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After securing a win in their previous League One match at the weekend against Ipswich Town thanks to two late goals from Luke O’Nien and Aiden McGeady, Sunderland are back in action once again with an away clash against Shrewsbury Town this evening.

On the chalkboard

In terms of which players Black Cats manager Lee Johnson could select to be a part of his starting XI on this occasion, one player that featured in the win at Ipswich that should not be in the starting XI this evening is Nathan Broadhead.

Before being replaced at the 80-minute mark last weekend, Broadhead had just 29 touches of the ball, fewer than goalkeeper Ron-Thorben Hoffmann who had 33 touches.

In those 29 touches, Broadhead only managed to make 11 passes with no crosses, key passes or even a shot at goal.

The 23-year-old also failed to complete any of the three dribbles he attempted, ultimately earning himself a rather uninspiring overall match rating of 6.3/10, making him one of Sunderland’s lowest-rated players on the day according to SofaScore.

Despite playing out of his normal centre-forward position against Ipswich where he played in the left-midfield position, it could be in Sunderland’s best interest if Johnson takes him out of the starting XI for the match against Shrewsbury and potentially bring him on as a second-half substitute if they need another attacking option on the pitch depending on what the scoreline is.

Since joining the Wearside club on a loan deal from Premier League side Everton back in August, the Englishman, who has been described as a “unique” player by Johnson, has started just two of the nine league appearances he’s made and has failed to score a goal or provide an assist in the league but has managed to score once for the club in their 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic in the Carabao Cup back in September.

Taking into account his rather unimpressive performance against Ipswich and his lack of goal contributions in the league so far this season, it could cost Sunderland dearly if they start Broadhead and he isn’t able to secure them a win given how the team are five points off the top of the league table.

In other news: McGeady returns, £2.9K-p/w star axed in 2 changes: Predicted Sunderland starting XI – opinion

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Celtic are interested in signing Borussia Dortmund right-back Jeremy Toljan, according to Tuesday’s print edition of The Daily Mail (page 78) via The Daily Record.

What’s the word?

That position has long been identified as a problem area for Celtic.

With Anthony Ralston out of action due to ankle ligament damage, Mikael Lustig has the right-back role to himself while Cristian Gamboa has failed to make the substitutes bench in the three matches since the winter break. Lustig and Gamboa are both out of contract in June.

Ralston looked like a right-sided Kieran Tierney when he was given a short run last season but after picking up an injury he has never quite recovered and spent time on loan at Dundee United.

So far this season Toljan has only featured in the Regionalliga West but last term he played in 27 first team matches. In total, the 24-year-old has 72 Bundesliga appearances from Dortmund and Hoffenheim to call on.

Whether he would commit to a permanent move remains to be seen but with three days left in the transfer window a loan deal could suit everyone’s requirements.

Exactly what Celtic need

If there is one position that Celtic fans want to welcome a signing in, it is surely at right-back.

Lustig has taken the club to heart but unfortunately his legs are no longer able to provide the same sort of contribution that made the 2016/17 season so special – highlighted by his solo goal in the 5-1 win at Ibrox.

Toljan looks to have all the attributes to come in and hit the ground running. Whether he can be convinced to sign a permanent deal is another matter but the back four needs balance and stability on the right-hand side as soon as possible.

Newcastle United have been linked with numerous talents across Europe since the completion of their Saudi-backed takeover in October. The new owners are just two weeks away from their first transfer window and plenty of eyes will be on the Magpies throughout January.

However, one name who sticks out amid an array of players is Barcelona attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho.

What’s the story?

After leaving Liverpool for the Nou Camp almost four years ago in what was reportedly a £142m deal, the Brazilian has seen his career stagnate significantly.

Since joining the Spanish heavyweights, the 29-year-old has made 106 appearances, scoring 25 goals and registering 14 assists. By comparison, Coutinho managed 54 goals and 45 assists in 201 appearances whilst his former Anfield manager Jurgen Klopp has hailed him as a “world-class player” in the past.

Furthermore, the Brazilian was sent out on loan to Bayern Munich in the 2019/20 season in a bid to restore his confidence. He produced 20 goal involvements in 38 appearances alongside winning the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. However, a permanent move to the Bavarian powerhouse never materialised.

The £18m-rated attacking midfielder, previously labelled a “magician” by compatriot Roberto Firmino, has seen his predicament in Catalonia worsen this season. So far, Coutinho has only made a starting lineup in La Liga on five occasions, playing just 501 minutes in the Spanish top flight.

Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb claimed (via Chronicle Live) that the playmaker will depart Barcelona next month amid the Tyneside club being linked with a move for him.

However, the likelihood of a move to Newcastle being completed doesn’t bode well, with the Brazilian’s wages likely to prove a stumbling block for numerous interested suitors.

Coutinho would be an excellent signing

With the Magpies sat in 19th place in the Premier League, Eddie Howe will be looking for significant reinforcements to help Newcastle’s survival bid.

Callum Wilson has scored a third of their 18 league goals this term and an injury to the English centre-forward would prove detrimental, with Newcastle’s back-up options majorly inferior – winger Allan Saint-Maximin is his only team-mate to have scored more than once in the current league campaign.

The Tynesiders have seriously lacked creativity from midfield this season, and Coutinho would likely make a major difference.

Players such as Miguel Almiron have once again failed to make a real impact, with the Paraguayan scoring just 13 goals and registering five assists in 106 appearances for Newcastle since joining almost three years ago. Indeed, as per WhoScored, Coutinho has averaged a higher seasonal league rating than the 27-year-old in each of the last four campaigns, including 2021/22.

It seems unlikely now, but if Howe could lure the former Liverpool maestro to St James’ Park, it could prove a major boost to the Tyneside club’s Premier League survival hopes.

In other news – “Senior source says”: George Caulkin delivers off-field update which will delight NUFC fans

Ireland bounced back from their nine-wicket defeat against Trinidad and Tobago two days ago by handing out the same result on the home side in the rematch

Cricinfo staff24-Apr-2010
ScorecardIreland bounced back from their nine-wicket defeat against Trinidad and Tobago two days ago by handing out the same result on the home side in the rematch. Paul Stirling powered them towards the target of 105 with a rapid 57 from 41 balls after the bowling attack had put in a much improved performance.Boyd Rankin, who was dispatched for 40 in two overs earlier in the week, removed the dangerous William Perkins and conceded just 12 runs in three overs. George Dockrell also took two important scalps in his first spell as the home side floundered having opted to bat first.Trent Johnston produced an economical four-over spell to keep the pressure on while the Ireland fielders created two run outs in a professional display. Dockrell returned to claim his three wicket and Peter Connell closed out the innings with a ball remaining.The asking rate was never an issue for Ireland but they didn’t hang around in the chase. Stirling played his shots as William Porterfield opted for the anchor role in an opening stand of 100 in 14 overs which took Ireland to the brink of victory. Stirling was the one man to fall, stumped off a wide as he charged Sherwin Ganga.The gloss was taken off the victory, though, by the news that Alex Cusack has been diagnosed with shin splints and his bowling role is uncertain for the World Twenty20.

Cristiano Ronaldo may have been hit with a one-match ban in the Saudi Pro League, but the Al-Nassr forward says he “can’t stop”.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Portuguese serving one-match suspensionSanctioned for reaction to terrace tauntsKeeping himself busy away from the fieldGetty Images – Goal ARWHAT HAPPENED?

The Portuguese superstar will sit out a meeting with Al-Hazm on Thursday after being sanctioned by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). That punishment relates to the crude gesture he performed during a dramatic 3-2 victory over Al-Shabab – as he reacted to more “Messi” taunts from the stands.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo will now be taking an enforced break from competitive action, but that does not mean that he will be putting his feet up away from the field. As a man famed for his relentless work ethic, CR7 is keeping himself busy in the gym.

WHAT RONALDO SAID

As his team-mates ready themselves for another Pro League outing – in a bid to keep themselves in title contention – Ronaldo has posted a “can’t stop” message as he seeks to be ready for a return to action in the first leg of an AFC Champions League quarter-final clash with Al-Ain on Monday.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Ronaldo will be a big miss for Al-Nassr as, despite now being 39 years of age, he has maintained remarkable individual standards this season and has plundered 34 goals through 35 appearances in all competitions.

Monty Panesar claimed career-best figures of 7 for 60 as Somerset crumbled after the completion of Marcus Trescothick’s 50th first-class ton

Ivo Tennant at Taunton22-Aug-2012
ScorecardMonty Panesar’s seven wickets will have caught the eye of England selector James Whitaker•Getty ImagesIt was quite apparent who James Whitaker, the England selector, had come to watch at Taunton. In days gone by this would, of course, have been Marcus Trescothick, who completed the 50th first-class century of his career following the lengthy rain stoppage on Tuesday. Sadly, he is no longer an international option. Monty Panesar, however, can only have enhanced his chances of playing Test cricket again through taking career-best figures of 7 for 60.Indeed, Whitaker’s first question upon arrival at the County Ground was to ask how “the Sultan” was bowling. The answer was pretty well, although Trescothick, not altogether surprisingly, mastered him on a pitch that is rather different from the flat surfaces Phil Frost used to prepare here. There was turn for Panesar on the first morning, more now and doubtless there will be plenty come the final day.Panesar snaffled Jos Buttler, who appeared to be in England T20 mode when he attempted to clear deep mid off without being to the pitch of the ball; Alex Barrow, picked up at short leg; Peter Trego, whose leg stump was knocked out by a quicker one that scuttled through; Saj Mahmood, also taken at short leg; and Steve Kirby, edging to the wicketkeeper. What with Abdur Rehman going leg-before to Chris Nash, Somerset had lost their last five wickets for just six runs.Certainly Panesar pushed the ball through, but it is not possible to quibble with such figures. He knows that Danny Briggs, his fellow left arm spinner and a member of England’s World Twenty20 squad, is uppermost in the selectors’ thoughts at present and to excel like this in front of Whitaker was timely indeed. He does not at present hold a full central contract and neither could he account for Trescothick, who gained the 11 runs he required to move to a century in the morning through three characteristic shots: a cover drive, barely moving his feet, a dab to third man (twice) and a leg glance to the boundary.There were 18 fours in this century, scored off 167 balls, and he had made 123 in all when he looked, initially, to steer Nash to third man, changed his mind too late and edged to Ben Brown. “I didn’t sleep very well, I was a bit nervous,” Trescothick said. “At this stage of my career I am 25 or 30 centuries short of what I should have. It puts into context the achievements of Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash.” He praised Panesar for being “very consistent” and said he expects this pitch to break up.When Sussex batted, it was without much conviction. Nash was the exception, batting aggressively until he flicked Gemaal Hussain to short midwicket, where Trescothick had shrewdly placed a catcher. In the following over Peter Trego gained sufficient movement away from the left handed Ed Joyce to have him caught behind. The Sussex captain, incidentally, had been the one person to clap his opposite number when the milestone century was reached: Panesar and all thought Trescothick was caught at short leg when on 60.The middle order of Murray Goodwin, who is out of touch, Mike Yardy and Luke Wells all went in spite of having played themselves in. Rehman, bowling like Panesar from the Pavilion End, did not achieve the same turn or bite, yet he took two wickets. Luke Wright was leg-before to Hussain shortly before the close, not appreciating the verdict of umpire Rob Bailey one little bit. This is a close contest, for sure.

Afghanistan continued their seemingly inexorable march to the World Twenty20 with a 14-run win over Scotland at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Cricinfo staff10-Feb-2010
Scorecard
Afghanistan celebrate their second successive win•International Cricket CouncilAfghanistan continued their seemingly inexorable march to the World Twenty20 with a 14-run win over Scotland at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Noor Ali’s blistering 42, when wickets were falling around him, provided the early impetus in Afghanistan’s 131 for 7 and Shapoor Zadran’s remarkable bowling – he conceded just eight runs in four overs – held Scotland at bay to ensure Afghanistan an all but certain passage into the Super Fours.Scotland’s decision to field this morning appeared to have paid dividends when Gordon Drummond picked up Karim Sadiq and Shafiqullah in his first over, but Ali was unperturbed and crashed four fours and a six in his 42. With his partner striking the ball so cleanly, Mohammad Shahzad could afford to play a more sedate innings. His 30 contained just a single boundary, but he rotated the strike well in the 71-run partnership.Kyle Coetzer grabbed three quick wickets – including the hero of yesterday’s game, Mohammad Nabi, first ball – to peg Afghanistan back, and when Samiullah Shenwari picked out Gavin Hamilton off Jan Stander in the 19th over, Afghanistan were struggling at 116 for 7. But a late surge from Raees Ahmadzai and Mirwais Ashraf took the score past 130 and gave Afghanistan’s bowlers a decent total to defend.Scotland would have been hoping for a positive start to their chase, but Navdeep Poonia fell second ball to Ashraf, and Zadran proved almost impossible to get away in his opening spell. When Kyle Coetzer’s painful innings ended on the first ball of the fifth over, he had struggled to two from 15 balls. Hamilton and Neil McCallum clawed their way back with a 66-run partnership for the third wicket, but when they were both dismissed in consecutive balls, Afghanistan had found their opening.Hamid Hassan bowled Jan Stander and Fraser Watts, and when Drummond and Simon Smith fell to Mohammad Nabi in the penultimate over, Scotland’s hopes were extinguished. Hassan shattered Majid Haq’s stumps with the last ball of the innings to seal an emphatic victory, sending Scotland crashing out of contention and Afghanistan almost certainly through to the next round.If they beat the USA and Scotland defeats Ireland, then the USA, Scotland and Ireland will be locked on two points each with net run-rate deciding which team joins Afghanistan in the Super Four stage from Group A.

The attacking midfielder totaled 31 goal contributions during the regular season, and could yet be a future option for Gregg Berhalter

There is no doubting who the biggest star is in MLS anymore. Lionel Messi will wear that crown for as long as he calls Inter Miami his home, drawing in massive crowds wherever he goes. He may not have been able to lift his new team into playoff contention in 2023, but as the postseason rumbles on without him, the league remains abuzz from it's first brush with 'Messi-mania'.

As well as the biggest name, Messi is almost certainly the best player in MLS right now. But despite his quite ridiculous nomination given how little he played in the league due to his injury problems, he will not be taking home the MLS MVP award for 2023. That prize is Acosta's.

Lucho Acosta has spent the past season spearheading FC Cincinnati's best-ever regular season, as they were crowned Supporters' Shield winners while also earning a place in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, where they were beaten by Messi and Miami.

Acosta tallied 17 goals and 14 assists across all regular season competitions, and as a result, was handed the MVP honors. Actively in the process of acquiring his United States citizenship, the 29-year-old is also looking to earn eligibility to represent the U.S. men's national team, and potentially play a role in the 2026 World Cup on American soil.

What the diminutive Acosta lacks in size, he makes up for in skill, intelligence and awareness across the entire pitch. If Gregg Berhalter has the opportunity to add Acosta to his ranks, it automatically raises the standards of the USMNT.

From a failed move to Paris Saint-Germain to turmoil with D.C. United, and now MVP with FC Cincy, Acosta has adapted and continued to excel in MLS. Now, he's finally being recognized for his brilliance.

Getty ImagesWhere it all began

Acosta could barely have gotten a better footballing education as he worked his way through the youth ranks at Boca Juniors; the Argentine giants known as the club of the late, great Diego Maradona.

At just 21, Acosta made the move to the United States, joining D.C. United on loan in 2016 from his beloved Boca. He made an instant impact, with three goals and eight assists in his first season, and United turned his initial loan deal into a permanent one during his first year with the club.

Two years on, Acosta was regarded as one of the best players in MLS, and his lore only grew after D.C. added legendary Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney to their ranks. The duo even scored what might be the most famous goal in league history, while Rooney dubbed Acosta as "one of the best I've played with" during his time in the capital.

However, after a collapsed transfer to PSG, Acosta left United in 2020 on a free transfer, joining Liga MX side Atlas, but returned to MLSwith Cincinnati in 2021 as a Designated Player. Now, two years on, the Argentine has turned Cincy from cellar dwellers to MLS Cup challengers.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesParisian dreams up in smoke

In January 2019, Acosta was the darling of MLS. Flourishing alongside Rooney, he asserted himself as one of the brightest up-and-coming players in the league. Meanwhile, with Miguel Almiron having completed a $27m move from Atlanta United to Newcastle of the Premier League months prior, all eyes were on MLS for who the 'next Almiron' would be.

PSG certainly felt that Acosta fit the bill, and they pursued him like hawk late in the MLS transfer window. Per The Athletic, then-GM of D.C. United, Dave Kasper, traveled with Acosta to Paris to meet with the French giants through an 'unnamed intermediary' – but that's when the deal began to collapse.

The intermediary appeared to give false information to both parties ahead of time, and the two sides couldn't come to an agreement regarding a fee for Acosta, who United valued at $13-15m, while PSG's offer was $9.1m.

Whether Acosta would have made the grade at such an established European powerhouse is anyone's guess, but PSG's interest highlights the level of talent we are talking about here.

Getty ImagesA captain & a champion

When FC Cincinnati joined MLS as an expansion franchise in 2019, they were genuinely awful. There's no point in holding back or trying to frame it in a polite manner. They were awful, and it wasn't just one year of it; it was three-straight seasons where they finished as the worst team in MLS, managing just 14 league wins in that stretch.

Their fortunes changed in the summer of year three, though. Acosta arrived, and they built a squad around a player who had previously shown so much potential in MLS, but left due to the club refusing to build around him and provide the talent needed for him to truly succeed. Cincy didn't make that mistake.

Come 2022, Acosta's first full season with the Orange and Blue, he was named captain, and they qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Progress.

This time around, however, has been the stuff of dreams. Cincy went seven games unbeaten to start the season, and only suffered one loss through their first 22 matches in all competitions. Acosta kept scoring, assisting and leading them to glory, and the Argentine even earned the captains' honors for MLS in their 2023 All-Star game against Arsenal in July.

The 2023 regular-season campaign from Cincinnati has gone down in league history as one the best-ever, only second to the 2021 run by the New England Revolution. Acosta was named on the ballot for 2023 MVP, and is now the first-ever winner of the award for the Orange and Blue. He almost single-handedly turned the franchise around, and is now being touted as an individual who could do that on the national stage – only not with Argentina.

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Getty ImagesBerhalter's next dual-national?

The 2026 World Cup is still over two years away, but the USMNT's planning for the tournament – which America will co-host – began the minute team crashed out of the 2022 edition in the last 16.

One aspect of that planning, that admittedly began before Qatar last winter, has been the convincing of dual-nationals to commit to joining Berhalter's squad. Berhalter has been part-coach, part-recruiter over the past few years, and has secured the services of enough players to make his roster one of the world's most talented.

Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Yunus Musah, Antonee Robinson, Malik Tillman, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jesus Ferreira are just some of the high-profile names to have committed themselves to the U.S. cause in recent times, while the successful pursuit of Folarin Balogun earlier in 2023 left fans abuzz with anticipation as he rejected England's advances. Recent dual-national call-ups Kristoffer Lund, Kevin Paredes and Lennard Maloney could yet become reliable members of the squad in the build-up to 2026, too.

Next on Berhalter's radar is Acosta, who earlier this year started his American citizenship process with a dream of playing for the USMNT. In June, Acosta told that he would "obviously" accept a call-up to the squad if it arrived. The Argentine midfielder added: "It’s one reason I started (the citizenship) process."

Securing Acosta's services would offer the USMNT a veteran presence in their incredibly youthful attack, while allowing them to have an alternative to Gio Reyna at the No.10 position. Reyna's injury history is a cause for concern, and there is no clear back-up for the Borussia Dortmund youngster in the current U.S. squad. Acosta ticks every box that the USMNT need.

The revitalised Red Devils already have one piece of silverware in the bag and they are very well placed to add three more trophies this season…

Manchester United's longest trophy drought in four decades is finally over.

After six years of frustration, mediocrity and division, Erik ten Hag brought the League Cup back to Old Trafford to cap a superb start to his spell in charge.

Fellow top-four hopefuls Newcastle were dispatched with relative ease at Wembley, with United never really needing to get out of second gear on their way to earning an efficient 2-0 victory.

Ten Hag's side were far more impressive over the two legs of their Europa League knockout play-off tie against Barcelona, as they put on a feast of free-flowing attacking football, but Sunday's League Cup success served as proof that they can also grind out a result when the stakes are at their highest.

An FA Cup fifth-round tie against West Ham is next up on Wednesday, followed by a trip to Anfield in the Premier League four days later.

Should they win both of those games, talk of a clean sweep of trophies will intensify heading into their Europa League last-16 tie against Real Betis.

United have the opportunity to make history in the final months of the season and GOAL is on hand to examine the key reasons why the quadruple is a realistic target for Ten Hag's relentless Red Devils…

GettyCasemiro: The ultimate winning machine

"Tell them I'll fix this."

Casemiro's reported message to his agent after United's 4-0 loss at Brentford at the start of the season could one day be etched into his statue outside Old Trafford.

The Brazilian joined the club from Real Madrid for £70 million ($82m) just over a week later, and that price tag has since proven to be a bargain – even for a man who turned 31 on February 23.

United's Carabao Cup triumph was a ninth successive major final win for Casemiro, who lifted five Champions League titles among a whole host of other honours at Santiago Bernabeu.

His brilliantly executed header set United on their way against Newcastle and supporters are already used to the midfielder lifting the team in the biggest matches.

"It's one more trophy for me and I always welcome it, regardless of the competition," he told TNT Sports after the final. "My history has always been about winning since I was a kid, so here it isn't any different. I'm here to help my team-mates and Manchester United."

That winning mentality has rubbed off on the rest of the squad and with Casemiro in the starting XI, United cannot be considered underdogs in any contest – he just needs to avoid any further suspensions!

AdvertisementGettyArsenal's lack of depth

Of the three trophies still available to United in 2022-23, the Premier League seems to be the most out of reach for United – but only on paper.

They are currently eight points behind current leaders Arsenal, who beat Ten Hag's side 3-2 in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash at the Emirates Stadium on January 22.

That result appeared to spell the end of United's title chances, but the Gunners subsequently suffered an alarming blip, sparked by crashing out of the FA Cup at the hands of Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta's side then lost at Everton and drew with Brentford at home before being beaten again by City on a Premier League stage, which allowed United to make up some ground.

Arsenal have bounced back by winning their last two outings against Aston Villa and Leicester, but there is a niggling sense that they are just one or two injuries away from another damaging run. Indeed, Partey's absence proved costly in their 3-1 defeat to City, and Gabriel Jesus is still yet to return from a long-term ligament issue.

The fixture list is set to pile up for Arteta and his players as they prepare for the latter stages of the Europa League, meaning a first league title since 2003-04 is still by no means sewn up. United look perfectly poised to pounce on any further mistakes.

Getty ImagesLethal weapon Rashford

Marcus Rashford hit his 25th goal in all competitions for United in the Carabao Cup final, with the Press Association confirming him as the scorer of their second goal on Monday.

The 25-year-old's deflected effort initially went down as a Sven Botman own goal, but he has benefitted from a slice of retrospective good fortune to increase his scoring tally in what has already been his best-ever individual campaign in a United shirt.

Long-term injury absentee Phil Jones, who has been a team-mate of Rashford's since 2016, was full of praise for the forward while covering the final for .

"He’s been brilliant and, on current form, he’s probably the best player in the world," he said. "You can see his body shape, he’s strengthened in the gym and worked really hard on himself. The club have worked with him really well. People don’t see the work he puts in after training. I’m delighted for him, he deserves it.”

The biggest compliment we can give Rashford is that Jones' claim does not feel too bold. The England international is now the man that United rely on to make the difference in the final third. More often than not, he delivers the spark needed to unlock defences and turn draws into wins.

In the absence of a natural No.9, with Burnley loanee Wout Weghorst adopting more of a target man-type role, Rashford has taken up the job of United's primary goalscorer, and he's proven himself against the highest standard of opposition.

He is United's main weapon, a consistent, clinical force of nature that defenders are powerless to stop. They simply cannot be written off in any game in which Rashford is on the pitch.

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Getty ImagesMan City's Champions League pressure

“People say [City should win it], but I always have the feeling it’s so difficult to do that," Pep Guardiola said before the first leg of City's round-of-16 Champions League tie against RB Leipzig. "Every season it’s more and more difficult. We want to do our best and get to the quarter-finals but what is going to happen is going to happen. At the end of the day, our destiny is already written.

"Sometimes we have been close, sometimes not. Whatever I have done personally in the past or in the future, I am going to fail. Nothing will be enough.”

These are the words of a man who is feeling the pressure to finally deliver City's maiden European crown. After six seasons of failure, they are being billed as favourites to win this season's competition, and after a 1-1 draw in Germany, they will be expected to see off Leipzig on home soil and advance to the last eight.

Guardiola's side are also only two points behind Arsenal in the title race – albeit having played a game more – but the Spaniard won't be judged on whether he delivers the club's fifth Premier League trophy since 2016.

They haven't been as consistent as usual domestically, despite the scoring prowess of summer signing Erling Haaland, and it may well be the case that Guardiola is prepared to sacrifice the title in order to win his fourth Champions League as a manager.

This inner conflict only benefits United, who seemingly have an easier end of season run than their city rivals, and could soon emerge as the main contenders to overtake Arsenal at the summit.

The 18-year-old was officially presented as a Real Madrid player on Friday and here, Goal looks at the biggest teenage talents to emerge from Brazil

Getty ImagesPele

Considered by most as Brazil's greatest ever player and by many as the finest footballer of all time, Pele was a World Cup winner at the age of 17 in 1958, having made his debut for Santos as a 15-year-old in 1956.

went on to score over 1,000 goals in his career, spent mostly with Santos before a short stint in the USA with the New York Cosmos. He is the only player to have won three World Cups and is still Brazil's top scorer with 77 goals from his 92 games.

AdvertisementGettyZico

Such was Zico's talent that the Flamengo forward was nicknamed "the white Pele" in his homeland. And although he never won a World Cup with Brazil, he is still regarded as one of the finest footballers ever produced by the South American nation.

Zico made his Flamengo debut as an 18-year-old and would go on to score over 400 goals for the Rio de Janeiro side, most of those in the first of two spells either side of a two-season stint with Udinese. He finished his career with Kashima Antlers in Japan and scored 48 goals for Brazil.

gettyRomario

Romario started his career with Vasco da Gama in Rio, initially just as a fan and later as a professional once he had made his debut just days after his 19th birthday. At the age of 22, he then moved to PSV Eindhoven and later to Barcelona.

Short in stature, the striker was famous for his lobbed goals in a spectacular career which saw him play until beyond his 40th birthday. He won the World Cup in 1994 with Brazil and hit 55 goals in 70 games for the Selecao overall.

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GettyRonaldo

Ronaldo made his debut for Cruzeiro at just 16 years of age and after an impressive year, he followed a similar path to Romario as he joined PSV Eindhoven and then Barcelona, before moving to Inter and Real Madrid later in his career.

Part of the 1994 World Cup-winning squad with Brazil, did not feature that year, but played in two finals and claimed the trophy as the star in 2002. He scored 62 goals in 98 games for the Selecao and despite suffering a number of injuries, is among the nation's best-ever players.