Hiring Of Pep Guardiola Hit Man City Title Bid - Pellegrini

The decision to replace Pellegrini with Guardiola was announced on February 1 and was followed by damaging back-to-back defeats to Leicester and Tottenham, which derailed their title bid.

City are coming back into form after reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League and defeating Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but they have not been able to regain the initiative in the title race.

“For different reasons, we lost important games in February against Leicester and Tottenham,” Pellegrini said. “For me, they’re the two games that don’t allow us now to be involved in the title.

“In the start of February came the news about the change of the manager, telling the players I will not continue here next year. A lot of things that involve the minds of all the players.

“We had those defeats at home. Now I think we are stable again and I’m very happy to finish the way we are doing in these last games.”

Guardiola’s arrival will herald a new era for City, but it will also signal a shift in playing philosophy that will require a turnover in playing personnel.

These impending changes have not gone unnoticed by City’s existing players.

Yaya Toure’s agent expects the Ivorian to leave the club in the summer, while City are in “advanced talks” to sign Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund as a replacement.

Pellegrini admits the constant transfer speculation has put a strain on the squad but is confident his players can put that out of their head when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

“It’s not easy for the players when you read in newspapers all the things that will happen next season, all the players who will go out, all the players that will come in,” Pellegrini said.

“It’s not easy for the players to focus their mind. But this squad has a lot of character. We never give up.

“But I think the merit of this squad is always that it had a lot of character, personality. We never give up, we continue in the same way, and I hope we will see in the future in the Champions League. I am sure this team, playing in this way, can play in the final.”

Credit: Skysports

Hiring Of Pep Guardiola Hit Man City Title Bid - Pellegrini

Stephen Smith Loses IBF Title Bid To Jose Pedraza

Stephen Smith failed to join brother Liam as a world champion as he lost a unanimous points decision to defending champion Jose Pedraza in their IBF super-featherweight title bout.

Liverpudlian Smith, 30, grew into the fight after a shaky start but was knocked down in the ninth round.

The three judges scored the bout 117-110, 116-111, 116-111 in favour of the undefeated Puerto Rican in Connecticut.

It was the second defeat for Smith in his 25-fight career.

WBO light-middleweight champion Liam was in the United States to support his brother, who had been hoping to become the 13th current British world champion.

Credit: BBC

Stephen Smith Loses IBF Title Bid To Jose Pedraza

Ollenu Ashitey Bids For More Playing Time

Midfielder Ollenu Ashitey says his lack of playing time at Accra Hearts of Oak, serves as extra motivation for him to work even harder.

The former Ghana youth international has made just one appearance for the Phobians this season, coming on as a substitute in the goalless stalemate at Cape Coast against Dwarfs a couple of weeks ago.

But the speedster insists his time on the sidelines serves as an extra boost for him to work even harder as he aims to become one of the best players in the country.

He told the club’s official newspaper, the Hearts News that his time will come naturally with the hard work he is putting in at training grounds and that he takes this with a positive attitude.

“Every player wants to play and so do I, but, ultimately, the decision to pick who to play lies with the coach as he takes the final decision,” he said.

“I am very high in confidence as a person and to get to my best limit, I know I have to keep working hard to improve on what I currently posses,” he added.

The player have been in training with the club at the Legon Ajax Park in Accra, and will hope to be in the mix of things as the Phobians head to Tema to play Inter Allies in their next league game on tomorrow.

Ollenu Ashitey Bids For More Playing Time