City's Champions League chancespublished at 17:51 10 May
17:51 10 May
Image source, Reuters
It's going to be tight at the top.
After unexpectedly dropping two points at Southampton, Manchester City's place in next season's Champions League does not look so secure.
City ended the game in third place but just two points above Newcastle and Chelsea - who meet on Sunday - with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa also in close attendance.
City end their league season with games against Bournemouth and Fulham and could need maximum points to make sure of a top-five finish.
"That point was really important," said Pep Guardiola.
"We take that point still, it's in our hands."
Did you know?published at 17:39 10 May
17:39 10 May
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City have failed to score in four of their last 11 Premier League games, as many blanks as in their previous 55 in the competition. City have failed to score in six Premier League games this season – their most in a single top-flight campaign since 2015-16 (8).
Southampton 0-0 Man City - send us your thoughtspublished at 16:57 10 May
Sutton's predictions: Southampton v Man Citypublished at 14:09 10 May
14:09 10 May
Manchester City have got the FA Cup final to look forward to next weekend but they also have a top-five place to secure, so there is no danger they will not be fully focused on that on Saturday.
After winning their past four league games, City also have some real momentum for the first time in a long while. You have to go back to August and early September for the last time they managed a run like that.
So I can only see one outcome at St Mary's Stadium, and it is going to leave Southampton stuck on 11 points for at least another week. The only question here really is how many goals City score.
Alonso's impact at Leverkusen 'unbelievable' - Guardiolapublished at 18:09 9 May
18:09 9 May
Shamoon Hafez BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Pep Guardiola does not tend to give much away in his news conferences and it is often difficult to tease a decent top line out of him.
However, shortly before he faced the media on Friday, breaking news flashed up on the television screens at Manchester City's training ground saying Xabi Alonso is set to leave Bayer Leverkusen.
Guardiola signed his fellow Spaniard for Bayern Munich in 2014 and the pair won two Bundesliga titles together.
Last year, former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Alonso led Leverkusen to the double of a Bundesliga title - without losing a game - and the German Cup in his first full season as a senior club manager.
Guardiola was full of praise when asked to give his reaction to the news.
"Wow, his impact on Leverkusen has been unbelievable," he said. "I think all the managers who had the opportunity and the pleasure to have him as a player always realised that he would be a manager.
"Going to and fighting with Bayern Munich is always so difficult. Last season they were unbeaten except for the last game against Atalanta in the Europa League final.
"The way they played, the way he improved the players - I think Leverkusen themselves have to be so proud of the partnership that they had for just three years."
Why Man City will make the top five and what happens if they don't...published at 16:42 9 May
16:42 9 May
With the race for Champions League football reaching the final few hurdles, we asked our fan contributors of five clubs involved to let us know if their team will make the top five and if not, what happens next.
🎧 Trent, a title and a tight racepublished at 16:40 9 May
16:40 9 May
On the latest episode of his BBC Sounds podcast, Kyle Walker talks about Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool's title, the race for the Champions League and dealing with injury at AC Milan.
Guardiola on Haaland's fitness, team's 'lack of hunger' and O'Reilly's formpublished at 15:21 9 May
15:21 9 May
Ben Collins BBC Sport journalist
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Southampton (kick-off 15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On striker Erling Haaland's fitness: "He's ready, he's fit. If he'll start, we'll decide tomorrow."
Guardiola said Rodri is "still not available" and added that Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake "have started training with us, partial, but still are not available".
On whether City's run of five straight wins is their best form all season: "At the beginning we did it but yeah, [the best] for a long time. We can do better."
On the chance to finish second and win the FA Cup: "I'm not thinking about that, I'm sorry to tell you. It's just Southampton that's on my mind and all week I've been thinking about them. The rest of the analysis, we will do it at the end of the season. It starts at 0-0. It's a massive, important game for us, definitely. There's just three games left and we have respect for them."
On Haaland saying the City players have lacked hunger this season: "If it's a feeling for Erling, the players should talk to each other and ask themselves why. We can do better. We're happy for the results we have but the situation is that we have to sustain it for many, many months. It's just been for three or four weeks."
On Nico O'Reilly being substituted against Wolves after his seventh straight start: "He's played a lot of minutes. There are no punishments here. When the game is done, we analyse what we can do better but then it's completely forgotten. It's in the past. It's about what we can learn in the game for the next one, especially for the young players. The results we've had would be difficult to imagine without him."
Napoli are keen on acquiring 33-year-old Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne on a free transfer when his City contract expires this summer. (Times - subscription required), external
De Bruyne is keen to stay in Europe, and Aston Villa are understood to be among a host of clubs jostling for his signature. (i paper), external
Finally, Napoli are also monitoring Manchester City's 29-year-old England midfielder Jack Grealish. (Sun), external
'Too good to let go' - City fans rally for De Bruyne stay published at 12:29 8 May
12:29 8 May
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on what are things that is going under the radar with Manchester City.
And most of your messages were about Kevin de Bruyne not being given an extension at the end of the season.
Here are some of your comments:
Ash: City should offer a one-year contract with option for another at reduced wages. He is too good to let go yet!
Justin: Kevin has been a key player throughout his tenure at City, with or without a natural striker. In his blood, there is only City's footballing system. If such a figure goes out at a time when you want to revive the squad, who is going to be aspirational for the new faces. If you really want to revive the squad, a one-season extension for Kevin is enough. We understand that age may catch up with him but it's not true for all players. Look at Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 40. He is still giving his best and helping his team. Moreover, De Bruyne is clearly showing that he can still step up when the team need him most.
Frank: An error made at a critical time. The younger ones look up to him and aspire to reach his level and you just hack him out of the team. It is wrong. City have offered to Ilkay Gundogan, who chose to go and test life outside of City, and have rejected the one that is loyal to the core and is contributing most to the team.
Robert: De Bruyne is an essential part of the present City setup. I would keep him in the squad. He may need to consider a pay cut, but he would other players and advise those from the academy. He is intelligent, articulate and a great player with the respect of all around him. We must keep him for at least two years.
Beyond De Bruyne, some other submissions pointed out flaws in City's defence this season.
Anton: My biggest gripe is the number of goals the opposition has scored with their first shot on target this season.
Gary: It feels like no one is talking about how vulnerable we are, especially on the right side of defence. It's fairly obvious we can't rely on Matheus Nunes - he's just not that good defensively.
Did you know? published at 11:53 8 May
11:53 8 May
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne has been directly involved in more Premier League goals against Southampton (14 – four goals, 10 assists) than against any other side.
Only Ryan Giggs (12 v Manchester City and 12 v Newcastle) and Cesc Fabregas (11 v Tottenham) have more assists against an opponent in the competition than De Bruyne's 10 against the Saints.
City have won their past four Premier League games, their t-longest winning run of the season. They are looking to win back-to-back away league games for the first time since August.
Gossip: Man City plan big spend despite charges uncertaintypublished at 07:33 8 May
07:33 8 May
Uncertainty around the final verdict of the 115 charges faced by Manchester City could extend into next season, but the club are still planning to spend big in the summer transfer window. (i paper), external
What's the thing no-one is talking about?published at 12:44 7 May
12:44 7 May
Despite an uncharacteristically wobbly season, Manchester City still have an FA Cup final to look forward to and are in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League.
But beneath the most high profile topics, what else is happening at City?
You know your club best, so tell us the one thing that no-one is talking about but really should be.
Premier League veterans to the rescue?published at 07:51 7 May
07:51 7 May
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
Time stops for no man, as Kevin de Bruyne and Jamie Vardy are discovering right now.
Both are considered 'too old' for the teams they have graced for 10 and 13 years respectively. Both are arguably the most important - and maybe most-loved players - in their club's recent history. Both clearly have unfinished business as top players, even if Jamie is 38 years old and Kevin is 34 in June.
They had a few other things in common this week. First, they looked the most likely to score for their teams. Secondly, they both did.
The fire hasn't gone out for either player and both could doubtless still do some sort of limited, short-term strategic job for their teams going forward - but those ships have sailed.
Playing this well when they know they are leaving could be down to a number of reasons: professionalism and pride in their work is clearly on show.
Giving your best while still being paid considerable sums to turn out each week should be a given, but it isn't always.
There is also the consideration that, like other players nearing the end of their contracts, they are putting on a show for any prospective employees. If they 'downed tools', like some others have done to ensure they don't pick up any injuries, it wouldn't be a great look.
Vardy must be thinking that a top team in need of a natural scorer would be worth looking at him. Even if his role was as a substitute most weeks, he could come on when the defenders are tiring, space is opening up and desperation is kicking in.
With the chances Arsenal created this season, and them having no obvious natural scorer to add the final touch, would Vardy on their bench look silly or astute?
Arsenal took a chance on Raheem Sterling this season, which clearly hasn't worked, but would De Bruyne be a better bet, if they took a punt on him?
I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be a daft move, even if the Gunners have a few decent players in that area. Mikel Arteta knows Kevin, so you never know.
Vardy and De Bruyne might be on the way out, but both still have something to give. It might yet be closer to home than some people think, rather than the expected pension booster jobs in the Middle East or - dare I say it - the good old USA.
Gossip: Wirtz set to snub Man Citypublished at 07:08 7 May
07:08 7 May
Bayer Leverkusen and midfielder Florian Wirtz, 22, is set to snub interest from Manchester City and Real Madrid to Bayern Munich. (Bild - in German, external)
Image source, Reuters
