Manchester City are set for an absolutely massive game against Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final and while nerves are inevitable, one football veteran believes they are about to “blow them away”: Wayne Rooney.
Yes, that’s right, the Manchester United and England legend turned DC United coach has given his two cents ahead of the huge away fixture at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, stating that Man City are simply “on another level” at the moment and will dispatch with the Madrid rather easily, in fact.
Writing in a column for The Times, Rooney insisted that while Los Blancos may have dumped City out last in last year’s competition at this very same stage, he believes that “Haaland has improved [them] so much” that it won’t be anywhere near as tight a game (6-5 on aggregate) this time around.
Big words.
Haaland has improved Man City so much that I expect them to blow Real Madrid away.👇https://t.co/NDryOp1psL
Rooney reckons City will ‘blow Madrid away’. No pressure, lads.
The 37-year-old said that while Pep Guardiola has already the right players and tools to get the job done this time anyway (putting last season’s disappointment down to “a mad five minutes”), he believes the Norwegian phenomenon “is almost unstoppable on the counter”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Explaining that City don’t have to rely on dominating possession to hurt teams so much these days, he went on to add that how “if an opponent opens up and leaves space, Haaland is right there, running in behind”, with the 22-year-old displaying a frightening amount of pace, especially given his height.
As a result, the one-time Champions League winner himself says “Madrid will be much more cautious this time” as the Norwegian will make them nervous.”
ADVERTISEMENT
On the contrary, however, when asked what he thought of Rooney’s remarks, Madrid midfielder and serial winner Toni Kroos laughed off the bold claim, simply stating how City were predicted to win the tie last year but that he and his teammates went on to win the whole thing.
Translation: “Rooney said City will destroy us? They said the same last season, then we won the Champions League. This doesn’t affect us. We are already motivated enough.”
Safe to say that Kroos is more than confident the 14-time European champions will get the job done over the two legs, regardless of who might take the lead — just look at last year.
Speaking of, Rooney did make little mention of the two legs but noted that Guardiola’s team performed brilliantly both home and away last time around, suggesting it was simply one of those “improbable” results that football throws up and City have been building towards this like most CL winning teams.
ADVERTISEMENT
Although he did go on to concede that his predictions “may be wrong” — admitting that “there is no side better at disproving arguments against them than Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid in the Champions League” — he still believes this Pep and his team will be victorious thanks to their star man.
The question is, even if they do make it past Madrid, will they finally go on to lift their first European trophy? Rooney went so far as to say that if it does happen, “as much it pains [him]… you’d have to put City up there with United’s 1999 treble winners as the best Premier League team of all time.
While this new venture is focused on youth football, it’s their second in the United States after New York City FC and could help create new pro pathways into the sport at a grassroots level.
Introducing CFG franchise number 13: Man City North Texas FC.
As per an official statement on their website, “Man City North Texas FC delivers youth soccer programs for boys and girls aged 8–19, led by Manchester City coaches and built on the same coaching methodology developed within the Club.
“Every session is designed to help players become better soccer players, technically, tactically, and mentally, through modern, enjoyable training that builds confidence on and off the pitch.”
Basically serving as another academy setup across the pond, North Texas FC will no doubt help not only develop and create opportunities for aspiring young footballers over in the US, but likely serve as yet another feeder programme/outlet for tapping up the latest American talents.
We’ve already seen fairly recently examples such as ex-players Jack Harrison and Zack Steffen coming through the likes of New York and remaining on City’s wider books and either making the move over for a taste of first-team football or being loaned out to other teams.
Even if they ultimately go on to be sold, the aim is to help nurture youngsters and promise three main takeaways: an “authentic Manchester City methodology”, delivered by actual MCFC coaches, and a clear development pathway.
CITYCOACH gives coaches around the world access to the Manchester City methodology – sharing the knowledge, practices, and philosophy that shape how we develop players at every level ⚽️
This most recent ‘youth soccer club’ is just the latest in a long line of fresh Manchester City Football Programs created over the past decade or so, with coaching now being provided to children of all ages across a total of 38 cities in 14 countries.
At present, more than 40,000 kids are estimated to participate in these schemes every year, and thanks to Man City North Texas FC, that number is set to climb even further.
So, if you or someone you know happens to be based in or near the ‘Mean Green’ sporting hub of the ‘Lone Star State’, you can register interest HERE.
Meanwhile, in news closer to home, there are plenty of other big developments happening over at the Etihad Campus. Find out more down below.
The Premier League is keeping its crucial cap on away game ticket prices – for now
Danny Jones
The Premier League has announced it is extending its crucial price cap for away games, as the general cost of match tickets continues to creep up all over the country.
Most season card holders, be they here in Greater Manchester or elsewhere, are likely looking at their annual spending going up simply, so steps like these are key in keeping first division football as affordable as possible.
And that’s just the ongoing cost of living, let alone the clubs that are continuing the trend of charging more each year and, unfortunately, even pricing some supporters out entirely.
With that in mind, the news of England’s top-flight sides voting unanimously to keep the £30 cap intact for at least another two years comes as relief to those who spend most of the year putting their hard-earned cash towards following their team home and away.
BREAKING: The Premier League extend £30 cap on away tickets for another two seasons 🚨 pic.twitter.com/L336aZwmn3
Now confirmed to remain in place until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, travelling fans obviously still spend plenty of money on transport and so on every year, but at least they don’t have to worry about rising general admissions.
At least not for the time being…
Writing in a statement, the Premier League said: “Away fans help create the incredible atmosphere Premier League matches are renowned for. Since the cap’s implementation in 2016, it has contributed to attendance at away games increasing from 82% to 91%.”
They also acknowledged the significant and regular funds that supporters still spend on these trips, with plenty of people online also praising the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which helped spearhead the campaign over a decade ago.
With so many other obstacles still getting in the way of fans making it to games either at their usual stadium or on an away day – not least of all the constant and increasingly frustrating rescheduling of fixtures – it’s good to see this isn’t an area the Prem are trying to target.
As always, the multi-billion-pound business can always seek out other, newer money spinners, and we’re absolutley certain they will. For instance, there’s at least one happening over in Spain that we’d happily see carried over here.
Following the news, this now means that fans will ultimately have enjoyed 12 back-to-back seasons of the benefit, and long may it continue.
Nevertheless, the biggest barrier for people to watch the beautiful game at its highest level in the UK remains the cost of standard tickets.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds and more have already let matchgoers know that their season ticket prices will be going up, and the likes of Man City have already seen backlash for increasing rates amid the expansion of the Etihad Campus.
Danny Jones -
9th May 2023 
