Everything you need to know about Manchester City

Match previews

5 Feb 2024

Crystal Palace welcome Manchester City to Selhurst Park on Saturday, 6th April (12:30 BST), and before kick-off it’s time to get the lowdown on our latest opponents…

Factfile

Manager: Pep Guardiola
Position: 3rd
Nickname: The Citizens
Ground: Etihad Stadium
Founded: 1880 (144 years ago)

What’s the story?

After their cagey goalless draw against Arsenal on Sunday failed to live up to its billing as a title blockbuster, Manchester City reminded everyone on Wednesday why it would be foolish to ever count them out of a title race. Phil Foden’s sublime hat-trick saw Pep Guardiola’s side ease to a 4-1 victory against Unai Emery’s surprise packages this season, with both Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland given the night off in advance of this weekend.

After a blip in November, which uncharacteristically saw City win just once in six league games – culminating in Crystal Palace’s recovery from two goals down at the Etihad – they have been in imperious form, unbeaten in 15 now as they keep the pressure up on Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the table.

Unlike the sides of yesteryear, however, City are finding it difficult to beat the teams around them. They have taken just three points from a possible 12 against their title rivals, and it is this struggle which has set up this run-in to be the tightest battle for the title in recent memory.

Guardiola’s side are still competing on three fronts, and could yet complete a repeat of their treble last season. They face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final, with one of Coventry City or Manchester United waiting in the final – potentially a repeat of last season’s Manchester derby at Wembley – while Real Madrid stand in their way of Champions League progress.

The narratives abound. Can City spoil Klopp’s farewell? Can Mikel Arteta, Guardiola’s former assistant manager, get one over his mentor? Can City become the first side to win four in a row? It’s set to be some conclusion.

The boss

The greatest manager of the modern generation, Pep Guardiola’s career in European football has been as transformative as it has been successful. His Barcelona side will go down as one of the greatest in the history of the game, with success at Bayern Munich and in England cementing his legacy.

Boot in both camps

Sun Jihai, alongside Fan Zhiyi, became the first Chinese player to feature in the English leagues when they arrived in 1998. In 2002 he moved to Manchester City, making more than 150 appearances.

Record against Palace

Palace's best recent resuls against Manchester City have come away from home, coming back from two goals down to draw in December, and recording famous victories in 2021 and 2018, the latter thanks to Andros Townsend's magnificent volley.

Match action: Manchester City 2-2 Crystal Palace

At Selhurst Park, the Eagles are without a win since 2015, when Glenn Murray and Jason Puncheon were on the scoresheet.

Did you know?

Manchester City began existence as St Marks, named after the church which had sought to curb gang violence by creating a new pastime for young men in the local area. The team quickly made progress, winning promotion to the First Division in 1899 and the FA Cup in 1904, narrowly missing out on a league and cup double.

This golden period was blighted by accusations of financial irregularities, however, and in 1906 the manager Tom Maley was banned from football for life while 17 players were given significant punishment. After the charges were proven, City were forced by the Football Association to auction their players, with many bought by emerging local rivals Manchester United and going on to win the club’s first league title.

Bert Trautmann’s story is a fascinating one, not just for his footballing career. A German paratrooper captured by the British during the Second World War, he refused an offer of repatriation and instead decided to settle in Lancashire after his release.

His performances in goal for local side St Helens drew the attention of Man City, who signed him in 1949 to play in the First Division. Just four years after the war, the signing understandably drew an emotional response and at one point 20,000 people attended a demonstration protesting his involvement.

His stellar performances soon put paid to those discussions, and he went on to play 545 times for the club, ranking fourth on their list of all-time appearance makers. His most famous hour came in the 1956 FA Cup final.

Having been named the Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year that season, he was in goal for the final against Birmingham City. Diving at the feet of a striker, he suffered a serious injury but – with no substitutes – continued to play on, making a series of vital interventions to win Man City the cup.

As he collected his medal, his posture was noticeably crooked. He was taken to hospital for tests, and it was established he had played the final 17 minutes with a broken neck.

Match details

Saturday, 6th April
12:30 BST
Selhurst Park
Live on TNT Sports
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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