any thought of full match? Mention us on X
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Gary thank you very much for now we'll be hearing from you a little bit later on
00:03when this game kicks off at 8 o'clock here at the Etihad it's a big game in
00:08terms of Champions League qualification between Manchester City and Aston Villa
00:11and that the interesting point that that Gary raised at the end is what happens
00:15in the in the summer John McGinn referred to it in his interview he said
00:19it you know I don't know what's going to happen long term but then there's it
00:22then there's much bigger decision yeah I think obviously that will all sort
00:25itself over the next few weeks in terms of where Villa finish in the league if
00:29they can win a cup and if Rashford plays a big partner I think I think certainly
00:33it'll wait till the end of the season before them big decisions that's why all
00:36these games including tonight are huge for for both clubs and for certain
00:40individuals where the future lies yeah it is interesting to think what happens in
00:45there in the summer and how he decides to use them because there's the possibility
00:49is discussed that he can play them both together yeah I think Roy's right in the
00:52sense that'll be maybe to do with finance as well PS or in the financial fair play
00:56I think they're close to the to the wind with that as well so you know if they
00:59qualify for Champions League through top five they'll have more money to keep the
01:03likes of Rashford and Asensio as well because I'd imagine they're on decent
01:07contracts and it won't be easy to keep them but again that's what make these
01:11these games so important they're they're massive for for all the clubs
01:14involved but there are more than two players in the Aston Villa squad and I know we're
01:18focusing on this this big decision from from Unai Emery and and it has been one
01:22that's bubbled away particularly because of of the comments by Ollie Watkins but
01:26there have been other players who've really stepped up at this stage of the
01:28season Uri Tielemans included yeah he's been brilliant him and Rodgers I think
01:33Rodgers have been sort of first pick on the team as well I know they're talking
01:36about rotating the the strikers but Rodgers has not been left out as well and
01:39Tielemans is playing higher up now as well Kelly and he's he's influencing games a
01:42lot more assists and getting goals as well so he looks I don't mean this in a
01:47disrespect way he looks really fit he looks really lean you know from his
01:50Leicester days he looks like he's really stepped up to the plate and I think Aston Villa are
01:54getting the best version of him he lost his weight in a couple of years ago maybe
01:57that fitness and a couple of injuries but he definitely looks back to his best
02:00always a talented player he's consistent though he's got a good eye for a pass
02:04and yeah he's a he's definitely playing well at the moment a big player for him
02:08and as Shea mentioned that relationship with with Rodgers seems to be working
02:11that's fantastic again I think everyone would have been taken back to Rodgers the
02:16improvement you know and obviously the manager deserves credit for happy's
02:19obviously matured and well you look at his track record as a young player even
02:22going out and loan his goals record wasn't that great so that's really I
02:25think I think his goals this season has brought him to another level there was
02:28always talent there obviously he said he's a kid it was always something there
02:31with him but he's had to go and find his way and learn his trade and go do it the
02:35hard way but no he's a probably at the perfect club for him he's with a brilliant
02:38manager and he's affecting games and the fact is when a midfielder and attack
02:42midfielder starts putting the ball in the back of in there are getting assists that's
02:46where he goes to another level and that's where he's gone to that's why he's ended up
02:48involved in England team just watching Aston Villa getting ready to come out
02:52onto the pitch here at the Etihad and that's one of the things that John
02:55McGinn was talking about earlier was there their big game mentality their
02:58ability to kind of switch on in the in the big moments I know Pep Guardiola has
03:03asked for this from Manchester City and their supporters to treat these remaining
03:06games as as cup finals but for Villa and for the Villa players particularly away
03:11from home how much of that has to come from from them themselves come from thin and
03:14the likes of John McGinn being the club captain as well and it's funny he said he's in the view as well he's
03:18which is you know every said the last five or six games as as the biggest game of
03:22the season and that's that shows the run they're on they've got themselves in a
03:25brilliant position Kelly they really have to to get back into the Champions League
03:28they've had a taste of it this year they want to do that every single year if you
03:31want to grow the club and and be up there on a regular basis it's it's these are
03:35the the nice like tonight coming to Manchester City they want to put a marker
03:38down here tonight not just for tonight and to qualify but for next season as well you
03:42know they look like they're going to be the real deal and again we talk about
03:45strengthening I think Unai Emery and then the powers that be will we'll try and
03:48go again in the summer to to make Aston Villa not just compete for
03:51Champions League but compete at the very top yeah I think everyone seems to enjoy
03:54watching Aston Villa we're here tonight and you fully expect the attacking players
03:57they're dynamic they're quick they're powerful they've got options off the bench
04:01the the Aston players must be even even get knocked out of Europe but they really
04:05put up a good fight they've had a taste of it they'll want more of that these are
04:08experienced players beginning all these pleasant they've worked hard to get to where
04:11they are so they look like they've got that hunger they're enjoying it and when
04:15you get a little bit of success or you start competing in Champions League let
04:18me tell you you just want more of it and that's it's a great place to be and they
04:23come to the Etihad this evening knowing that a win would take them ahead of
04:26Manchester City in the table the City are looking to move four points ahead of
04:30Villa and strengthen their hopes of playing Champions League football again next
04:34season if they're able to do that Guardiola said this campaign would be a
04:37big game ahead for both Manchester City and the visitors Aston Villa and they
04:52both have FA Cup semi-finals this weekend so Unai Emery rings the changes but
04:57Marcus Rashford has got five Premier League goals against Manchester City all of which
05:01have been goals that either put his team in front or drew them level starts in
05:06place of Oli Watkins there's also a place in the starting lineup but Jacob Ramsey
05:11and Amadou Anana comes in to the side for Villa as for Manchester City couple of
05:17changes for them there's a start for Nico O'Reilly Manchester City's latest young
05:21star Mateo Kovacic comes into the starting lineup as well he makes his 200th
05:25Premier League appearance for City and James McAtee at the other end of his City
05:30career making just his second Premier League start let's hear from Pep Guardiola
05:34with Juliet Farrington Pep you've made a couple of changes to the team from the
05:40weekend Nico O'Reilly scoring against Everton obviously keeps his place but
05:45James McAtee comes in and those two have played a really integral part in this
05:49turnaround of yours haven't they yes but everybody's ready and I decide and today
05:56we need the specific quality from from Maka and hopefully he can he can help the
06:02team and perform well how much of a difficult contest is this going to be
06:06against Aston Villa they're one of the the form teams out there right now aren't
06:09they yeah right they're right it's exceptional team in the best form and the
06:15challenge is there five finals today is the first one and at home and let's go
06:20are you feeling that the the rhythm is back slowly coming back to your team a
06:26certain moment yeah it was so low month month ago so we improve a little bit
06:32hopefully we can be consistent again you talk about improving a bit being
06:37consistent the confidence must have come back as well though for you to to be in
06:41this position and the steps that you're you're taking yeah the results helped
06:45yeah of course we play from the play for different things for different targets
06:50that we are used in in the past but in the same time is is exciting as well you
06:56want the noise from the crowd tonight don't you you want the noise from your
06:59supporters to help get you over the line together we are stronger together we are
07:03stronger all the teams at home when the fans behind especially about moments
07:07we are strong go well tonight good much thank you he keeps on calling on those
07:13Manchester City fans to turn up for these big occasions these big games between
07:17now and the end of the season and he's also calling on some of his younger
07:20players as well when Nico O'Reilly got the goal against Everton yeah coming into
07:24the this I was starting again sorry for my yeah I mean it's important goal to
07:28weekend Kelly as well no playing left back and it was if you looked at the goal
07:32back he's ended up in a center forward position and top that in from four yards
07:35but I don't think he was brought into the team to get goals but it's an
07:38important goal I think he's a brilliant young player again you know pep will be
07:41looking at strengthening it again in the summer and and the likes of obviously
07:45O'Reilly and McAtee you know are they good enough to to be regulars next season
07:49O'Reilly is interesting because it's similar to Myles Lewis Skelly he's actually an
07:53attacking midfielder who's playing at fullback yeah no it is and you can see
07:57that again when he likes to get on the ball and getting forward and and joining
08:01the attacks but again he's got plenty of presence on the pitch he's got plenty of
08:04height you know for a defender as well if that's where he ends up with pep
08:07thinks you know I don't need the strength in that position because I think it's been a bit of a
08:11blind spot of him being brutally honest with pep over the years you know if the
08:14likes of Aki playing there Jinchenko they've never really been a out-and-out
08:18left-back but O'Reilly's young enough in and and pep with the manager and a coach
08:22of that standard could could turn him into a brilliant attack and left-back and
08:26there's another young player in James McAtee getting a getting a start for
08:29this game as well just a second in the in the Premier League yeah but it's a great
08:33boost for these players because ultimately you want to win the trust of the
08:36manager in big games and this is a huge game like we keep saying I've seen him a few
08:39times obviously a talented player good mentality and I think for again for a
08:46manager the biggest boost you can have as a player when a manager puts you in in a
08:49big game and this is a big game and be interesting how he performs clearly they're
08:53talented boys because they wouldn't be at Man City otherwise it's no about their
08:56attitude their mentality can they deal with the expectation the pressure of
09:00performing because when you're a young player you come in from Man City you can't
09:03just do okay I think you have to do really really well and affect games or pep will
09:07take it back up because it'd be such brilliant players waiting so it's a big
09:11vote of confidence for these young boys and he's used him a lot as a substitute
09:13as we saw there with 45 appearances but only this his only his second start the
09:19other end of his Manchester City career is Kevin De Bruyne it might well be the end
09:22of it but there were comments from from De Bruyne this week that suggested that the
09:26door is open to extending his stay at Manchester City because he said he wanted to
09:31stay and it was the club who didn't want him who weren't gonna offer him and a new deal
09:36but what do you make about one the situation into the fact that he spoke so
09:39openly about it yeah probably surprised on both fronts really he's lit up the
09:43Premier League isn't he for for such a long number of years and and Kevin will
09:47probably admit he's not at the at the peak of a of years gone by but you can
09:51still see in the last couple of games you still got plenty to offer I was listening
09:54a few phone-ins recently and there's some fans thinking surely Kevin De Bruyne can't
09:57turn up in another Premier League club this you know next season but he can rule it out
10:02he didn't rule it out and that would be a concern if your Man City point of view like
10:06you know it might be good doesn't have to move house yeah I don't know if Kevin would go across
10:11the city but but he is good enough to to to still play in the Premier League and
10:15and there'll be teams looking at him I mean the natural one would be a Saudi move or
10:18MLS or something like that but at the same time if Kevin in his own mind
10:22thinks you know he's had a hamstring problem for missed 10 or 11 games this
10:25year but if I'm still good enough and he gets up to sharpness in the last couple of
10:28games you might think you know what I can have another season in the Premier League but I
10:31don't know how the city fans would would take him in a another shirt and in the
10:34Premier League but he's still Kelly's a brilliant player a brilliant player and
10:38and he would point to the the performances this season say he's been struggling to
10:41to get to to full fitness but are you surprised at how it's kind of come to
10:46this point with him yes and no I think it's obviously we know rootless Man City can
10:50be when players get to a certain age and particularly when a player has had
10:53injuries like he has done and he has lost that little bit of sharpness he's not
10:57dynamic as he used to be but you still give him time on the ball and you will
11:01punish him but he'd be up against it tonight because this we know strong
11:03Villa are but he's got quality and all he needs is a moment and what what's made
11:07him a great player over the years is as much as you try and stop him when he gets
11:11the ball in certain areas you can't stop him that's why he's such a brilliant
11:14player and obviously Villa if they give him time and space they'll be punished but
11:18if you get to him I don't think he's dynamic as he used to be in terms of
11:21getting away from players and we made the point earlier about Ollie Watkins
11:24sometimes players play well when they play angry yeah yeah there's nothing
11:30wrong with that you've got to get the balance right playing with anger and also
11:32he loves to be thinking listen there might be there's other clubs watch me and I
11:35might be negotiating right then at the moment so if I have a good end to the
11:38season then it's just plus is all wrong for him Roy always played angry by the
11:42way controlled anger most of the time anyway that would be that would be but
11:50a huge game ahead for Manchester City they've had to miss I did Edison is
11:56missing again Stefan Ortega comes in just an extra little bit of disruption in
12:00that that back line yeah but I don't have no fears over Stephanie's a brilliant
12:04goalkeeper as well and he's shown that I think since he's Man City I mean the
12:07biggest thing about Man City talk about De Bruyne 33 Gundogan, Kovacic and Silva
12:10they're all in their 30s and that's probably what's they've dropped off the
12:14season I think not with the ball but without the ball you see the City teams of
12:17years gone by when they've won the titles it's something you look at the when
12:22they're without the ball right they're depressed teams high up the pitch they get
12:24the ball back high up the pitch and they create chances high up the pitch I
12:27think it's just they're just all aging this time waits for no one doesn't it so
12:31that's that's the only concern of the City team with us this younger Aston Villa team
12:34here tonight did you think Shea was going to criticize a
12:36goalkeeper not tonight about no mistakes no mistakes from the keepers tonight
12:41and I'll take us made plenty of appearances it's not like he's a young
12:43keeper coming in but we started this season by saying perhaps Manchester City
12:48were an aging side that needed to refresh and ended it by talking about whether
12:51they were wrong to let Kevin De Bruyne go but anyway Manchester City looking to
12:55win their 15th consecutive Premier League game against Villa at the Etihad the
12:58visitors though have won 10 of their last 11 who comes out on top
13:03we'll find out very shortly if City can make it 15 consecutive home league wins against Aston Villa
13:17their current run of 14 is the second longest in Premier League history and
13:22that's just behind their own 16 home wins against Newcastle you have to go back to
13:26April 2007 for Villa's last win away from home in the league against City a free kick from
13:31substitute Sean Maloney past Andreases it's sending goal added to John Curry's opener
13:36in a two-nil win at the end of that campaign Villa finished 11 eight points ahead of City
13:42Holly Watkins is on the bench for this one but he is still at the top table for these Manchester City
13:50mascots kickoff is up next
13:52qualification this evening at the Etihad as Manchester City are set to take on Aston Villa
14:02just three points between Nottingham Forest in third and Aston Villa who are currently in seventh
14:07but win tonight and they would move up level on points with Forest but their goal difference
14:12has a big difference so it's unlikely that they would move up above Nottingham Forest have to be a
14:16pretty big win against the Manchester City side who themselves are looking to go up to third place
14:22in the table it's all about Champions League this evening Europa League at the weekend and progressing
14:28to the FA Cup final where they'll have a chance to to qualify for the Europa League
14:32Pep Guardiola said they're all cup finals from now to the end of the season Unai Emery has said similar
14:37yeah it's a cliche but is it a true one yeah it is but you you can't talk about Champions League
14:42unless you get the results but it's about the result and obviously a performance tonight that's what
14:46you need if you're going to win a big game the rest will take care of itself you can't sit back
14:49and hope teams might do your favour or even tonight you're talking about goal difference or even
14:53that's the Villa's really poor record here you have to focus on tonight's game have belief confidence
14:58and again I think it's about the big player stepping up tonight whoever steps up tonight
15:02obviously will have a huge difference but Villa certainly are capable of coming here and getting
15:07result but they'll have to be at their very very best about getting the result but also about
15:11getting the result against a direct opponent Shane yeah I was quietly confident from a Villa point of view
15:16before you shown that piece of all the goals and all the results the 14 games without a win for Villa
15:22does that have a bearing on this game I don't know it's mad football something does that you go have
15:25a stadium or whatever it's a bit of a jinx or you just can't get a result there for whatever
15:29reason Kelly but at the same time I don't think Villa can be any stronger in the air tonight we're
15:33talking about players not playing on the bench you should be starting I think this is a real
15:36probably the strongest Villa team and then 14 years the goalkeepers we talk about tackling players of
15:41course the excitement but the big role for both goalkeepers tonight huge challenge for
15:46all the down not long to go now