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Guardiola Aiming for Manchester City’s 4th Premier League Title in a Row 

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) and Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) look on during the English FA Community Shield football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, in London, August 6, 2023. (AFP)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) and Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) look on during the English FA Community Shield football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, in London, August 6, 2023. (AFP)
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Guardiola Aiming for Manchester City’s 4th Premier League Title in a Row 

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) and Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) look on during the English FA Community Shield football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, in London, August 6, 2023. (AFP)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) and Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta (R) look on during the English FA Community Shield football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, in London, August 6, 2023. (AFP)

Ticker tape was still strewn across the field inside Istanbul's Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium and Manchester City fans weren't done partying in the stands when Pep Guardiola issued an ominous warning to his rivals.

Far from feeling sated after finally transferring Man City's domestic dominance to Europe by winning the Champions League for the first time last season, the City manager was looking to build on his club's historic treble of trophies.

“I don’t want after one Champions League to disappear, so work harder next season and be in there.”

Guardiola had completed his ultimate mission by conquering Europe with City, having done so twice as coach of Barcelona, but he made it clear that his ambition was to achieve more.

And there are new boundaries for him to break ahead of the new campaign.

He can become the first manager to win four straight Premier League titles — something even Alex Ferguson could not do during his dominance with Manchester United. Indeed, no team has ever won four straight top-flight titles in the history of English soccer.

Guardiola has already emulated Ferguson by winning the treble of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in one season. Now he could better the man widely considered the greatest manager in the history of British soccer.

City is expected to be the team to beat once again, even after an offseason that has seen the club lose its inspirational captain Ilkay Gundogan and game-changing winger Riyad Mahrez.

There is also still uncertainty about the future of Bernardo Silva, and one of Guardiola's top targets, Declan Rice, joined last season's runner-up Arsenal instead of City.

Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol has joined City from Leipzig for 90 million euros ($99 million) and his international teammate, midfielder Mateo Kovacic, was signed from Chelsea.

So, Guardiola is not standing still and if there is any danger of complacency creeping in at City, it won't come from the manager.

The question is how fierce a challenge City will face from its rivals.

“There is not one or two teams, but a lot of teams who will fight for everything,” Guardiola said. “The challenge is massive for us. How starving are we? How is our desire to defend what we won?”

It is worth remembering that even in a season that saw City win a title treble, for much of the campaign Arsenal led the way in England's top division.

Mikel Arteta's team held top spot in the league for 248 days. That is the longest period any team has been at the summit without going on to win the title.

How will Arsenal respond to coming so close to a first league championship since 2004 only to fall at the last?

The signs were certainly positive on Sunday as the London club beat City on penalties to win the Community Shield.

“That moment when you feel, ‘I failed’ or ‘I didn’t achieve what I wanted.' You still have the hunger and desire to go again. That’s a big motivation,” Arteta said.

Arsenal's transfer business suggests it is ready to step up its challenge to City.

Rice was signed for a reported 105 million pounds ($138 million) and Champions League-winning forward Kai Havertz has joined from Chelsea. Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber was signed from Ajax.

Arsenal should have more depth as a result of its recruitment, while Rice is regarded one of the top midfield talents in Europe.

It will also have the experience of being involved in an intense title race.

Arteta, however, will have to cope with the added pressure of competing in the Champions League.

Manchester United has also been busy in the market with additions in key areas.

Denmark striker Rasmus Højlund has ended the club's search for a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. England midfielder Mason Mount has joined from Chelsea and goalkeeper Andre Onana was signed from Inter Milan.

Manager Erik ten Hag is in his second season at Old Trafford and, after an impressive first campaign saw his team win the League Cup and qualify for the Champions League, he will be expected to mount a title challenge.

But it would still be a major achievement if the Dutchman could go head-to-head with Guardiola to the end of the season, given the gap that has widened between the teams over recent years.

“Any other club (than City) must first compete for the first four positions, then the first two, and then maybe you can see about getting yourself into such a position, but don’t talk about that achievement,” Ten Hag said.

Liverpool, meanwhile, is in the middle of a major overhaul, with a slew of the players who won the title in 2020 and reached three Champions League finals in five seasons having left the club.

Jurgen Klopp's team went from challenging for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies in 2022 to missing out on the top four in the Premier League last season. Saudi-backed Newcastle exceeded expectations by qualifying for the Champions League in fourth, above Klopp's Liverpool in fifth.

Getting back into the Champions League will be a priority for the German.

Another team that massively underachieved last season was Chelsea, despite record spending on new signings under owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

Mauricio Pochettino has been hired to bring the good times back to Chelsea and a season without any European competition should allow the former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager more time to work on the training field.

Still, it would be a remarkable achievement if he could get Chelsea anywhere near City.

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Sports

IOC Boss Coventry Hails Milano Cortina Games a Success

20 February 2026, Italy, Milan: President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry holds a press conference. (dpa)
20 February 2026, Italy, Milan: President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry holds a press conference. (dpa)
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IOC Boss Coventry Hails Milano Cortina Games a Success

20 February 2026, Italy, Milan: President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry holds a press conference. (dpa)
20 February 2026, Italy, Milan: President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry holds a press conference. (dpa)

The Milano Cortina Olympics exceeded expectations despite a shaky build-up, IOC President Kirsty Coventry said on Friday, hailing the first spread-out Winter Games a success.

"These Games are truly ... successful in a new way of doing things, in a sustainable way of doing things, in a way that I think many people thought maybe we couldn't do, or couldn't be done well, and it's been done extremely well, and it's surpassed everyone's expectations," Coventry told a press conference.

It was the International Olympic Committee chief's clearest endorsement yet of a format that split events across several Alpine clusters rather than concentrating them in one host city.

Her assessment came after two weeks in which organizers sought to prove that a geographically dispersed Games could still deliver a consistent athlete experience.

The smooth delivery ‌comes after years ‌of logistical and political challenges, including construction delays at Milan’s Santagiulia Arena ‌and ⁠controversy over building ⁠a new sliding center in Cortina against IOC advice.

Organizers have also faced isolated disruptions during the Games, such as suspected sabotage on rail lines and protests in Milan over housing and environmental issues.

Transport concerns across the dispersed venues have been mitigated by limited cross-regional travel among spectators, though some competitors had to walk to the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in heavy snowfall that stopped traffic.

Central to the success of the Games, Coventry argued, was the effort to standardize conditions across multiple athlete villages despite the distances separating venues from Cortina d’Ampezzo to ⁠Livigno and Bormio.

Italian athletes’ performances also helped ticket sales, which amounted to ‌about 1.4 million.

"And the athletes are extremely happy. And they're happy ‌because the experiences that the MiCo (Milano Cortina) team and my team delivered to them have been the same," she ‌said.

Mixed relay silver medalist Tommaso Giacomel did, however, lament the fact there was no Olympic village near ‌the Antholz-Anterselva Biathlon Arena and that competitors were dotted around different hotels near the venue instead of in one place.

TWO OPENING CEREMONIES

Two opening ceremonies were held - the main one at Milan’s San Siro stadium and a more low-key parade on Cortina d’Ampezzo's Corso Italia, where athletes and spectators were within touching distance.

Feedback from competitors suggested the more intimate ‌settings had in some cases enhanced the Olympic atmosphere, Coventry said, taking the Cortina opening ceremony as an example.

The Zimbabwean, presiding over her first Games ⁠as IOC chief after elections in ⁠2025, framed Milano Cortina as proof of concept for future hosts grappling with rising costs and climate constraints, while acknowledging adjustments would follow.

"It allows us to really look at ourselves and look at the things that we have in place and how we're then going to make certain adjustments for the future," she said.

Beyond logistics, Coventry pointed to the broader impact of the Games, highlighting gender balance - with women making up 47% of competitors - and global engagement as marks of progress.

"But it's been an incredible experience and we're all very proud to have gender equity playing a big role in the delivery of the Games," she said, describing a "tremendous Games" in which athletes have "come together and shared in their passion".

With the closing ceremony in Verona approaching, Coventry said the focus would soon shift to a formal evaluation process, but insisted the headline conclusion was already clear.

"So we look forward to doing that and to learning from all the incredible experiences that I think all of the stakeholders have had across these Games, across these past two weeks," she said.

Sports

‘A Huge Mistake.’ Kompany Hits Out at Mourinho for Vinícius Júnior Comments

14 February 2026, Bremen: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich at Weserstation. (dpa)
14 February 2026, Bremen: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich at Weserstation. (dpa)
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‘A Huge Mistake.’ Kompany Hits Out at Mourinho for Vinícius Júnior Comments

14 February 2026, Bremen: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich at Weserstation. (dpa)
14 February 2026, Bremen: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich at Weserstation. (dpa)

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has criticized José Mourinho for attacking the character of Vinícius Júnior after the Real Madrid star accused an opponent of racially insulting him during a Champions League match.

Benfica coach Mourinho suggested that Brazil forward Vinícius had incited Benfica's players with his celebrations after scoring the only goal in Tuesday's playoff match.

Vinícius accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of calling him "monkey" during a confrontation after his goal.

Mourinho also questioned why Vinícius, who is Black and has been subjected to repeated racist insults in Spain, was so frequently targeted.

"There is something wrong because it happens in every stadium," Mourinho said. "The stadium where Vinícius played something happened. Always."

Speaking on Friday, Kompany condemned Mourinho's comments.

"So after the game you have the leader of an organization, José Mourinho, who attacks the character of Vinícius Júnior by bringing in the type of celebration to discredit what Vinícius is doing in this moment," Kompany said. "And for me in terms of leadership, it’s a huge mistake and it’s something that we should not accept."

Mourinho’s celebrations

UEFA appointed a special investigator on Wednesday to gather evidence about what happened in Lisbon in Madrid’s 1-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs. Madrid said it had sent "all available evidence" of the alleged incident to European soccer's governing body.

Referring to Vinícius' celebrations after curling a shot into the top corner, Mourinho said he should "celebrate in a respectful way."

Kompany pointed out Mourinho's own history of exuberant celebrations — such as when he ran down the sideline to cheer when his Porto team beat Manchester United in the Champions League.

Kompany said Mourinho's former players "love him" and added "I know he’s a good person."

"I don’t need to judge him as a person, but I know what I’ve heard. I understand maybe what he’s done, but he’s made a mistake and it’s something that hopefully in the future won’t happen like this again," he said.

Prestianni denied racially insulting Vinícius. Benfica said the Argentine player was the victim of a "defamation campaign."

‘Right thing to do’

Kompany said Vinícius' reaction "cannot be faked."

"You can see it — his reaction is an emotional reaction. I don’t see any benefit for him to go to the referee and put all this misery on his shoulders," he said. "There is absolutely no reason for Vini Junior to go and do this.

"I think in his mind he’s doing it more because it’s the right thing to do in that moment."

Kompany added: "You have a player who’s complaining. You have a player who says he didn’t do it. And I think unless the player himself comes forward, it’s difficult. It’s a difficult case."

Sports

FIFA to Lead $75m Palestinian Soccer Rebuilding Fund

President of FIFA Gianni Infantino attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'. CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
President of FIFA Gianni Infantino attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'. CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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FIFA to Lead $75m Palestinian Soccer Rebuilding Fund

President of FIFA Gianni Infantino attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'. CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
President of FIFA Gianni Infantino attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace'. CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

FIFA will spearhead a $75 million fund to rebuild soccer facilities in Gaza that were destroyed by the war between Israel and Hamas, President Donald Trump and the sport's governing body said Thursday.

Trump made the announcement in Washington at the first meeting of his "Board of Peace," an amorphous institution that features two dozen of the US president's close allies and is initially focused on rebuilding the Gaza strip, said AFP.

"I'm also pleased to announce that FIFA will be helping to raise a total of $75 million for projects in Gaza," said Trump.

"And I think they're soccer related, where you're doing fields and you're getting the greatest stars in the world to go there -- people that are bigger stars than you and I, Gianni," he added, referring to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was present at the event.

"So it's really something. We'll soon be detailing the announcement, and if I can do I'll get over there with you," Trump said.

Later Thursday, FIFA issued a statement providing more details, including plans to construct a football academy, a new 20,000-seat national stadium and dozens of pitches.

The FIFA communique did not mention Trump's $75 million figure, and said funds would be raised "from international leaders and institutions."

Infantino has fostered close ties with Trump, awarding him an inaugural FIFA "Peace Prize" at the World Cup draw in December.

At Thursday's meeting, the FIFA president donned a red baseball cap emblazoned with "USA" and "45-47," the latter a reference to Trump's two terms in the White House.

In FIFA's statement, Infantino hailed "a landmark partnership agreement that will foster investment into football for the purpose of helping the recovery process in post conflict areas."

The "Board of Peace" came together after the Trump administration, teaming up with Qatar and Egypt, negotiated a ceasefire in October to halt two years of devastating war in Gaza.

The United States says it is now focused on disarming Hamas -- the Palestinian group whose unprecedented October 7, 2023, attack on Israel triggered the massive offensive.