Sport
New footage sheds light on Manchester City’s touchline bust-up with Arsenal after 1-0 loss
That's back-to-back in the Premier League for Pep's side.
New footage from inside the Emirates Stadium has shed some more light on the bust-up between Kyle Walker, Erling Haaland and members of Arsenal’s backroom staff following Manchester City’s 1-0 defeat over the weekend.
Walker and Haaland were involved in a touchline spat with one of the Arsenal coaching staff as the teams were leaving the pitch on Sunday, the individual who has now been revealed to be set-piece coach Nicola Jover, a former Man City employee himself.
Despite the cameras catching glimpses of the argument, it was only later in the coverage of the post-match scenes that an angle showing the altercation from start to finish that viewers got a clearer picture of what happened.
While it is still unclear what words were exchanged by the immediate trio involved, the latest footage appears to show Jover reaching out for a handshake only for Walker to wave his arms in dismissal before growing frustrated and turning to confront the coach.
Once again, although it is not yet known what was said by Jover or Walker during the bust-up, there is presumably a trigger beyond the City fullback refusing to shake his former coach’s hand, with Haaland also coming over to intervene before the fight escalates further.
As you can see in the clip, several other members from each team ultimately get involved before Walker, Haaland and others are shepherded down the tunnel.
Serving on the punditry panel, Gary Neville joked that players “don’t like set-pieces on the training pitch full-stop, let alone the opposition set-piece coach having a go”, whereas former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott suggested that City “are not used to losing” and that instead of their usual “professionalism”, he believes “a nerve has been picked here”.
It will be interesting to find out exactly what was said, whether this was simply emotions boiling over after a loss, or perhaps even a personal issue between a player and his old coach. Speaking to media after the game, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed he knows what happened but didn’t want to divulge it.
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Shaking his head and simply adding, “They know it” — presumably referring to Walker and Haaland — Pep also went on to say that he understood the reaction from the Arsenal staff, suggesting that the incident predominantly arose as a result of his own players’ reactions.
That’s back-to-back wins for Arsenal against the Blues following the Community Shield victory at the start of this year’s campaign but a first Premier League victory against his former club for Mikel Arteta since becoming a manager.
In fact, it was the Gunners’ first league victory against City since 2015, before Guardiola had even arrived at the Etihad.
Nevertheless, the Catalan coach’s post-match interview was filled with plenty more humour as well, clearly taking the defeat in stride and even brushing off the jokes that Arteta is a “mini-me” with a light-hearted comeback.
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Featured Image — Kyle Walker (via Instagram)/Sky Sports/Man City (via Twitter)
Sport
Everton manager Sean Dyche randomly pops up in the music video for Blossoms’ new single – and he’s great
Danny Jones
Did anyone else think they’d ever see Sean Dyche make his acting debut in the role of a Northern crime boss in a silly little music video for the Blossoms?
No, us neither but that’s the bizarre alternate reality we’re living in, apparently.
Blossoms are currently working on the fifth studio album and have already released their lead single entitled, ‘To Do List (After The Break-Up)’, but now they have a new song out as well, with a rather amusing music video to go along with it and somehow Sean Dyche has found himself the star.
The Stockport band teased the curious collaboration in April, giving us just short glimpses of the Everton manager and former Burnley boss with very little explanation – all we know is that it looked funny and it was.
Dyche is still busy trying to finish the Premier League campaign as strong as possible after successfully navigating the Toffees to safety even in spite of their points deductions this season, but it sounds like keeping them up has given him enough time to moonlight as an actor.
Sending the indie five-piece on a mission to collect something of value (yes, that’s all the info we have at this point as the story is still to be continued), it looks like the Kettering-born coach has a larger role to play in whatever this narrative turns out to be.
Playing what can only be described as some kind of semi-Manc mafia figure on the hunt for a very valuable piece of art, i.e. a big giant gorilla statue – one that many Stopfordians spotted being lugged around various parts of the borough –
They also shared a little bit of BTS footage from the shoot for the music video last week. Some lovely head-bobbing and unassuming surroundings here:
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As for the track itself, it’s a bit of stylistic change for the lads who’ve mastered their 80s-tinged indie formula over the past decade but it’s an absolute pop and is already stuck in our heads.
Revealing that they’ve collaborated with contemporary funk, disco and electronic icons Jungle on the track, it doesn’t take too long to hear the influences. Look forward to hearing it at Wythenshawe Park this summer.
You can watch the music video for ‘What Can I Say?’ and the ginger-goatee’d football manager extraordinaire in full character HERE.
He’s not the only footballing figure who’s made an entertainment crossover recently either.
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Featured Images — Blossoms (via YouTube)/Virgin EMI
Sport
Tributes paid to former Manchester City winger Ian Mellor, dead at 74
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring following the death of former Manchester City star, Ian Mellor, who has sadly passed away at the age of 74.
Mellor, from Sale in Greater Manchester, played as a left winger for Man City as well as the likes of Norwich City, Brighton, Chester, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford.
With his family and former club confirming the death on Wednesday, 1 May, social media has been awash with people paying their respects to the seasoned ex-pro who sadly died following a long battle with amyloidosis, a rare and incurable disease which affects organs such as the heart, brains and kidneys.
Replying to his son and ex-Liverpool turned Sky Sports broadcaster, Neil Mellor, the club paid their respects to the former Blue who made 50 appearances for the club.
Mellor began his career just down the road at Wythenshawe Amateurs before going on to represent City from 1970 to 1973.
A boyhood fan of the club, he scored 10 goals whilst wearing Sky Blue and also went on to win the Charity Shield with them back in 1972.
Eventually nicknamed ‘Spider’ for a good chunk of his career due to his long-legged stature, he remained attached to the beautiful game for years after his retirement and went on to become a committee member for the Former Players Association at City.
Joining the likes of all his former clubs, Chester City said: “Everyone at [the club] is saddened to hear of the passing of Ian Mellor. Sending all our love to you and your family, Neil Mellor.
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His son Neil’s goodbye has touched many online too, calling his dad his “hero” and his “everything”.
He also went on to thank locally-based end-of-life care organisation and charity, St Ann’s Hospice, who have facilities all over Greater Manchester and who helped care for Ian in his final days.
Our thoughts are with his friends and family as well as those whose lives he touched through football during this difficult time.
Rest in peace.
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Featured Images — Manchester City/Neil Mellor (via X)
