Chicago Fire Offer Vouchers for Fans if Messi Doesn't Play for Inter Miami on Aug. 31

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JULY 17: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami looks on prior to a game against Toronto FC at Chase Stadium on July 17, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JULY 17: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami looks on prior to a game against Toronto FC at Chase Stadium on July 17, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP
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Chicago Fire Offer Vouchers for Fans if Messi Doesn't Play for Inter Miami on Aug. 31

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JULY 17: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami looks on prior to a game against Toronto FC at Chase Stadium on July 17, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JULY 17: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami looks on prior to a game against Toronto FC at Chase Stadium on July 17, 2024 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP

The Chicago Fire said Friday that they will offer vouchers for fans if Lionel Messi doesn't play for Inter Miami when the teams meet at Soldier Field on Aug. 31.
Messi injured a ligament in his right ankle during Argentina’s win over Colombia in the Copa America final on July 14. The Fire said in a statement that they expect Messi to play. If he can't, the team will offer single match buyers who purchase between now and game day $250 off two or more new 2025 Chicago Fire season ticket memberships or $100 off two or more single match tickets for the 2025 home match against Inter Miami.
If fans already had purchased tickets, the Fire said they would offer the chance to claim two complimentary tickets to the Fire’s Fan Appreciation Night on Oct. 19 against Nashville.



City Need Reinforcements after Not Making Summer Signings, Says Guardiola

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - January 4, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - January 4, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo
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City Need Reinforcements after Not Making Summer Signings, Says Guardiola

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - January 4, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - January 4, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

Manchester City need to invest during the January transfer window due to injury problems and a faltering Premier League campaign, manager Pep Guardiola said on Monday, acknowledging it may have been a mistake to rule out signings in the summer.

City's title defence looks all but over after six league defeats has left them sixth in the standings and 12 points behind leaders Liverpool who have a game in hand.

Guardiola's side have missed Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder Rodri, who ruptured knee ligaments in September, and have suffered injuries to defenders John Stones and Ruben Dias.

"In the summer the club thought about (signings) and I said: 'No, I don't want to make any signings," Guardiola told reporters ahead of Tuesday's league game at Brentford.

"I relied a lot on these guys and thought I can do it again. But after the injuries maybe we should have done it."

City have not made a significant signing in January since the arrival of Aymeric Laporte for 57 million pounds ($69.67 million) from Athletic Bilbao in 2018.

Guardiola could not confirm whether a deal has been done to bring in Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

"The club didn't announce anything. I don't know," he said.

"Rodri is impossible but the other ones (injured players) I want back. If it would have happened I wouldn't be going to the transfer window this season. Absolutely not.

"We would not be in the position that we are but we struggle all season. It's not just Rodri, we have a lot of problems in the back four. That is the reason why the club is thinking we might do this transfer."

 

WALKER'S FUTURE

 

After City's 8-0 FA Cup win over Salford City on Saturday, Guardiola revealed that Walker had asked to leave the club, but the manager had no update on the situation and the right back could be in the squad at Brentford.

"No news. I'm not going to add anything, no more news. I only have Brentford on my mind," Guardiola said.

"We will decide this afternoon after training."

The cup win was a third consecutive victory for City, a welcome return to form after Guardiola's side had previously won only once in 13 matches in all competitions.

"We won three games. Before it was impossible to win one," he said.

"Now we won three, and that helps us. But the reality is we won against a team in the last game for the difference of the Premier League and League Two (fourth-tier), the badges of both teams, and many reasons we should win.

"We have to wait to see if we are who we are. The mood is better. Tomorrow we have an enormously difficult game."

Brentford, who lost 1-0 at home to Championship (second-tier) bottom side Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, are 11th in the standings, seven points off City.