Christian Benteke casts doubt on his Aston Villa future

• Benteke says he may ask for a transfer this summer
• Striker mentions Arsenal as a club he would like to join

Christian Benteke has cast doubt on his future at Aston Villa by indicating that he would like to leave if a leading club such as Arsenal try to buy him.

Villa want the striker to sign a new, improved contract but Benteke has given a press conference on international duty with Belgium before their friendly against the USA in which he is quoted as saying that he may demand a transfer: “If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won’t necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn’t get the most out of my career.”

Benteke is further quoted as saying: “Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.

“If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I’m convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner.”

Benteke’s agent Kismet Eris told the Sun: “This always happens when he goes away with the national team. I’d prefer he didn’t speak to journalists but the Belgian team insist he does a press conference.

“If he was unhappy at Villa we’d have seen that. But he’s not.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Christian Benteke casts doubt on his Aston Villa future

• Benteke says he may ask for a transfer this summer
• Striker mentions Arsenal as a club he would like to join

Christian Benteke has cast doubt on his future at Aston Villa by indicating that he would like to leave if a leading club such as Arsenal try to buy him.

Villa want the striker to sign a new, improved contract but Benteke has given a press conference on international duty with Belgium before their friendly against the USA in which he is quoted as saying that he may demand a transfer: “If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won’t necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn’t get the most out of my career.”

Benteke is further quoted as saying: “Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.

“If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I’m convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner.”

Benteke’s agent Kismet Eris told the Sun: “This always happens when he goes away with the national team. I’d prefer he didn’t speak to journalists but the Belgian team insist he does a press conference.

“If he was unhappy at Villa we’d have seen that. But he’s not.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Christian Benteke casts doubt on his Aston Villa future

• Benteke says he may ask for a transfer this summer
• Striker mentions Arsenal as a club he would like to join

Christian Benteke has cast doubt on his future at Aston Villa by indicating that he would like to leave if a leading club such as Arsenal try to buy him.

Villa want the striker to sign a new, improved contract but Benteke has given a press conference on international duty with Belgium before their friendly against the USA in which he is quoted as saying that he may demand a transfer: “If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won’t necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn’t get the most out of my career.”

Benteke is further quoted as saying: “Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.

“If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I’m convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner.”

Benteke’s agent Kismet Eris told the Sun: “This always happens when he goes away with the national team. I’d prefer he didn’t speak to journalists but the Belgian team insist he does a press conference.

“If he was unhappy at Villa we’d have seen that. But he’s not.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Christian Benteke casts doubt on his Aston Villa future

• Benteke says he may ask for a transfer this summer
• Striker mentions Arsenal as a club he would like to join

Christian Benteke has cast doubt on his future at Aston Villa by indicating that he would like to leave if a leading club such as Arsenal try to buy him.

Villa want the striker to sign a new, improved contract but Benteke has given a press conference on international duty with Belgium before their friendly against the USA in which he is quoted as saying that he may demand a transfer: “If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won’t necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn’t get the most out of my career.”

Benteke is further quoted as saying: “Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.

“If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I’m convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner.”

Benteke’s agent Kismet Eris told the Sun: “This always happens when he goes away with the national team. I’d prefer he didn’t speak to journalists but the Belgian team insist he does a press conference.

“If he was unhappy at Villa we’d have seen that. But he’s not.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Christian Benteke casts doubt on his Aston Villa future

• Benteke says he may ask for a transfer this summer
• Striker mentions Arsenal as a club he would like to join

Christian Benteke has cast doubt on his future at Aston Villa by indicating that he would like to leave if a leading club such as Arsenal try to buy him.

Villa want the striker to sign a new, improved contract but Benteke has given a press conference on international duty with Belgium before their friendly against the USA in which he is quoted as saying that he may demand a transfer: “If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won’t necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn’t get the most out of my career.”

Benteke is further quoted as saying: “Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.

“If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I’m convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner.”

Benteke’s agent Kismet Eris told the Sun: “This always happens when he goes away with the national team. I’d prefer he didn’t speak to journalists but the Belgian team insist he does a press conference.

“If he was unhappy at Villa we’d have seen that. But he’s not.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Christian Benteke casts doubt on his Aston Villa future

• Benteke says he may ask for a transfer this summer
• Striker mentions Arsenal as a club he would like to join

Christian Benteke has cast doubt on his future at Aston Villa by indicating that he would like to leave if a leading club such as Arsenal try to buy him.

Villa want the striker to sign a new, improved contract but Benteke has given a press conference on international duty with Belgium before their friendly against the USA in which he is quoted as saying that he may demand a transfer: “If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won’t necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn’t get the most out of my career.”

Benteke is further quoted as saying: “Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.

“If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I’m convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner.”

Benteke’s agent Kismet Eris told the Sun: “This always happens when he goes away with the national team. I’d prefer he didn’t speak to journalists but the Belgian team insist he does a press conference.

“If he was unhappy at Villa we’d have seen that. But he’s not.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Christian Benteke casts doubt on his Aston Villa future

• Benteke says he may ask for a transfer this summer
• Striker mentions Arsenal as a club he would like to join

Christian Benteke has cast doubt on his future at Aston Villa by indicating that he would like to leave if a leading club such as Arsenal try to buy him.

Villa want the striker to sign a new, improved contract but Benteke has given a press conference on international duty with Belgium before their friendly against the USA in which he is quoted as saying that he may demand a transfer: “If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won’t necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn’t get the most out of my career.”

Benteke is further quoted as saying: “Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.

“If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I’m convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner.”

Benteke’s agent Kismet Eris told the Sun: “This always happens when he goes away with the national team. I’d prefer he didn’t speak to journalists but the Belgian team insist he does a press conference.

“If he was unhappy at Villa we’d have seen that. But he’s not.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Man City tell Pellegrini to ‘win five trophies in five years’

• Chief executive says City failed to evolve under Mancini
• Pellegrini expected to be confirmed as City manager on 3 June

The incoming Manchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, has been told by the club’s chief executive that they are expecting him to preside over an extensive period of success at the Etihad Stadium, which includes wining five trophies in the next five years.

Ferran Soriano added that he felt City had underachieved last season and that their football had not “evolved” under Roberto Mancini. Pellegrini is expected to be confirmed as Mancini’s successor on 3 June after finishing the season in Spain with Málaga, and the Chilean has been given no illusions about what is expected of him once he arrives in Manchester.

“I think that next season is going to be much better. I am convinced about that,” Soriano said. “It doesn’t mean we are going to win one or two titles but in the grand scheme of things, if we look at the next five years and I could plan now, I would say I want to win five trophies in the next five years.

“That may mean we win no trophy one year and two in another but on average I want one title a year. That includes the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup. Is it a realistic aim? I think it is, yes, but I am talking about five years.

“If next year we don’t win but progress our football and get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, finish second in the Premier League and lose the FA Cup final again that will be fine.

“What we are asking the new manager to do is build a squad but also a football concept and a way of working that will last for the next 10 years. The manager has a shorter span [than that]. We are asking the manager to win this season, next season and every Sunday.”

Soriano, who is in the United States with City on their end of season tour, explained the club’s reasoning for sacking Mancini, who ended City’s 35-year wait for major silverware by winning the FA Cup in 2011, and followed it up with the Premier League title in 2012.

“This was a long-term decision taken with a lot of careful analysis,” Soriano said. “We would never fire or change the manager over one or two results. Once you go down the path of change you have to be very sure. Roberto Mancini did very good for the club. He changed the mentality from a club that was not winning to a winning club and that is very hard.

“In the last year I think it’s fair to say that our football did not progress or evolve as we hoped. If you play good football you will win and we have a fantastic squad.

“The squad we have is capable of winning the Premier League and is not a squad that should be kicked out at the first group stage of the Champions League. You know, these things can happen – this is football and we all understand football. But we have better players than that.”

The Spaniard, who became City’s chief executive in July 2012, said that the City board were concerned about the image of the club during Mancini’s often fractious three-and-a-half-year reign, and cited his training-ground clash with the tempestuous Mario Balotelli, who was sold to Milan in January, as a clear example of a lack of unity within the camp.

“I was worried about the image we were giving to the world,” Soriano said. “What we want is not the image of unity – we want the unity … with the new manager, we are asking him that the dressing room has as much harmony as possible, knowing total harmony is impossible.

“With the kind of squad we have, we want a senior manager at this point. We want a manager who knows about football but we want somebody who knows about man-management. It is impossible for us to win the Champions League if we don’t have a group that behaves like a family.”

He also wants a team half of whom are homegrown. “I have seen it at Barcelona and at Manchester United.”

Soriano confirmed that Sergio Agüero will not be sold this summer, despite speculation that the Argentina forward is unhappy in Manchester.

“He is not leaving,” Soriano said. “This speculation has gone on and on and on but we have had discussions with Sergio and his agent about several things and he has never expressed a willingness to go. We have never had an offer and even if we had an offer we would say no.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Man City tell Pellegrini to ‘win five trophies in five years’

• Chief executive says City failed to evolve under Mancini
• Pellegrini expected to be confirmed as City manager on 3 June

The incoming Manchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, has been told by the club’s chief executive that they are expecting him to preside over an extensive period of success at the Etihad Stadium, which includes wining five trophies in the next five years.

Ferran Soriano added that he felt City had underachieved last season and that their football had not “evolved” under Roberto Mancini. Pellegrini is expected to be confirmed as Mancini’s successor on 3 June after finishing the season in Spain with Málaga, and the Chilean has been given no illusions about what is expected of him once he arrives in Manchester.

“I think that next season is going to be much better. I am convinced about that,” Soriano said. “It doesn’t mean we are going to win one or two titles but in the grand scheme of things, if we look at the next five years and I could plan now, I would say I want to win five trophies in the next five years.

“That may mean we win no trophy one year and two in another but on average I want one title a year. That includes the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup. Is it a realistic aim? I think it is, yes, but I am talking about five years.

“If next year we don’t win but progress our football and get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, finish second in the Premier League and lose the FA Cup final again that will be fine.

“What we are asking the new manager to do is build a squad but also a football concept and a way of working that will last for the next 10 years. The manager has a shorter span [than that]. We are asking the manager to win this season, next season and every Sunday.”

Soriano, who is in the United States with City on their end of season tour, explained the club’s reasoning for sacking Mancini, who ended City’s 35-year wait for major silverware by winning the FA Cup in 2011, and followed it up with the Premier League title in 2012.

“This was a long-term decision taken with a lot of careful analysis,” Soriano said. “We would never fire or change the manager over one or two results. Once you go down the path of change you have to be very sure. Roberto Mancini did very good for the club. He changed the mentality from a club that was not winning to a winning club and that is very hard.

“In the last year I think it’s fair to say that our football did not progress or evolve as we hoped. If you play good football you will win and we have a fantastic squad.

“The squad we have is capable of winning the Premier League and is not a squad that should be kicked out at the first group stage of the Champions League. You know, these things can happen – this is football and we all understand football. But we have better players than that.”

The Spaniard, who became City’s chief executive in July 2012, said that the City board were concerned about the image of the club during Mancini’s often fractious three-and-a-half-year reign, and cited his training-ground clash with the tempestuous Mario Balotelli, who was sold to Milan in January, as a clear example of a lack of unity within the camp.

“I was worried about the image we were giving to the world,” Soriano said. “What we want is not the image of unity – we want the unity … with the new manager, we are asking him that the dressing room has as much harmony as possible, knowing total harmony is impossible.

“With the kind of squad we have, we want a senior manager at this point. We want a manager who knows about football but we want somebody who knows about man-management. It is impossible for us to win the Champions League if we don’t have a group that behaves like a family.”

He also wants a team half of whom are homegrown. “I have seen it at Barcelona and at Manchester United.”

Soriano confirmed that Sergio Agüero will not be sold this summer, despite speculation that the Argentina forward is unhappy in Manchester.

“He is not leaving,” Soriano said. “This speculation has gone on and on and on but we have had discussions with Sergio and his agent about several things and he has never expressed a willingness to go. We have never had an offer and even if we had an offer we would say no.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Man City tell Pellegrini to ‘win five trophies in five years’

• Chief executive says City failed to evolve under Mancini
• Pellegrini expected to be confirmed as City manager on 3 June

The incoming Manchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, has been told by the club’s chief executive that they are expecting him to preside over an extensive period of success at the Etihad Stadium, which includes wining five trophies in the next five years.

Ferran Soriano added that he felt City had underachieved last season and that their football had not “evolved” under Roberto Mancini. Pellegrini is expected to be confirmed as Mancini’s successor on 3 June after finishing the season in Spain with Málaga, and the Chilean has been given no illusions about what is expected of him once he arrives in Manchester.

“I think that next season is going to be much better. I am convinced about that,” Soriano said. “It doesn’t mean we are going to win one or two titles but in the grand scheme of things, if we look at the next five years and I could plan now, I would say I want to win five trophies in the next five years.

“That may mean we win no trophy one year and two in another but on average I want one title a year. That includes the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup. Is it a realistic aim? I think it is, yes, but I am talking about five years.

“If next year we don’t win but progress our football and get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, finish second in the Premier League and lose the FA Cup final again that will be fine.

“What we are asking the new manager to do is build a squad but also a football concept and a way of working that will last for the next 10 years. The manager has a shorter span [than that]. We are asking the manager to win this season, next season and every Sunday.”

Soriano, who is in the United States with City on their end of season tour, explained the club’s reasoning for sacking Mancini, who ended City’s 35-year wait for major silverware by winning the FA Cup in 2011, and followed it up with the Premier League title in 2012.

“This was a long-term decision taken with a lot of careful analysis,” Soriano said. “We would never fire or change the manager over one or two results. Once you go down the path of change you have to be very sure. Roberto Mancini did very good for the club. He changed the mentality from a club that was not winning to a winning club and that is very hard.

“In the last year I think it’s fair to say that our football did not progress or evolve as we hoped. If you play good football you will win and we have a fantastic squad.

“The squad we have is capable of winning the Premier League and is not a squad that should be kicked out at the first group stage of the Champions League. You know, these things can happen – this is football and we all understand football. But we have better players than that.”

The Spaniard, who became City’s chief executive in July 2012, said that the City board were concerned about the image of the club during Mancini’s often fractious three-and-a-half-year reign, and cited his training-ground clash with the tempestuous Mario Balotelli, who was sold to Milan in January, as a clear example of a lack of unity within the camp.

“I was worried about the image we were giving to the world,” Soriano said. “What we want is not the image of unity – we want the unity … with the new manager, we are asking him that the dressing room has as much harmony as possible, knowing total harmony is impossible.

“With the kind of squad we have, we want a senior manager at this point. We want a manager who knows about football but we want somebody who knows about man-management. It is impossible for us to win the Champions League if we don’t have a group that behaves like a family.”

He also wants a team half of whom are homegrown. “I have seen it at Barcelona and at Manchester United.”

Soriano confirmed that Sergio Agüero will not be sold this summer, despite speculation that the Argentina forward is unhappy in Manchester.

“He is not leaving,” Soriano said. “This speculation has gone on and on and on but we have had discussions with Sergio and his agent about several things and he has never expressed a willingness to go. We have never had an offer and even if we had an offer we would say no.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Man City tell Pellegrini to ‘win five trophies in five years’

• Chief executive says City failed to evolve under Mancini
• Pellegrini expected to be confirmed as City manager on 3 June

The incoming Manchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, has been told by the club’s chief executive that they are expecting him to preside over an extensive period of success at the Etihad Stadium, which includes wining five trophies in the next five years.

Ferran Soriano added that he felt City had underachieved last season and that their football had not “evolved” under Roberto Mancini. Pellegrini is expected to be confirmed as Mancini’s successor on 3 June after finishing the season in Spain with Málaga, and the Chilean has been given no illusions about what is expected of him once he arrives in Manchester.

“I think that next season is going to be much better. I am convinced about that,” Soriano said. “It doesn’t mean we are going to win one or two titles but in the grand scheme of things, if we look at the next five years and I could plan now, I would say I want to win five trophies in the next five years.

“That may mean we win no trophy one year and two in another but on average I want one title a year. That includes the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup. Is it a realistic aim? I think it is, yes, but I am talking about five years.

“If next year we don’t win but progress our football and get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, finish second in the Premier League and lose the FA Cup final again that will be fine.

“What we are asking the new manager to do is build a squad but also a football concept and a way of working that will last for the next 10 years. The manager has a shorter span [than that]. We are asking the manager to win this season, next season and every Sunday.”

Soriano, who is in the United States with City on their end of season tour, explained the club’s reasoning for sacking Mancini, who ended City’s 35-year wait for major silverware by winning the FA Cup in 2011, and followed it up with the Premier League title in 2012.

“This was a long-term decision taken with a lot of careful analysis,” Soriano said. “We would never fire or change the manager over one or two results. Once you go down the path of change you have to be very sure. Roberto Mancini did very good for the club. He changed the mentality from a club that was not winning to a winning club and that is very hard.

“In the last year I think it’s fair to say that our football did not progress or evolve as we hoped. If you play good football you will win and we have a fantastic squad.

“The squad we have is capable of winning the Premier League and is not a squad that should be kicked out at the first group stage of the Champions League. You know, these things can happen – this is football and we all understand football. But we have better players than that.”

The Spaniard, who became City’s chief executive in July 2012, said that the City board were concerned about the image of the club during Mancini’s often fractious three-and-a-half-year reign, and cited his training-ground clash with the tempestuous Mario Balotelli, who was sold to Milan in January, as a clear example of a lack of unity within the camp.

“I was worried about the image we were giving to the world,” Soriano said. “What we want is not the image of unity – we want the unity … with the new manager, we are asking him that the dressing room has as much harmony as possible, knowing total harmony is impossible.

“With the kind of squad we have, we want a senior manager at this point. We want a manager who knows about football but we want somebody who knows about man-management. It is impossible for us to win the Champions League if we don’t have a group that behaves like a family.”

He also wants a team half of whom are homegrown. “I have seen it at Barcelona and at Manchester United.”

Soriano confirmed that Sergio Agüero will not be sold this summer, despite speculation that the Argentina forward is unhappy in Manchester.

“He is not leaving,” Soriano said. “This speculation has gone on and on and on but we have had discussions with Sergio and his agent about several things and he has never expressed a willingness to go. We have never had an offer and even if we had an offer we would say no.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Man City tell Pellegrini to ‘win five trophies in five years’

• Chief executive says City failed to evolve under Mancini
• Pellegrini expected to be confirmed as City manager on 3 June

The incoming Manchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, has been told by the club’s chief executive that they are expecting him to preside over an extensive period of success at the Etihad Stadium, which includes wining five trophies in the next five years.

Ferran Soriano added that he felt City had underachieved last season and that their football had not “evolved” under Roberto Mancini. Pellegrini is expected to be confirmed as Mancini’s successor on 3 June after finishing the season in Spain with Málaga, and the Chilean has been given no illusions about what is expected of him once he arrives in Manchester.

“I think that next season is going to be much better. I am convinced about that,” Soriano said. “It doesn’t mean we are going to win one or two titles but in the grand scheme of things, if we look at the next five years and I could plan now, I would say I want to win five trophies in the next five years.

“That may mean we win no trophy one year and two in another but on average I want one title a year. That includes the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup. Is it a realistic aim? I think it is, yes, but I am talking about five years.

“If next year we don’t win but progress our football and get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, finish second in the Premier League and lose the FA Cup final again that will be fine.

“What we are asking the new manager to do is build a squad but also a football concept and a way of working that will last for the next 10 years. The manager has a shorter span [than that]. We are asking the manager to win this season, next season and every Sunday.”

Soriano, who is in the United States with City on their end of season tour, explained the club’s reasoning for sacking Mancini, who ended City’s 35-year wait for major silverware by winning the FA Cup in 2011, and followed it up with the Premier League title in 2012.

“This was a long-term decision taken with a lot of careful analysis,” Soriano said. “We would never fire or change the manager over one or two results. Once you go down the path of change you have to be very sure. Roberto Mancini did very good for the club. He changed the mentality from a club that was not winning to a winning club and that is very hard.

“In the last year I think it’s fair to say that our football did not progress or evolve as we hoped. If you play good football you will win and we have a fantastic squad.

“The squad we have is capable of winning the Premier League and is not a squad that should be kicked out at the first group stage of the Champions League. You know, these things can happen – this is football and we all understand football. But we have better players than that.”

The Spaniard, who became City’s chief executive in July 2012, said that the City board were concerned about the image of the club during Mancini’s often fractious three-and-a-half-year reign, and cited his training-ground clash with the tempestuous Mario Balotelli, who was sold to Milan in January, as a clear example of a lack of unity within the camp.

“I was worried about the image we were giving to the world,” Soriano said. “What we want is not the image of unity – we want the unity … with the new manager, we are asking him that the dressing room has as much harmony as possible, knowing total harmony is impossible.

“With the kind of squad we have, we want a senior manager at this point. We want a manager who knows about football but we want somebody who knows about man-management. It is impossible for us to win the Champions League if we don’t have a group that behaves like a family.”

He also wants a team half of whom are homegrown. “I have seen it at Barcelona and at Manchester United.”

Soriano confirmed that Sergio Agüero will not be sold this summer, despite speculation that the Argentina forward is unhappy in Manchester.

“He is not leaving,” Soriano said. “This speculation has gone on and on and on but we have had discussions with Sergio and his agent about several things and he has never expressed a willingness to go. We have never had an offer and even if we had an offer we would say no.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

Man City tell Pellegrini to ‘win five trophies in five years’

• Chief executive says City failed to evolve under Mancini
• Pellegrini expected to be confirmed as City manager on 3 June

The incoming Manchester City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, has been told by the club’s chief executive that they are expecting him to preside over an extensive period of success at the Etihad Stadium, which includes wining five trophies in the next five years.

Ferran Soriano added that he felt City had underachieved last season and that their football had not “evolved” under Roberto Mancini. Pellegrini is expected to be confirmed as Mancini’s successor on 3 June after finishing the season in Spain with Málaga, and the Chilean has been given no illusions about what is expected of him once he arrives in Manchester.

“I think that next season is going to be much better. I am convinced about that,” Soriano said. “It doesn’t mean we are going to win one or two titles but in the grand scheme of things, if we look at the next five years and I could plan now, I would say I want to win five trophies in the next five years.

“That may mean we win no trophy one year and two in another but on average I want one title a year. That includes the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup. Is it a realistic aim? I think it is, yes, but I am talking about five years.

“If next year we don’t win but progress our football and get to the semi-finals of the Champions League, finish second in the Premier League and lose the FA Cup final again that will be fine.

“What we are asking the new manager to do is build a squad but also a football concept and a way of working that will last for the next 10 years. The manager has a shorter span [than that]. We are asking the manager to win this season, next season and every Sunday.”

Soriano, who is in the United States with City on their end of season tour, explained the club’s reasoning for sacking Mancini, who ended City’s 35-year wait for major silverware by winning the FA Cup in 2011, and followed it up with the Premier League title in 2012.

“This was a long-term decision taken with a lot of careful analysis,” Soriano said. “We would never fire or change the manager over one or two results. Once you go down the path of change you have to be very sure. Roberto Mancini did very good for the club. He changed the mentality from a club that was not winning to a winning club and that is very hard.

“In the last year I think it’s fair to say that our football did not progress or evolve as we hoped. If you play good football you will win and we have a fantastic squad.

“The squad we have is capable of winning the Premier League and is not a squad that should be kicked out at the first group stage of the Champions League. You know, these things can happen – this is football and we all understand football. But we have better players than that.”

The Spaniard, who became City’s chief executive in July 2012, said that the City board were concerned about the image of the club during Mancini’s often fractious three-and-a-half-year reign, and cited his training-ground clash with the tempestuous Mario Balotelli, who was sold to Milan in January, as a clear example of a lack of unity within the camp.

“I was worried about the image we were giving to the world,” Soriano said. “What we want is not the image of unity – we want the unity … with the new manager, we are asking him that the dressing room has as much harmony as possible, knowing total harmony is impossible.

“With the kind of squad we have, we want a senior manager at this point. We want a manager who knows about football but we want somebody who knows about man-management. It is impossible for us to win the Champions League if we don’t have a group that behaves like a family.”

He also wants a team half of whom are homegrown. “I have seen it at Barcelona and at Manchester United.”

Soriano confirmed that Sergio Agüero will not be sold this summer, despite speculation that the Argentina forward is unhappy in Manchester.

“He is not leaving,” Soriano said. “This speculation has gone on and on and on but we have had discussions with Sergio and his agent about several things and he has never expressed a willingness to go. We have never had an offer and even if we had an offer we would say no.”

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

The Gruppetto: 24 hours at the Giro d’Italia | James Callow

Nibali the machine grinds on | Cadel Evans’ chasers smell blood | Honey Badger well sett

Welcome to the latest edition of the Gruppetto, your daily blogpost on the Giro d’Italia, reflecting on the previous stages and looking ahead to stage 19. Do get involved below the line, or email me at james.callow@guardian.co.uk. You can find all the Gruppettos in one place, right here.

Yesterday once more

Vincenzo Nibali reeled off another expression of his utter dominance at this year’s Giro by winning the stage 18 uphill time trial and beating his nearest rival on the day, Samuel Sánchez, by 58 seconds.

The Italian’s remarkable run coincided with the day’s worst weather, and if the same could be said for Cadel Evans, second on general classification, the 2min 36sec gap between the two speaks volumes.

Evans, who had been expected to challenge for the stage victory but finished 25th, retains second place but is now only 10sec ahead of Rigoberto Urán, the Team Sky rider who covered the 20.6km course between Mori and Polsa with the sixth-fastest time.

Damiano Caruso finished third fastest, 1:20 off Nibali, while Michele Scarponi finished fourth. Scarponi remains fourth on general classification but is now only 1min 10sec behind Evans.

“I have a significant advantage now and that will allow me to control the coming two stages in more tranquil fashion,” said Nibali.

The man is a machine.

Good day

Rafal Majka The 23-year-old Pole wrested the young riders’ white jersey after finishing seven seconds faster than the previous incumbent, Carlos Betancur.

Majka has managed to slip under the radar for most of this race, highest placed in fourth on the Galibier, making for a stark contrast with Betancur, who has finished second three times and even mistakenly celebrated victory in Florence.

But it has been the Saxo-Tinkoff climber’s quiet consistency in the high mountains that has really impressed, apparently riding within himself and always with the lead group.

But with only a 2sec lead on Betancur, Majka may have to abandon his conservative strategy and attack his rival to cling on to his jersey. Their battle promises to animate the next two stages.

Bad day

Cadel Evans Has the Australian popped or is this merely a misfire? Suddenly a host of riders stand to gain on the man who had so assiduously fastened himself to Nibali’s coat-tails, clinging on to the thought that if he was no match for the Italian, then at least he was stronger than everyone else.

Evans is a hard rider to read: the signs of suffering and strain come early on and yet he seems capable of holding his form. Thursday’s time trial would have been a red-letter day in the BMC rider’s diary, but he finished behind all bar one – Beñat Intxausti – of the top 10 riders on general classification. Evans later fronted up on Twitter: “Uphill TT done here at the Giro: Nibali in a class of his own. Evans – if I may say so myself – abysmal.”

And what of the battle for the points classification? Evans’s unexpectedly poor turn has allowed Mark Cavendish to retain his four-point buffer at the top of the maglia rosso passione standings. But will the setback strengthen Evans’s resolve to hunt for intermediate sprint and placing points on the next two mountain stages, or will he be more concerned with clinging on to his second place?

Evans hinted at his gameplan after the stage: “It’s not for lack of trying that I lose a minute or two minutes. I’m unlikely to win [the overall], but since I came here for training for the Tour de France, second place isn’t so bad.”

Nonethless, Urán and maybe even Scarponi will smell blood in the Dolomites.

Musings on big pink

• Brighter forecast for Blanco

This has been a forgettable tour for the Dutch team, whose future looked in the balance after their sponsorship was pulled by Rabobank at the end of last season.

But according to reports in De Telegraaf, Blanco could have a deal in place with the American electronics firm Belkin that could start as soon as next month’s Tour de France.

One can only hope that the new livery might be an improvement on the curiously dated Blanco jerseys.

• Honey Badger’s sett for greatness

It’s not only Garmin-Sharp who have been lifted by Ramunas Navardauskas, otherwise known as “the Honey Badger”. The Lithuanian’s victory on stage 11 helped ease the disappointment of Ryder Hesjedal’s limp defence of his Giro title, and won fans among the public with his easy-come demeanour.

But according to Garmin’s Peter Stetina, it is Navardauskas’s voracious appetite for hard work in testing circumstances that earned him his nickname.

“This year, it’s just been bad luck from the beginning. Our silver lining is Honey Badger,’” he said. “It’s all about Ramunas, it’s pretty amazing.

“His nickname came about during the Circuit de la Sarthe. The honey badger video [containing very strong language] went viral at the same time, and he was just doing ridiculous stuff that defied all logic of strength, and it just caught on. We started calling him the honey badger. It still fits to this day.”

Friday’s racing

So it has been confirmed … stage 19 will no longer take in the Passo di Gavia and the mythical Passo di Stelvio, after heavy snow forced a wholesale rethink by the Giro’s organisers, RCS Sport.

Instead the stage will take in three climbs: first the category 2 Passo Del Tonale, which is at a steady gradient, before a long drop down to the foot of the first of two category one ascents, the Passo Castrin.

It’s a fearsome proposition – short and very steep – with a maximum 13% gradient and representing nearly 800m of climbing.

Escapees may see Castrin as a launchpad but whether they can hang on up the final climb – 22km up Val Martello – is another matter.

Bookies’ favourites

The bookmakers have been understandably slow to draw up odds on the revised route. Stand by for tips on Friday morning.

Live coverage

• Join us on Friday afternoon for our rolling blog on stage 19.

• You can also visit our Giro d’Italia front, to bone up on the race schedule, tactics and check out other splendid two-wheel resources.

• Television coverage can be found on Eurosport, with nightly stage highlights on Sky Sports.

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

The Gruppetto: 24 hours at the Giro d’Italia | James Callow

Nibali the machine grinds on | Cadel Evans’ chasers smell blood | Honey Badger well sett

Welcome to the latest edition of the Gruppetto, your daily blogpost on the Giro d’Italia, reflecting on the previous stages and looking ahead to stage 19. Do get involved below the line, or email me at james.callow@guardian.co.uk. You can find all the Gruppettos in one place, right here.

Yesterday once more

Vincenzo Nibali reeled off another expression of his utter dominance at this year’s Giro by winning the stage 18 uphill time trial and beating his nearest rival on the day, Samuel Sánchez, by 58 seconds.

The Italian’s remarkable run coincided with the day’s worst weather, and if the same could be said for Cadel Evans, second on general classification, the 2min 36sec gap between the two speaks volumes.

Evans, who had been expected to challenge for the stage victory but finished 25th, retains second place but is now only 10sec ahead of Rigoberto Urán, the Team Sky rider who covered the 20.6km course between Mori and Polsa with the sixth-fastest time.

Damiano Caruso finished third fastest, 1:20 off Nibali, while Michele Scarponi finished fourth. Scarponi remains fourth on general classification but is now only 1min 10sec behind Evans.

“I have a significant advantage now and that will allow me to control the coming two stages in more tranquil fashion,” said Nibali.

The man is a machine.

Good day

Rafal Majka The 23-year-old Pole wrested the young riders’ white jersey after finishing seven seconds faster than the previous incumbent, Carlos Betancur.

Majka has managed to slip under the radar for most of this race, highest placed in fourth on the Galibier, making for a stark contrast with Betancur, who has finished second three times and even mistakenly celebrated victory in Florence.

But it has been the Saxo-Tinkoff climber’s quiet consistency in the high mountains that has really impressed, apparently riding within himself and always with the lead group.

But with only a 2sec lead on Betancur, Majka may have to abandon his conservative strategy and attack his rival to cling on to his jersey. Their battle promises to animate the next two stages.

Bad day

Cadel Evans Has the Australian popped or is this merely a misfire? Suddenly a host of riders stand to gain on the man who had so assiduously fastened himself to Nibali’s coat-tails, clinging on to the thought that if he was no match for the Italian, then at least he was stronger than everyone else.

Evans is a hard rider to read: the signs of suffering and strain come early on and yet he seems capable of holding his form. Thursday’s time trial would have been a red-letter day in the BMC rider’s diary, but he finished behind all bar one – Beñat Intxausti – of the top 10 riders on general classification. Evans later fronted up on Twitter: “Uphill TT done here at the Giro: Nibali in a class of his own. Evans – if I may say so myself – abysmal.”

And what of the battle for the points classification? Evans’s unexpectedly poor turn has allowed Mark Cavendish to retain his four-point buffer at the top of the maglia rosso passione standings. But will the setback strengthen Evans’s resolve to hunt for intermediate sprint and placing points on the next two mountain stages, or will he be more concerned with clinging on to his second place?

Evans hinted at his gameplan after the stage: “It’s not for lack of trying that I lose a minute or two minutes. I’m unlikely to win [the overall], but since I came here for training for the Tour de France, second place isn’t so bad.”

Nonethless, Urán and maybe even Scarponi will smell blood in the Dolomites.

Musings on big pink

• Brighter forecast for Blanco

This has been a forgettable tour for the Dutch team, whose future looked in the balance after their sponsorship was pulled by Rabobank at the end of last season.

But according to reports in De Telegraaf, Blanco could have a deal in place with the American electronics firm Belkin that could start as soon as next month’s Tour de France.

One can only hope that the new livery might be an improvement on the curiously dated Blanco jerseys.

• Honey Badger’s sett for greatness

It’s not only Garmin-Sharp who have been lifted by Ramunas Navardauskas, otherwise known as “the Honey Badger”. The Lithuanian’s victory on stage 11 helped ease the disappointment of Ryder Hesjedal’s limp defence of his Giro title, and won fans among the public with his easy-come demeanour.

But according to Garmin’s Peter Stetina, it is Navardauskas’s voracious appetite for hard work in testing circumstances that earned him his nickname.

“This year, it’s just been bad luck from the beginning. Our silver lining is Honey Badger,’” he said. “It’s all about Ramunas, it’s pretty amazing.

“His nickname came about during the Circuit de la Sarthe. The honey badger video [containing very strong language] went viral at the same time, and he was just doing ridiculous stuff that defied all logic of strength, and it just caught on. We started calling him the honey badger. It still fits to this day.”

Friday’s racing

So it has been confirmed … stage 19 will no longer take in the Passo di Gavia and the mythical Passo di Stelvio, after heavy snow forced a wholesale rethink by the Giro’s organisers, RCS Sport.

Instead the stage will take in three climbs: first the category 2 Passo Del Tonale, which is at a steady gradient, before a long drop down to the foot of the first of two category one ascents, the Passo Castrin.

It’s a fearsome proposition – short and very steep – with a maximum 13% gradient and representing nearly 800m of climbing.

Escapees may see Castrin as a launchpad but whether they can hang on up the final climb – 22km up Val Martello – is another matter.

Bookies’ favourites

The bookmakers have been understandably slow to draw up odds on the revised route. Stand by for tips on Friday morning.

Live coverage

• Join us on Friday afternoon for our rolling blog on stage 19.

• You can also visit our Giro d’Italia front, to bone up on the race schedule, tactics and check out other splendid two-wheel resources.

• Television coverage can be found on Eurosport, with nightly stage highlights on Sky Sports.

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

    

The Gruppetto: 24 hours at the Giro d’Italia | James Callow

Nibali the machine grinds on | Cadel Evans’ chasers smell blood | Honey Badger well sett

Welcome to the latest edition of the Gruppetto, your daily blogpost on the Giro d’Italia, reflecting on the previous stages and looking ahead to stage 19. Do get involved below the line, or email me at james.callow@guardian.co.uk. You can find all the Gruppettos in one place, right here.

Yesterday once more

Vincenzo Nibali reeled off another expression of his utter dominance at this year’s Giro by winning the stage 18 uphill time trial and beating his nearest rival on the day, Samuel Sánchez, by 58 seconds.

The Italian’s remarkable run coincided with the day’s worst weather, and if the same could be said for Cadel Evans, second on general classification, the 2min 36sec gap between the two speaks volumes.

Evans, who had been expected to challenge for the stage victory but finished 25th, retains second place but is now only 10sec ahead of Rigoberto Urán, the Team Sky rider who covered the 20.6km course between Mori and Polsa with the sixth-fastest time.

Damiano Caruso finished third fastest, 1:20 off Nibali, while Michele Scarponi finished fourth. Scarponi remains fourth on general classification but is now only 1min 10sec behind Evans.

“I have a significant advantage now and that will allow me to control the coming two stages in more tranquil fashion,” said Nibali.

The man is a machine.

Good day

Rafal Majka The 23-year-old Pole wrested the young riders’ white jersey after finishing seven seconds faster than the previous incumbent, Carlos Betancur.

Majka has managed to slip under the radar for most of this race, highest placed in fourth on the Galibier, making for a stark contrast with Betancur, who has finished second three times and even mistakenly celebrated victory in Florence.

But it has been the Saxo-Tinkoff climber’s quiet consistency in the high mountains that has really impressed, apparently riding within himself and always with the lead group.

But with only a 2sec lead on Betancur, Majka may have to abandon his conservative strategy and attack his rival to cling on to his jersey. Their battle promises to animate the next two stages.

Bad day

Cadel Evans Has the Australian popped or is this merely a misfire? Suddenly a host of riders stand to gain on the man who had so assiduously fastened himself to Nibali’s coat-tails, clinging on to the thought that if he was no match for the Italian, then at least he was stronger than everyone else.

Evans is a hard rider to read: the signs of suffering and strain come early on and yet he seems capable of holding his form. Thursday’s time trial would have been a red-letter day in the BMC rider’s diary, but he finished behind all bar one – Beñat Intxausti – of the top 10 riders on general classification. Evans later fronted up on Twitter: “Uphill TT done here at the Giro: Nibali in a class of his own. Evans – if I may say so myself – abysmal.”

And what of the battle for the points classification? Evans’s unexpectedly poor turn has allowed Mark Cavendish to retain his four-point buffer at the top of the maglia rosso passione standings. But will the setback strengthen Evans’s resolve to hunt for intermediate sprint and placing points on the next two mountain stages, or will he be more concerned with clinging on to his second place?

Evans hinted at his gameplan after the stage: “It’s not for lack of trying that I lose a minute or two minutes. I’m unlikely to win [the overall], but since I came here for training for the Tour de France, second place isn’t so bad.”

Nonethless, Urán and maybe even Scarponi will smell blood in the Dolomites.

Musings on big pink

• Brighter forecast for Blanco

This has been a forgettable tour for the Dutch team, whose future looked in the balance after their sponsorship was pulled by Rabobank at the end of last season.

But according to reports in De Telegraaf, Blanco could have a deal in place with the American electronics firm Belkin that could start as soon as next month’s Tour de France.

One can only hope that the new livery might be an improvement on the curiously dated Blanco jerseys.

• Honey Badger’s sett for greatness

It’s not only Garmin-Sharp who have been lifted by Ramunas Navardauskas, otherwise known as “the Honey Badger”. The Lithuanian’s victory on stage 11 helped ease the disappointment of Ryder Hesjedal’s limp defence of his Giro title, and won fans among the public with his easy-come demeanour.

But according to Garmin’s Peter Stetina, it is Navardauskas’s voracious appetite for hard work in testing circumstances that earned him his nickname.

“This year, it’s just been bad luck from the beginning. Our silver lining is Honey Badger,’” he said. “It’s all about Ramunas, it’s pretty amazing.

“His nickname came about during the Circuit de la Sarthe. The honey badger video [containing very strong language] went viral at the same time, and he was just doing ridiculous stuff that defied all logic of strength, and it just caught on. We started calling him the honey badger. It still fits to this day.”

Friday’s racing

So it has been confirmed … stage 19 will no longer take in the Passo di Gavia and the mythical Passo di Stelvio, after heavy snow forced a wholesale rethink by the Giro’s organisers, RCS Sport.

Instead the stage will take in three climbs: first the category 2 Passo Del Tonale, which is at a steady gradient, before a long drop down to the foot of the first of two category one ascents, the Passo Castrin.

It’s a fearsome proposition – short and very steep – with a maximum 13% gradient and representing nearly 800m of climbing.

Escapees may see Castrin as a launchpad but whether they can hang on up the final climb – 22km up Val Martello – is another matter.

Bookies’ favourites

The bookmakers have been understandably slow to draw up odds on the revised route. Stand by for tips on Friday morning.

Live coverage

• Join us on Friday afternoon for our rolling blog on stage 19.

• You can also visit our Giro d’Italia front, to bone up on the race schedule, tactics and check out other splendid two-wheel resources.

• Television coverage can be found on Eurosport, with nightly stage highlights on Sky Sports.

guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds