Pep Guardiola has issued a plea to Manchester City fans ahead of the club’s massive midweek fixture against Arsenal, urging them to turn up in their droves and make plenty of noise.
After their comfortable win in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, a victory that sealed a Manchester Derby final for the first time in history, the City coach’s mind was already on the next game as his side are set to take on the league leaders on Wednesday.
With Arsenal still sat at the top of the table and playing some of the best football they’ve enjoyed in years, it is very much a potentially title-deciding match and certainly one of the biggest games of the season.
The reality is not lost on Pep either, as he spent a large chunk of the post-match press conference after the Sheffield game talking about “momentum” and how the fans need to play their part, having previously taken a slight dig at the supporters earlier in the season.
🗣️ "Hopefully all of Etihad will be full three hours before the game."
Pep Guardiola calls on the Manchester City fans to create a big atmosphere against Arsenal 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/JvukTAuut3
Pep Guardiola speaking about the importance of the Arsenal game in the title race.
The 52-year-old told media, “Of course the momentum is key, it doesn’t matter if you play every three or four days if you are winning.
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“It’s really important the ‘final’ we have on Wednesday – it is a final – against a team who has been the best team in England so far, they are five points ahead of us. Hopefully, all of Manchester that day will be blue and they can come to support us.
“We need incredible noise from the first minute to the last as I know which opponent we are going to play against. Even though they [drew] the last three games, the way they play is difficult to stop. You have to read exactly what you have to do but it’s a massively important game for us.”
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He went on to add that “if [City] win it’s a step to getting it completely in our hands. The Premier League is 11 months, working, working. We have this opportunity and we want to take it. Hopefully, the whole of the Etihad will be full three hours before.”
With Pep going up against fellow Spanish coach and his former protégé, Mikel Arteta, there is also an element of the ‘master and apprentice’ narrative surrounding the game as well, although City have beaten Arsenal in each of their three previous meetings this season across all competitions.
Pep went on to say of the friendship turned rivalry with his former assistant coach: “The relationship has changed because he’s in London and I’m in Manchester, we don’t see each other as often. He’s busy and I’m busy — but the affection and respect I have with him will remain forever.”
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The question is, will Arteta manage to get one over on his old teacher when it counts?
You can see his press conference in full down below:
Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
The Hundred is calling for up-and-coming presenters to co-host this year’s tournament
Danny Jones
The Hundred 2025 is fast approaching and cricket’s fastest-growing tournament is once again asking for aspiring presenters to join their roster of co-hosts and help cover the action.
The fast-paced 100-ball format is entering its fifth year and next to T20, you find a more accessible and thrilling form of cricket, so it’s no wonder the competition is gaining a greater audience each year.
With that in mind, the need for a top-notch broadcast team is more crucial than ever but just like those who backed The Hundred in its infancy, they’re looking to invest in future creatives and on-screen talent.
Are you someone looking to get into presenting or know someone who is? Keep reading.
For the fifth year in a row, we want you to be part of #TheHundredRising! 🎤
So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty straightforward: The Hundred is looking for eight up-and-coming presenters to join their team of main venue hosts up and down the country.
Tasked with guiding and talking fans through an action-packed five weeks across all host cities, successful applicants will be responsible for building excitement and atmosphere inside the seven cricket grounds on each match day.
From player and pundit interviews to crowd engagement and interactive other activations with partnered brands, not to mention members of this year’s live music lineup, you’ll be a key part of putting out the top-quality sports and entertainment product they promise every year.
The best part of all is that no prior hosting experience is necessary – this is all about platforming you and The Hundred as a whole.
Successful applicants will be mentored by the main hosts at their respective venues and will attend a two-day workshop with special guests to get them ready to hit the stage this summer.
The ‘Rising Hosts’ scheme has been set up in tandem with their dedicated event production agency, Progress Productions, which will be in charge throughout the application and selection process.
Shortlisted applicants will then have their details shared with the ECB (English Cricket Board) who will be involved when it comes to making their final decisions.
It goes without saying that even if you just love sports or just want to find a way into the industry, this is an opportunity that is not to be missed.
Danny Jones -
24th April 2023 
