Sam Lee

Big article on a big goalkeeper 💥How he fits in new-look City 💥The technical details of his Anfield save 💥Improvement in his punching 💥His importance to team spirit 💥Irked by idea he can’t pass (so is Pep) nytimes.com/athletic/70361…

You’ve charmed me

🎙️ LET ME TALK: REAL MADRID Join @SamLee and @DavidMooney to discuss: 🔹 Spirit and fight 🔹 Bernardo, the red card, and the offsides 🔹 Creating and finishing chances 🔹 Guardiola's future and what he says 🎧 Sign up to listen in any podcast app: lmtpod.city

I appreciate Guardiola can’t stay at City forever and that he’ll have to pick a time to leave whether things are good, bad or indifferent. But he must see this team are on their way to being very good? If he’s got the energy to go again, he should do it nytimes.com/athletic/71270…

@markcity4eva @Chronic_Mender My entire point is that I want him to stay so why would I be purposely omitting anything that makes it seem more likely that he will stay?

@SamLee @Chronic_Mender You left out the quotes where he said “I’m here and one more year of contract”

I’m completely convinced Guardiola should have one more season with this new City team. In the press conference he said again ‘we’ll be back in the CL next season’. I asked if he’s gonna be part of that and he said he’ll always call City ‘we’, like he does Barca and Bayern. Hmm

The team is being left for a new manager whether he goes this season or next (or later). That’s the job of the sporting director isn’t it. I think they’re on the way to being very good next season and I think the best way to get there is for Guardiola to stay. A new manager may get them there, but if there’s a choice of one more year of Guardiola or go this summer, I would always say do the one more year. There’ll be plenty of years after he goes

@SamLee No, he shouldn't, and I'm not even talking about his results these last few years. Tell me, what's the point of him "rebuilding a team" that he won't be managing in the future? What if another coach comes in and doesn't like the team he left behind? sooner he leaves, better.

I then asked if he is part of that ‘we’ “I will always… City, Champions League, I will say I will be back, because I am part of that. Like at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, when I have been there I am part of it. I am incredibly attached to that club, that organisation because it has been one decade, and when I say we it’s because I’m part of that. I’m part of that.” Suppose you could take that two ways 🤷‍♂️

Full quotes. First answer is about whether he feels he should stay because the team is so promising. “Last season I felt next season would be better and it has been, I have the feeling will be better (again). The fact I’m saying it today after being beaten 5-1 on aggregate it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen (but) it’s my feeling because I know them, I know the quality they have but the seasons are so long and the balance of the team, of course there are many things to improve but in the end they have pride. Of course it’s not easy, 70, 75 minutes 10 against 11 against Real Madrid. In the end how many shots, we tried with Rayan and Jeremy and Erling, everybody made their contribution, Khusanov, everybody was absolutely there. Listen, when we are out (of the Champions League) and our position in the Premier League, still we are not a complete team, that is the reality, I’m not going to (deny it). I’ve been at Manchester City when we were a team in all the different aspects that define a team, and still we are not, but in terms of that we have a final on Sunday, we have the FA Cup against Liverpool here, the Premier League still to fight (for) and finish well the Premier League. Prepare good decisions for next season and next season we will be back in the Champions League. That is what we have to do.”

Vinicius does score this time, seemingly

goal is offside! small victories

Vinicius, who tries to rile the crowd up with his celebration

1-2, goal Madrid

@FJDesanto I would like to!

@SamLee look at this again, the hand is actually the Real Madrid player look close

We have it!

Calculated risk letting Vinicius have loads of one-on-ones but he's made a mess of all of them so it is what it is

no drama there btw

Shirt pull by Ait Nouri on Mbappe there, could be an issue on VAR

that's miles off

Ait Nouri goal but offside again

Nico Gonzalez is going to come on now.

@abellwillring yeah it did look that way

@SamLee Cherki had to release that quicker. Very frustrating.

Doku goal but offside (For now?)