Manchester City are back training at the CFA after enjoying four days off.
Pep Guardiola allowed his players to do whatever they fancied as they recover from a punishing schedule over December and January.
But it is back to business now as they prepare for their first of four games in four competitions across the rest of the month.
Leicester are the visitors to the Etihad on Saturday, and it looks increasingly like Claude Puel's team will have to make do without Riyad Mahrez. The City target has not trained with the Foxes since the chances of a deadline day move broke down.
City will be hoping for some final home comforts before they embark on four consecutive away games that includes the first opportunity for silverware this season in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley.
Stick with us all for all the latest transfer news LIVE from the Etihad.
Mahrez 'plea to leave Leicester'
The Times is reporting today that Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez is seeking assurance he can leave the club in a bid to end his exile.
They say:
He [Mahrez] wants the club to provide an assurance that they will not stand in his way if City, or anyone else, want to sign him. Another solution could be to agree a release clause.
He has missed two games for The Foxes already and not trained since the end of January.
Claude Puel has reportedly been preparing the Etihad fixture this weekend under the assumption that Mahrez will not play again.
Neil Warnock's anger over bad tackles from City
Cardiff boss Neil Warnock has hit out at City, accusing them of making ‘some horrendous tackles’.
Pep Guardiola was furious when Leroy Sane was the victim of a dreadful Joe Bennett tackle and suffered ankle ligament damage.
Guardiola made an impassioned plea after the game for referees to protect players better, saying he feared that Cardiff’s approach had put his men at risk of serious injury.
But Warnock is still angry, saying:
I wished they would have put a slow still of Kevin De Bruyne’s tackle and studs on Jazz Richards.
And the bad tackle of Fernandinho, and then when they played West Brom the following week.
There were some horrendous tackles and nothing was said about that because there were another eight or nine games.
We were unlucky on the day because Chelsea and Newcastle was the only other game and that was a damp squib.
Bennett was only booked for his challenge on Sane, before being sent off in the dying seconds for another poor tackle on City substitute Brahim Diaz.
Ederson: I can play in midfield
“When I played in the Benfica youth teams, they would always call me to play in midfield if someone was missing and I didn’t ever embarrass myself,” Ederson said in an interview with FourFourTwo magazine.
“So, if necessary I’m definitely up to the task. It wouldn’t be easy, especially in the Premier League, but I think I could manage the challenge.”
Double injury boost
Phil Foden and John Stones trained with the first team yesterday and are pushing for a return to the squad.
Stones is expected to return this weekend after missing the last two matches.
Foden has been out since December so might require a little longer.
City have former Arsenal star to thank for Fred?
Interesting twist on the Fred story from Brazilian outlet UOL Esporte.
The Shaktar Donetsk midfielder is now looking set to join City this summer after changing his agent.
His previous agent was Ronaldinho’s brother, but he made the change to former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva for ‘a better career plan’.
City 'chasing Barcelona wonderkid'
According to Mundo Deportivo, City and United are both after Barcelona ‘wonderkid’ Pablo Moreno, who is 15 and scoring goals for fun in Barcelona’s youth team.
City might have a few advantages in that chase...
They're back
Back and raring to go.
Fred 'will go to City'
Former Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu claims Fred is certain to join Manchester City in the summer.
As reported by MEN Sport, Pep Guardiola was desperate to tie up a deal for the Brazilian in January - but the Premier League leaders could not complete a move before the deadline.
Now Lucescu insists the move will still go ahead.
“Shakhtar Donetsk’s best player is Fred in the centre of midfield,” he said. “He was a bit anarchic on the left. I moved him in front of the defence.
“He will go to City like Fernandinho before him.”
Silva record
David Silva has a new record that Phil Neville used to have - and it has nothing to do with cricket.
City not getting distracted
Ilkay Gundogan has also given an interview this week, and he was asked about bad tackles.
“Maybe it’s because of our performances this season, maybe it’s just our subjective perception.
“In the end, in football there is one man on the pitch who is judging all of this.
“I believe they (referees) could have sent off more players in recent matches, but it did not happen.
“We do not complain but put up with it, even though it is bitter that injuries like Leroy Sane’s result from it.”
Fun and games
City are back at work, but they’ve still got memories.
