Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was unapologetic after setting up his side to frustrate Arsenal in a showdown of two of the Premier League’s big guns.
Across the city, Manchester United defender Luke Shaw accepted former skipper Roy Keane’s criticism of his performance in the recent Derby.
North of the border, Celtic fans stepped up their protests against the club’s board ahead of the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Partick Thistle.
Pragmatic Pep
Pep Guardiola did not like watching Manchester City defend for long periods, but praised their resilience after they set a surprise record in a 1-1 draw at Arsenal.
Erling Haaland’s slick ninth-minute finish at Emirates Stadium looked enough to earn City a statement Premier League victory in north London before Gabriel Martinelli levelled in stoppage time.
Guardiola reverted to a back five in the second half in an effort to secure all three points and as a result, his team set a record lowest share of possession during his tenure with only 32.8 percent.
He said afterwards: “(We’re) not built for that, but we have to accept it and if the team has that percentage, it is because they are better.
“Arsenal were better in that time, so we don’t want it, but sometimes it happens. OK, one time in 10 years is not bad, right?”
Shaw takes Keane broadside on the chin
Luke Shaw has admitted former Manchester United captain Roy Keane was right to criticise his substandard derby display.
Last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City was one of 30-year-old Shaw’s poorer performances, leading Keane to say he “has been getting away with murder for years” and call out his fitness record.
Responding to the Irishman’s comments, Shaw said: “I think sometimes you just have to take it on the chin. He’s got a lot of experience. He was one of the best captains ever for Man United.
“Of course it hurts. But, for me, I think criticism is part of being a football player. I listen to it but, for me, I think he was right.
“I think that last week I wasn’t at my level at all. I don’t need Roy Keane to tell me. I think after the game, I knew that. I knew that, but of course it hurts.”
Bhoys fans stage board protest
Celtic fans continued their campaign against the board with a pre-match display ahead of Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Partick Thistle.
Thousands of visiting fans held up posters featuring photographs of key directors with red diagonal crosses through their faces, and chants of “all Celtic fans against the board” and “sack the board” rang out as the teams emerged from the tunnel at Firhill.
A new umbrella organisation, the Celtic Fans Collective, emerged on Saturday to carry forward supporters’ attempts to force out chairman Peter Lawwell, chief executive Michael Nicholson and chief financial officer Chris McKay.
The board took collective responsibility for Celtic’s Champions League failure on Friday when the club posted their financial accounts, but fan frustration over the inability to strengthen in attacking areas before the play-off defeat by Kairat Almaty would only have grown when Celtic announced a pre-tax profit of £45.7million for last season and revealed they had £77.3m in cash reserves at the end of June.
What’s on today?
The Championship takes centre-stage on Monday evening when Millwall host Watford, with both too close to the relegation zone for comfort.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca faces the press ahead of his side’s Carabao Cup trip to Lincoln on Tuesday, while the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony takes place in Paris.
