

But this was the kind of confident display City used to make look routine during their march to four successive English titles.

Winning is almost certain to prove beyond them as they trail leaders Liverpool by 12 points.

Guardiola will settle for restoring City’s pride this term as he rebuilds a team that suddenly grew old and inconsistent before his eyes.

“The most important thing is that the players, they saw themselves recognise what we are, so that is the best thing I can say,” he said.

Haaland, who has scored 112 goals in just 127 appearances for City, this week committed himself to the club until 2034 when he signed a new nine-and-a-half year deal.

But Kyle Walker was again absent from the City side amid reports that AC Milan are ready to bid for the unsettled England right-back.

In City’s first visit to Portman Road for 23 years, the champions emphasised how powerful they can still be at peak form.

– Ruthless City –

Haaland scored a hat-trick when City beat Ipswich 4-1 in August and he threatened to net in the opening moments in Suffolk.

Kovacic’s pass split the Ipswich defence and sent Haaland clean through on goal, but the Norway striker’s shot was pushed away by Christian Walton.

Omari Hutchinson almost put Ipswich ahead against the run of play with a stinging strike from just inside the area that hit Haaland and flashed just over.

But City’s pressure was rewarded in the 27th minute when Doku and Kevin De Bruyne combined to set up Foden for a clinical close-range finish.

Foden turned provider as ruthless City doubled their lead three minutes later.

Kovacic strode onto Foden’s pass on the edge of the area and smashed a superb low strike past the flat-footed Walton for his first goal since October.

Guardiola’s men were rampant and they struck again three minutes before half-time.

Set free by Doku, De Bruyne raced into the area and cut the ball back for Foden, whose shot from five yards evaded Walton’s weak attempted save.

The England forward’s fifth goal in his last four games maintained his recent improvement.

City have scored 25 first-half goals in 22 games, more than any other team in the Premier League this season.

Ipswich were powerless to stem the tide. Doku danced through their defence to score City’s fourth with a low shot that hit Dara O’Shea on its way past Walton in the 49th minute.

City showed no mercy and Haaland joined the party in the 57th minute.

Jack Clarke conceded possession and Doku teed up Haaland to drill past Walton for his 22nd goal in all competitions this season.

McAtee came off the bench to bag City’s sixth in the 69th minute, the 22-year-old looping a header over Walton from Kovacic’s cross.
VANGUARD

Related Topics:Guardiola Manchester City

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Okpebholo’s Plan For Sporting Activities In Edo – Sports Commission Chairman, Enabulele

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2025 NYG: Be Determined, Enabulele Charges Team Edo, As Screening Commences In A’Ibom

Published

21 hours ago

August 17, 2025

Editor

The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has called on Team Edo to approach the Zonal Elimination for the 2025 National Youth Games with passion, determination, and sportsmanship.

Enabulele message to the Team Edo who are participating in the South-South Zonal screening exercise for the elimination games at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was contained in a statement signed by his his Media Officer, Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko, and made available to newsmen on Saturday.

The exercise, held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was supervised by the South-South Zonal Coordinator of the NSC, Mr. Njoku Peter.

It focuses on age verification to ensure all participants are under 15 years, in line with competition requirements.

Athletes from the six South-South states — Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta — took part in the screening.

“You are not just representing Edo State but also showcasing our strength and talent as true ambassadors. Give it your best and let your performance speak for itself,” Enabulele said.

With the zonal eliminations set for Saturday, August 17, through Sunday, August 18, and match draws already underway, Enabulele also stressed the need for fairness and professionalism in officiating.

“The credibility of these eliminations depends solely on your integrity. We expect nothing but unbiased and professional judgment to ensure a successful event,” he added.

The 2025 National Youth Games isvscheduled to hold from August 26 to September 6 in Asaba, Delta State.

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2025 NYG: Enabulele Charges Edo Coaches On Performance

Published

2 days ago

August 15, 2025

Editor

Ahead of the 2025 Asaba National Youth Games, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has charged state coaches to deliver top-class performances as zonal eliminations begin this weekend.

Speaking during an interactive session on Thursday at the Commission’s Media Centre, Enabulele urged the coaches to demonstrate discipline, unity, and focus in their quest to secure Edo’s qualification in all events at the eliminations, scheduled for August 16–18 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

“We must be prepared to conquer,” Enabulele declared in a statement issued by his Media Officer, Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko.

“Your unflinching support is essential if we are to clinch all available spots and maintain Edo’s dominance in sports.”

He disclosed that all athletes and coaches would proceed to full camping immediately after the eliminations to prepare for the main event, billed for August 26 to September 6 in Delta State.

Enabulele assured the coaches that the commission, under Governor Monday Okpebholo’s leadership, is addressing their concerns and remains committed to supporting their work.

“Success is a shared responsibility,” Enabulele concluded, calling on coaches to match the commission’s support with strong results.

The zonal eliminations will feature Rugby, Volleyball, Handball, Cricket, Hockey, Beach Volleyball, Football, Abula, and Baseball.

Sports

Super Falcons Players Haven’t Received Promised $100,000, Captain Ajibade Reveals

Published

3 days ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

Super Falcons captain and forward, Rasheedat Ajibade, has expressed frustration over the delay in the payment of promised allowances and bonuses to the team.

She made this known during an appearance on the forthcoming episode of ‘With Chude’ hosted by popular on-air personality, Chude Jideonwo.

Ajibade said the players had yet to receive the pledged $100,000 and other entitlements, despite repeated assurances from the relevant authorities.

“We have not received our money oo. Please, they have not paid. All the promises you heard back and forth, we have not received anything,” she said.

Ajibade added that the players had been informed the money had already been allocated but insisted nothing had reached them.

“People are begging. We have not received it. When they pay it, you will see. Even our match bonuses and everything… everything is still a work in progress,” she lamented.

The 24-year-old urged the authorities to fulfill their promises, stressing that the delay was taking a toll on the players.

Following the Super Falcons’ historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco, President Bola Tinubu had in July 2025 announced a cash reward of $100,000 for each player, along with other bonuses, as a token of appreciation for their achievement.

Ajibade also stated that she played for FC Robo Queens in the Nigeria Women’s Football League for 10 years without receiving a salary.

The Super Falcons captain described her spell playing football in the NWFL as “a tough moment”.

Ajibade added that she grew up in compound of almost 100 people” in the Mushin area of Lagos and had to “wash people’s toilets and bathrooms for money”.

The forward added that she grew up in “a compound of almost 100 people” in the Mushin area of Lagos and had to “wash people’s toilets and bathrooms for money”.

Ajibade came through the ranks of FC Robo Queens in Lagos and played for the team until she moved to Avaldsnes IL in Norway at the age of 17.

She then joined Atletico Madrid Feminino in 2021.