Manchester City are currently in the midst of a losing streak. They have lost their past three games in all competitions to Tottenham, Bournemouth and Sporting CP. It is a rare sight to see Pep Guardiola’s side lose three games on the bounce. But despite their winless run, the world champions aren’t a club that will panic. Despite it feeling like the world is caving in it isn’t the time to panic. The way Manchester City function shows that they won’t be panicking or making hasty moves.
Manchester City News shared an exclusive interview with transfer expert Graeme Bailey. They shared his views on Manchester City’s board’s feelings on City’s current situation. Speaking with Manchester City News he said: “They don’t panic. It’s the first time they’ve lost three in a row for six years. It’s one of those where they’re happy with what they’ve got. They know injuries have hampered them slightly, but they’re still in fine fettle in every major competition they want to be in.”
It may appear that the world is caving in for Manchester City but now isn’t the time to panic. It is only November, and the season is still in its infancy. Traditionally the champions don’t begin to hit their straps until later in the season. So despite losing three games in a row Pep Guardiola’s side is still well placed in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. They are only two points behind Liverpool in the Premier League table. The UEFA Champions League league phase is yet to shake out so while their 4-1 loss to defeat to Sporting CP isn’t acceptable, City still have four more Champions League games to go to regain momentum in the competition.
While it is a shock to see Manchester City lose three games in a row, it isn’t the time to panic. The report from Manchester City News indicates that City as a club won’t be panicking just yet. This weekend’s Premier League clash with Brighton is a chance for Pep Guardiola’s side to regain their early season momentum. But they won’t panic, it isn’t in Manchester City’s make up.
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Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has expressed concerns about the club’s first six games of the 2025/26 Premier League season. The former center-back worries that United’s promising pre-season form might not carry over, warning that “you can’t have both and the results don’t follow,” as he said. Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United will look very different from last season. Several players have left, others have joined, and a few are still negotiating with other clubs—like Garnacho, who’s been linked with Chelsea. During the pre-season friendlies and the Premier League Summer Series, United showed solid form, winning four out of seven games—losing once to the ASEAN All-Stars and drawing twice (against Leeds and Everton). Now, with just one game left before their Premier League opener against Arsenal at Old Trafford, Ferdinand is worried about the challenges ahead. Rio Ferdinand Worried About United' Schedule United kicks off the season against Arsenal. Then, they travel to London to face Fulham before returning home to play Burnley—that wraps up August. September looks even tougher: away at Manchester City, home against Chelsea, and then away to Brentford. After that, it doesn’t get any easier, with Sunderland at Old Trafford followed by a trip to Anfield to face the reigning champions. "Man United's fixture list is horrendous. The first six games—it's tough. So all this good work that we're seeing, and we're hearing about, and coming out at a club, and what I saw, could be undone within the first six games if it doesn't go well. So that's going to be an important factor. The two have to marry up. You can't have one, and then the results don't follow." - Ferdinand said in TalkSport Breakfast show. Manchester United will play the first game of the season, August 17 at 10:30 am ET. Manchester United's Expected Lineup for 2025/26 Season (3-4-2-1 Formation) Goalkeeper: Altay Bayındır Defenders (back 3): Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro Wingers: Diogo Dalot, Patrick Dorgu Inside midfielders: Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes Attackers: Matheus Cunha, Brian Mbeumbo Forward: Rasmus Højlund
The New Orleans Saints' three-way quarterback competition is narrowing before the team's first preseason contest against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Per Ross Jackson of Louisiana Sports, second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler has looked the best at training camp this summer, going 83-of-114 passing (72.8 percent) for eight touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and four interceptions. Rattler is beating out rookie Tyler Shough. The second-round pick has completed just 62 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and three interceptions. 2023 fourth-round pick Jake Haener has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and one Interception. Jackson believes first-year head coach Kellen Moore is priming Rattler as the favorite to start in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. "Over the team’s 10 practices, these three young passers have seen their chance to earn the starting role to begin the season in a rotation of first-team reps," Jackson wrote. "But there are decisions the Saints have made in the process that indicate a favorite. "After looking over individual performance stats, practice rep distribution and the team’s treatment of each quarterback throughout the important and highly-productive scrimmages on camp day 10, it’s become clear that Rattler is comfortably in the lead, for now." Jackson thinks Rattler can fend off his "convincing lead" for the starting job if he plays competently against the Chargers on Sunday. Rattler feels like the safe choice for Moore over Shough and Haener, at least to start the regular season. He appeared in seven games and started in six in 2024. Rattler played inconsistently as a rookie, throwing four touchdowns to five interceptions. However, he's had time to develop. Given his numbers in training camp, Rattler appears to be the most polished quarterback before the regular season. Shough could eventually develop into the Saints' best option, but the rookie's completion percentage against friendly competition at camp is low before he even faces live action in the preseason.
The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the most active teams in the early days of the NBA offseason. From signing Myles Turner to moving on from Damian Lillard, Doc Rivers' team didn't rest on its laurels early on. And while the front office has gone to great lengths to shut down all rumors of Giannis Antetokounmpo's discontent, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported they're not in the clear yet. On Monday's edition of "Get Up," Charania pointed out that Antetokounmpo is still considering all his options. "We're standing here, it's Aug. 4. Sources tell me there's still nothing set in stone about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee or whether he will be leaving," Charania said. "And so, he's going to continue to evaluate his future." He added that Giannis might still decide that the doesn't want to be there and force his way out this offseason, which would be a huge blow for a team that just waived-and-stretched the $113 million left on Lillard's contract. "They did that because they wanted to show Giannis, we're doing everything in our power to keep you here. But Giannis Antetokounmpo is the ultimate decider whether he feels this roster is good enough," Charania added. Giannis has always talked about winning the right way and staying loyal to the organization, but he's also been visibly frustrated with the early playoff exits and has been open about his desire to win another championship. He might want to give this new core a chance to show him that it can compete at the highest level. But if they get off to another slow start to the season, he may want to reconsider his options.
The Bears phased out of the early portion of training camp with a Halas Hall practice Monday, closed even to media. The early days are behind them as they gear up for the first preseason game Sunday with Miami at Soldier Field. After OTAs and two weeks of training camp, there were few real surprises, and those who can be classified in this way actually flashed some of it in the offseason work. Others didn't. Here are the surprises from the first section of Bears training camp. RB Kyle Monangai They badly wanted their seventh-round pick to succeed at contributing because of their inability to draft someone earlier. So far, so good. There are occasional glitches, like when he went the wrong way on a play in Sunday's scrimmage at Soldier Field. His ability to help as a receiver has been an obvious surprise because he never did a lot of it in college. However, he got to show some of his toughness as a runner in goal-line work and in full-contact play the past week. "I am very pleased with where he's at," coach Ben Johnson said. "I think he's a guy that we're going to be able to trust this fall." Johnson said "think," not that he can be trusted. There's still a way to go before that status is earned. WR J.P. Richardson The undrafted TCU receiver caught passes in OTAs and it was easy to notice. When it continued at an even greater rate in training camp, it caught everyone's attention. The unexpected part of Richardson's play has been his versatility. Everyone knew he would be a slot type receiver who would make his run at a roster spot as a possession guy. However, Richardson catches passes all over the field. He doesn't just catch it, he finds ways to be open and then runs after the catch. Richardson disappointed Johnson with one down practice last week after he had been so impressive. "That happened, but he bounces right back, just like the rest of these guys," Johnson said. CB Nashon Wright It seemed a bit too convenient when they had suddenly discovered Nick McCloud could play cornerback after a practice when they decided to put Tyrique Stevenson with backups, continued using Terell Smith with backups and rookie Zah Frazier was still away for personal reasons. It just seemed as if it suited coaching motivational purposes to punish Stevenson for some reason. McCloud has been beaten, though not as often as backup Shaun Wade. But Wright definitely has been there all along, practicing well and using his long arms and height against starting receivers at Jaylon Johnson's position. Johnson won't return until possibly the regular season. "You know, not many 6-4, 6-5 corners out there with his capabilities and his suddenness and agilities so it’s been a challenge going against him every "single day," Rome Odunze said. LB Noah Sewell The strong side linebacker spot isn't spotlighted much, but Sewell has begun to flash once more physicality was introduced with pads. He had some standout plays in Sunday's practice after being limited almost solely to special teams his first two seasons. "Physicality wise, he jumps off the tape at all times," linebacker T.J. Edwards said. "Any type of lead, you know, stretch, run to Noah Sewell, you (know) what's getting turned back because that's kind of what he does." Sewell also got to flash his blitz ability Sunday when he burned D'Andre Swift's attempt to pick him up and forced Caleb Williams to throw it away. "In terms of his pass rush capabilities and things like that, he's got a good guy to practice with in the off season with his brother (Lions tackl Penei Sewell)," Edwards said. Sewell had a reputation for being able to rush the passer in college but hadn't shown it yet. "He’s another guy who has kind of been doing a whole different bunch of roles and things like that, and he’s taking it in, he's performing, man," Edwards added. "He looks really good for sure.” T Kiran Amegadjie Now it appears all of his efforts went for naught because his ability to compete with Ozzy Trapilo and Braxton Jones for starting left tackle is halted by injury, but it couldn't hide how much he had improved over 2024. He's going to need to adjust to battling back from injury and then make up for lost ground. Amegadjie shouldn't be counted out just yet because he considers focusing on the situation at hand to be a strength. "I've always kind of prided myself on that, whatever the situation was, whether it was in college or coming out last year, I tried to do my best to just control what I can control," Amegadjie said. "That's all you can do. When you start to worry about outside factors, that's when you get astray a little bit."
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