Guardiola’s Man City reign starts on sorry note

AFP, MUNICH: Pep Guardiola’s reign as Manchester City boss started with a 1-0 defeat in a friendly at his former club Bayern Munich on Wednesday in a game watched by 68,000 fans.
Erdal Ozturk scored the only goal of the game in the 76th minute although both sides were under-strength and under-cooked at the Allianz Arena with many of the leading players enjoying longer summer vacations following Euro 2016 and the Copa America.
Belgian international Vincent Kompany was an unused substitute for City after recovering from the thigh surgery which kept out of the Belgium team at the Euros.
“I had a special feeling — it was like coming home once again,” said Guardiola who has been replaced at Bayern by Carlo Ancelotti.
“I had three really great years here and it was great to come back. You’ve got a great manager and so many great players and I’m going to enjoy your matches on TV — all the best.”
 Meanwhile, new Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted on Wednesday that he would not allow key striker Robert Lewandowski to leave the German champions for Real Madrid.
Italian Ancelotti, who led Real to their 10th European crown in 2014, took over at the Allianz Arena from Pep Guardiola, who left for Manchester City, at the end of the past season.
Media reports in the last month have speculated that Lewandowski, who has been the Bundesliga’s top scorer in two of the last three seasons, was close to moving to the Spanish capital, but Ancelotti is confident of keeping the Pole in Bavaria.
“Real Madrid have many fantastic players, including (Karim) Benzema, (Gareth) Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, Real don’t even need Lewandowski,” Ancelotti told German sports daily Sportbild.
“And even if they did, Bayern would not sell Lewandowski. Why should we let go one of the best strikers in the world voluntarily?”
Bayern face Real Madrid in a friendly in the United States on August 4.
The 57-year-old Ancelotti, who has won three Champions League titles as a coach, also revealed some of his training-ground methods.
He gives his players marks out of 10 after each training session, but keeps them secret.
“I set certain expectations of my players,” he added.
“After every game I note things down. This is my personal rating, in which no feedback is given out, including for the players.
“They get scores on a scale of 10, very good, to 1, very bad. Like how the journalists in Italy, in “La Gazetta dello Sport” mark the players.”
Bayern brought in Ancelotti, whose continental pedigree is second to none, in the hope of sealing a sixth European Cup triumph, after three successive semi-final defeats under Guardiola.
Ancelotti is not known as a particularly hard taskmaster, and although he does not want players turning up late for training, he’ll leave it down to captain Philipp Lahm to dish out the punishment.
“If a player is late, the captain must tell him that he must pay a fine in cash to the team,” he said.
“It’s me who sets the rules, but the players who control them between them. That’s what I usually do and that’s what I also want to bring to Bayern.”
Ancelotti’s first competitive match in charge will be against rivals Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup on August 14.
Bayern begin their tilt at a record fifth successive German league title when they open the Bundesliga season with a home game against Werder Bremen on August 26.

Guardiolas Man City reign starts on sorry note

AFP, MUNICH: Pep Guardiolas reign as Manchester City boss started with a 1-0 defeat in a friendly at his former club Bayern Munich on Wednesday in a game watched by 68,000 fans. Erdal Ozturk scored the only goal of the game in the 76th minute although both sides were under-strength and under-cooked at the Allianz Arena with many of the leading players enjoying longer summer vacations following Euro 2016 and the Copa America. Belgian international Vincent Kompany was an unused substitute for City after recovering from the thigh surgery which kept out of the Belgium team at the Euros. I had a special feeling it was like coming home once again, said Guardiola who has been replaced at Bayern by Carlo Ancelotti. I had three really great years here and it was great to come back. Youve got a great manager and so many great players and Im going to enjoy your matches on TV all the best. Meanwhile, new Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted on Wednesday that he would not allow key striker Robert Lewandowski to leave the German champions for Real Madrid. Italian Ancelotti, who led Real to their 10th European crown in 2014, took over at the Allianz Arena from Pep Guardiola, who left for Manchester City, at the end of the past season. Media reports in the last month have speculated that Lewandowski, who has been the Bundesligas top scorer in two of the last three seasons, was close to moving to the Spanish capital, but Ancelotti is confident of keeping the Pole in Bavaria. Real Madrid have many fantastic players, including (Karim) Benzema, (Gareth) Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, Real dont even need Lewandowski, Ancelotti told German sports daily Sportbild. And even if they did, Bayern would not sell Lewandowski. Why should we let go one of the best strikers in the world voluntarily? Bayern face Real Madrid in a friendly in the United States on August 4. The 57-year-old Ancelotti, who has won three Champions League titles as a coach, also revealed some of his training-ground methods. He gives his players marks out of 10 after each training session, but keeps them secret. I set certain expectations of my players, he added. After every game I note things down. This is my personal rating, in which no feedback is given out, including for the players. They get scores on a scale of 10, very good, to 1, very bad. Like how the journalists in Italy, in La Gazetta dello Sport mark the players. Bayern brought in Ancelotti, whose continental pedigree is second to none, in the hope of sealing a sixth European Cup triumph, after three successive semi-final defeats under Guardiola. Ancelotti is not known as a particularly hard taskmaster, and although he does not want players turning up late for training, hell leave it down to captain Philipp Lahm to dish out the punishment. If a player is late, the captain must tell him that he must pay a fine in cash to the team, he said. Its me who sets the rules, but the players who control them between them. Thats what I usually do and thats what I also want to bring to Bayern. Ancelottis first competitive match in charge will be against rivals Borussia Dortmund in the German Super Cup on August 14. Bayern begin their tilt at a record fifth successive German league title when they open the Bundesliga season with a home game against Werder Bremen on August 26.