We’ll kick-off with the matter at hand: tonight’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Leicester.
The Blues faced the Foxes at the same stage of the competition last season en route to lifting the trophy – the first under Pep Guardiola’s tenure – and will be hoping history can repeat itself tonight... although perhaps without the requirement of a penalty shoot-out!
The last eight encounter could see former Leicester star Riyad Mahrez face his former club and Foxes winger Demarai Gray is relishing the reunion.
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Quoted in the Leicester Mercury, he stated: “I have seen Riyad quite a few times since then and I think if he comes back, obviously we will greet him and stuff but I want to try and get into him.
“We had a good relationship. It is good to see him do well at City and hopefully he does play on Tuesday.
“Strangely enough, ever since I have been here, we have had Manchester City in the quarter-finals every time.
“Hopefully, we can beat them on Tuesday. It is going to be a difficult game – a big game.
“They are probably the best team in the world right now. It is going to be a good test for us.”
Manager Claude Puel also spoke highly of the Algerian, as Goal report.
“I hope he remains on the bench of course!” he joked.
“Riyad deserves respect because he gave his best for the club. I hope he can come back and keep a good feeling with all the people because he deserves it.
“He scored a lot of goals and he changed the game all the time and it was incredible.
“He had an important part in the success of the Premier League title and we cannot forget all he gave for the club and his team-mates and I hope he can have a good reception.”
In other news, it’s safe to say former Blue Owen Hargreaves has backed City’s chances of Champions League progression, as the footballer-turned-pundit told BT Sport: “That could be a cricket score.
“We saw Lyon cause City problems with those great athletes that they have. Schalke don’t have any of those players.
“I just think it’s virtually impossible for this Schalke team.
“I fear for Schalke but City will be absolutely delighted with the draw.”
Elsewhere, as we know: not a day goes by without City being linked with Real Madrid midfielder Isco and the Mirror claim to have the latest ‘update’, asserting the Spanish outfit have named their price for the playmaker.
Writes Rich Jones: “AS report that Manchester City are planning to swoop in January, with Pep Guardiola putting him high on his shortlist as a priority signing.
“But Isco, who is under contract until 2022, has a €700m release clause and is considered a major asset by president Florentino Perez.
“Reports suggest they will not let him go cheap despite the sour relationship between the player and manager.
“Manchester City are said to be readying a bid of around £80m, but Real Madrid will be reluctant to accept anything below €100m (£89.95m).
“That would force Guardiola‘s side to break the bank to usurp the fee Juventus paid to Los Blancos to sign Cristiano Ronaldo last summer.”
Finally, it’s believed City and Arsenal ‘have made approaches to sign Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer,’ according to Le 10.
Read Arsenal translate: “The midfielder’s deal at Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of the current season, meaning that he can sign a pre-contract agreement at European clubs in the January transfer window ahead of a summer move.
“Rabiot has been linked with a switch to North London in recent months but competition is set to be fierce in the race for his signature.”
