As the excitement builds for Monday’s European last 16 draw, we’ll kick off with an interesting piece from the Mirror.
Unusually, City can only draw one of four teams: Ajax, Atletico, Schalke and Roma - and the statisticians of the footballing world have crunched the numbers to discover the likelihood of the Blues being paired with each of the quartet.
Alex Richards explains: “Monday’s lunchtime draw will decide who faces who, and fans are already focusing on potential mouthwatering clashes.
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“But with clubs from the same nation unable to face off until the quarter-final, and teams from the same group also unable to meet in the last 16, some opponents are more likely than others.
“City can’t play against four of the eight second place teams: Lyon, Liverpool, United and Spurs. No one else has such few options, with Pep Guardiola’s men only able to meet Ajax, Atletico, Schalke and Roma.
“And according to the percentages across all ties, a last 16 encounter between Manchester City and Atletico is the most likely clash of all; there is a 28.9% chance that the two sides face off.
“City’s least likely opponent is Ajax, with a 19.98% chance of facing the Amsterdammers.”
In other news, Gabriel Jesus has opened up on what he feels has been a difficult period, asserting he feels happier now with his family around him.
Translated by Sport Witness, the Brazilian told Esporte Interativo: “Sometimes you get stuck in the past. What happened, what’s happening.
“I demand a lot from myself. It’s far from being a start of season like last season for me. So, I get pretty into it. Of course, this year is not being easy for me. But, like I said, I’m happy again. My family arrived. I’m very happy, very happy.
“They have been helping me a lot when they are in Brazil, now that they are here, it makes me happier, more free. Just thinking about playing football. That’s all that was missing.
“It’s the footballer’s life. I think everyone’s life. It has good phases, bad phases. There are phases that you play very well and you do not score much. There are stages that you only shin the ball and score a goal. It’s a player’s life. Players live like this.
“We have to keep the psychological side very strong. I think unfortunately I could not do that. Now, as I said, I go back, talking to my family, to my mother, to the people who are with me. I think this is helping me a lot to regain my confidence, to resume my football. And I think things are going to get better from now on.
“I know I’m an attacker, a forward, and I live on goals. However, sometimes the team wins, you helped a lot with the ball and without the ball, you did not score the goal. So, I’m happy.
“Of course, like I said, this season is not like last season or when I got here. I think that’s why the demand is a little higher. But I’m very calm about it, I hope to continue helping my team, keep working hard, like I’ve been working, I’ve always worked, and with the happiness that I have.”
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Switching topic to the transfer gossip and the Mirror allege to have an ‘exclusive’ with Adrian Kajumba of the opinion the Blues are plotting a move for £50million-rated Leicester defender Ben Chilwell.
Apparently: “Left-back Chilwell signed a new £110,000-per-week deal that runs until 2024 just two months ago, but that hasn’t stopped the champions putting the 21 year-old on their January wish list.
“Chilwell has enjoyed a brilliant start to the season, confirming his huge potential by establishing himself as the Foxes first-choice left-back and breaking into Gareth Southgate’s England side.
“He has started the Three Lions’ last four matches, helping them reach the Nations League finals next summer.
“Man City hoped Benjamin Mendy would be their answer long term at left-back when they spent £52m to sign him from Monaco ahead of last season. But injury problems have restricted him to just 16 starts, forcing them to consider their options.
“That new contract will give Leicester plenty of confidence they can fend off any admirers of one of their star players, but boss Claude Puel admits they will have to show they can match the ambition of the likes of Chilwell to hang onto their prized assets.”
Meanwhile, Calcio Mercato report City have joined the transfer battle to land Roma forward Cengiz Under.
Writes Ron Carne: “The 21-year-old winger has scored five goals and provided five assists in 19 appearances in all competitions so far this season, and as per Football Italia, he has previously been linked with a move to Arsenal, with it also being said that he is valued at €50m.
“With that in mind, it remains to be seen whether or not the two Premier League giants now go head-to-head over the signing of Under, who arguably makes more sense for the Gunners than he does for the reigning Premier League champions.
“Guardiola already has the likes of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva to play out wide, while Unai Emery’s creative options behind his front men prefer more central attacking roles when considering the likes of Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
“Nevertheless, the report above would suggest that City could now emerge as competition for the Gunners, and so it remains to be seen if Guardiola’s potent attack gains another quality young player to strengthen it next year.”
Finally, Sports Mole also claim City have become the latest side to register an interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s rising star Kai Havertz.
According to Daniel Lewis: “Havertz’s impressive form in the first half of the 2018-19 campaign, scoring seven times and setting up six more, has supposedly drawn attention from the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and now Man City.
“Sport Bild suggests that the Citizens have been keeping a close eye on the Leverkusen academy product and were recently in contact with his representatives.
“However, Havertz only signed a new four-year deal in July and is therefore unlikely to leave for anything less than £70m.”
