Pep Guardiola has sparked some debate among Manchester City fans after naming Ederson the “best player” on the pitch during their defeat against European heavyweights Real Madrid.
City took the leak against the increasingly familiar Champions League foes with an impressive team move finished off by Erling Haaland following a rocky start to proceedings, but an answer back from fellow phenom Kylian Mbappe saw the team draw level just after half-time and the game opened up even more.
It looked as though the Blues had avoided further late drama after Stockport’s very own Phil Foden earned them a crucial penalty and Haaland once again dispatched it, but it wasn’t to be as former City product Brahim Diaz made an immediate impact off the bench to score against his old club.
The goal came from a stray Ederson kick-out and then bad went to worse as it often does in football and the decision to come early and try to close down Vinicius Jr. saw him chipped by the Brazilian and Jude Bellingham tap home the winner in the 92nd minute. A beyond painful end for the home fans.
It was another midweek capitulation as not only is it the first time they’ve come undone against the 15-time champions but it also felt like a repeat of the same story for much of this season.
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Man City haven’t just been off their usual formidable form in the Premier League, currently sitting fifth in the table, but they seem to have a consistent issue in the UCL: that being letting in late goals.
The collapse against the Spanish giants made it seven goals conceded in the last 15 minutes throughout the tournament so far this season, facing a total of 20 shots from the La Liga leaders on Tuesday night alone – the most of any team visiting the Etihad in any competition since Pep arrived.
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Injuries have caused plenty of defensive problems for sure but the recent rotation of goalkeepers has also caused even more uncertainty in the backline, it would seem, and Ederson’s return between the sticks has already been a point of contention among some fans.
The 31-year-old had an up-and-down game, to put it mildly, having nearly given away a penalty in the opening 10 minutes were it not for an offside flag, before going on to make a number of key blocks in the first half as Madrid piled on early pressure.
As it turns out, his performance was so defiant for the majority of the game that Pep made a point of beginning his post-match interviews by singling out Ederson as the “best player” against a dangerous Madrid team, even despite his mistakes. You can see his press conference in full here:
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Is Pep right – was Ederson the best City player against Madrid even despite his mistakes? Or is he just protecting his team?
It’s fair to say the comment has sat so well with everyone, with one fan writing: “Ederson has actually cost us so many UCLs. They want me to give him credit for kicking the ball”; another said: “Ederson has single-handedly manipulated Manchester City today. Such a brilliant matchplan was ruined by that idiot.”
A third simply wrote, “Ederson, man. He’s finished”. On the other hand, even an opposition fan did side with Pep’s defence of the player, pointing out that “Mbappe and Bellingham would have scored at least two goals each if not for his wonderful saves” earlier in the game.
It’s also worth noting that City have conceded not just the most goals of any side in this year’s Champions League thus far but more in 38 games in all comps this season (56) than they did in 59 games last term (54), and while Ederson hasn’t been in net the whole time, he is still the first choice.
Regardless, the Manchester club have a lot of work to do if they are to make it past Carlo Ancelotti’s side on their home turf in the decider of the playoff tie next Wednesday, 19 February. Will Ederson remain in net or will Guardiola turn to Stefan Ortega this time? We’ll have to wait and see.
You can watch the highlights from the dramatic first leg down below.
Noel Gallagher says he had to ‘switch off’ Kendrick Lamar’s ‘nonsense’ Super Bowl performance
Danny Jones
Noel Gallagher has revealed he wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of the Kendrick Lamar Halftime Show at this year’s Super Bowl.
In case you’ve been living under a giant American football-shaped rock over the last few days, US rapper Kendrick Lamar enjoyed a much bigger second bite at what was already a bit of a ‘break-the-internet’ moment this past Sunday.
Having been chosen to headline Super Bowl LIX, the 37-year-old’s provocative performance during the Halftime Show had plenty of political messaging and made one VERY big and not-so-subtle statement about fellow feuding rapper Drake, sending those watching and reacting on social media into a frenzy.
That being said, despite being the most-watched Halftime Show in the event’s history, not everyone was so keen on it and one of those people, it turns out, was Manchester’s very own Noel Gallagher.
Noel perfrming at Wythenshawe Park.Kendrick’s Super Bowl meme sent round the world.
Speaking on to talkSPORT ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League game against Real Madrid on Tuesday night (which didn’t exactly go to plan…), the Oasis singer, songwriter and lead guitarist was asked if he was a fan of the Super Bowl, to which he revealed he’s been watching the NFL for some time.
With host Andy Goldstein then searching for his opinion on Kendrick and the Halftime Show, Noel began by saying, simply: “I had to switch it off…
“It was absolute nonsense”, said Gallagher, admitting that while he refused to watch all of it, he was initially confused by “like 300 people getting out of a car for the first two minutes.”
He went on to add that it wasn’t necessarily a personal thing against the hip-hop star that he just doesn’t usually rate “the halftime nonsense”, claiming that “it’s usually artists I don’t like.” When asked about his favourite past Super Bowl Halftime performances.
Truth be told, he said he never typically watches it anyway, insisting that he’s “not interested” in the over-the-top spectacle that $10-20 million and often comes under criticism for its artist selection.
We’d like to imagine a world where the older Gallagher brother and ‘King Kenny’ have nothing but mutual respect and admiration for their respective music careers but it’s fair to say he isn’t keen on the Halftime Show shenanigans.
Don’t hold your breath for a surprise Oasis appearance at next year’s Super Bowl.
You can watch Kendrick Lamar’s performance in full HERE or to see it broken down in more detail, check out the video down below:
Featured Images — RTP (via Flickr)/FOX/DAZN (screenshot)
Sport
The legendary Harlem Globetrotters are coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
One of the most iconic teams to ever walk the Earth, the Harlem Globetrotters, are coming to Manchester city centre for an forgettable night of basketball and entertainment.
Announcing a 2025 UK tour, Harlem’s finest crossing the Atlantic to visit a select few British cities and we’re very lucky to be one of them.
Soon set to land on the court and the big stage at AO Arena this Spring, expect big players, and even bigger crowd and a fantastic atmosphere.
Approaching their momentous 100th anniversary in 2026, the Harlem Globetrotters have contributed massively to the global growth of basketball over the decades.
They might be a household name over in America but it’s a true privilege getting to see them overseas, especially here in our hometown.
Now a fully fledged exhibition team still creating memories all over, they continue to be one of the most entertaining basketball brands on the planet.
Famed not only for popularising the slam dunk, the fast break, the forward and point guard positions and the sport’s well-known figure-eight drill, they changed the face of the game forever and now you can see them doing what they do best in one of the UK most legendary arenas.
Experience the thrill of the Harlem Globetrotters live in action as they showcase breathtaking basketball innovation and plenty of fanfare to boot.
Here’s a little teaser of what’s to come:
From mind-boggling trick shots to expert ball-handling skills, every game promises excitement and laughter. Set to take on their arch nemsis, the Washington Generals, they’re set dribble, spin, slam and dunk their way past the competition.
But we’re not just talking a single game – this event is all about interaction.
Prepare for a proper fan experience like never before as the crowd becomes just as an integral part of the excitement as the players do. There’ll be the one of the best dunk contests you’ll ever see, exclusive pre, post and in-game fan engagement opportunities, a Halftime Skills Showcase and plenty more.
In addition to plenty of atmosphere created by the dedicated DJ, not to mention plenty of slapstick comedy and general showmanship throughout (they do it all, these lot), the audience will be given multiple chances to see the Globetrotters extraordinary talents up and close and personal.
For instance, make sure you don’t miss the ‘5th Quarter’ after the buzzer as people will be giving all access to a Globetrotter Meet and Greet, where every fan is invited down to the court for an autograph from their favourite Harlem Globetrotter stars.
Best of all, this a high energy family friendly for people of all ages and walks of life to enjoy.
Set to arrive at the AO Arena on 23 April before they travel across the rest of the world, the Harlem Globetrotters are made for a sport-loving Manchester crowd.
Danny Jones -
12th February 2025 
