In just over a week’s time, Man City will begin the defence of their Premier League title, but before then they have the chance to win the Community Shield.

Even though the shield from the traditional curtain raiser isn’t normally felt to be something worth winning, on this occasion a City victory would mean that the club would still be on course for the sextuple – which they could complete with wins in the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.

If they manage it, Pep Guardiola will have the unique honour of having done it with City and also Barcelona, surely cementing his place as the greatest coach of the modern era.

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The Cityzens will step out at Wembley on Sunday resplendent in their new kits, and ahead of the game the official Man City website has released the new squad numbers.

New signing, Mateo Kovacic, has the No.8 shirt and many stars have kept the numbers from last season including Erling Haaland (No.9).

Defender, Joshua Wilson-Esbrand, has taken the highest numbered shirt (No.97), whilst the real anomaly occurs with City’s goalkeeping fraternity.

Traditional numbering would suggest that a club’s first-choice keeper would have the No.1 shirt, however, not only does Ederson (No. 31) not want the honour, but Scott Carson (No.33) and Stefan Ortega Moreno (No.18) don’t want to wear the numero uno either.

The post Man City’s squad numbers revealed with intriguing anomaly appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Zack Steffen has said that he doesn’t think he will return to Manchester City next season as he looks for regular minutes.

Steffen joined Middlesbrough on loan from City in July of last year as he searched for an opportunity to be a first-choice keeper and that is exactly what he has been on Teesside, playing 34 of Borough’s 38 league matches, keeping ten clean sheets for his side as they find themselves 3rd in the Championship under Michael Carrick.

Speaking to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Steffen says that he has no plans in place to return to the Etihad in any capacity next season.

“I don’t think I’ll go back. I want to be playing. Although I had a great time at City and I love those guys, and obviously it’s an amazing club, I don’t really have any plans to go back.”

Part of Steffen’s plan to go in search of an opportunity to be a No.1 was to give himself the best chance of being the USA’s starting keeper in Qatar, but national team boss Gregg Behalter left him out and Steffen touched on how it felt to stay at home.

“The keepers – Matt Turner, Sean Johnson and Ethan Horvath were consistent and were with the team throughout the whole cycle and Gregg just decided to go with them.

“It was tough. God tested me. It definitely wasn’t easy, as you can imagine, but yeah, just not what I expected.”

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The 27-year old will be much happier now than he will have been back in November though, with the USA team’s interim boss Anthony Hudson selecting Steffen as part of the 24-man squad for this month’s CONCACAF Nations League group stage matches, so hopefully he can prove that his country’s No.1 spot should belong to him as a reward for his excellent performances with Middlesbrough.

The post On-loan Manchester City goalkeeper says he’s unlikely to return to the Etihad next season appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Oh dear. Manchester City fans – look away now.

The Citizens are currently in action at Wembley Stadium against rivals Liverpool in an eagerly anticipated FA Cup semi-final.

Looking to secure their place in the competition’s final next month against either Chelsea or Crystal Palace, the winner of Saturday’s semi-final will certainly become the favourites to lift the prestigious trophy.

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However, despite the magnitude of the game, it has so far been all bad news for the Citizens.

After watching Ibrahima Konate open the game’s scoring after just nine minutes, Guardiola has been forced to witness his side go two-nil down following a shocking mistake from backup goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

Check out the moment winger Sadio Mano slid in to take advantage of the keeper’s error below with pictures courtesy of BeIN Sports.

Sadio Mane goal against Man City

Via ?: @Mohammad_zrek1 @LFC@ManCity #MCILIV #FACup#???????_???????_???? #???_???????_????????? pic.twitter.com/m5TMWmfmFf

— Faster HD (@KeurHarry) April 16, 2022

The post (Video) Zack Steffen blunder sees Sadio Mane double Liverpool’s FA Cup lead from sliding tackle appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal have launched a swoop to land themselves a new second-choice goalkeeper as the Gunners have tabled an offer for New England Revolution star and USA stopper Matt Turner, according to Taylor Twellman and ESPN.

Turner now has over 100 appearances across the MLS competitions to his name, in a formidable couple of years for the 6ft3 stopper which has seen him transform from an undrafted player to an international representative for the United States’ national team.

A transfer to Arsenal, which would be the crown jewel in a real rise to stardom for Turner would spell the end for Bernd Leno at the Emirates on the flip side as ESPN add that the displaced old Gunners No.1 now wishes to leave in the January transfer window.

Leno, who was replaced as the starter between the sticks when Aaron Ramsdale was recruited last summer, has reportedly taken this stance after being snubbed for the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg against Liverpool and seeing the north London outfit crash out of the FA Cup.

News of a bid for Turner was soon followed by Tom Bogert of MLS Soccer reporting that the deal would be worth around the same as Manchester City paid for their own American backup stopper in Zack Steffen, Pep Guardiola’s side parted with an initial $7m but could pay up to $10m.

It’s no surprise to see that Twellman described the Arenal offer as a ‘strong’ one when that fee range is considered, it may be a minor entry in the accounting books for a club of the Gunners’ stature but it resembles a huge fee for an MLS side.

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Turner has battled away to rack up the accolades after being overlooked in the 2016 MLS Draft. He was named the MLS’ Goalkeeper of the Year for 2021, in a stellar year that also saw him named as MVP of the American league’s all-star game.

Making a move that allows Leno to be moved on makes sense since Ramsdale has established himself as a starter, but it’s surprising to see that – with all respect – that Arsenal aren’t eyeing a senior stopper with top level experience to surround Ramsdale with.

The post Arsenal table transfer bid for MLS star in move that spells the end of one Gunners star’s time at the Emirates appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The United States finds itself in second place in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings. Still, the Americans know that they’ll need positive results with Panama and Canada right behind them. 

Nonetheless, manager Gregg Berhalter will count on Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic, who missed the October window of fixtures as he announced the squad for this international window. Last week, the 23-year-old returned to group training and saw his first minutes with Chelsea this week in the Champions League during the win against Malmö.

Berhalter’s squad will have two difficult matches; one will be at home against Mexico as the two countries will renew their rivalry. Then the Americas will travel to Kingston, Jamaica, to face the Reggae Boyz that will see an injection of talent on their attack with West Ham United striker Michail Antonio and Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey.

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Goalkeepers: Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Zack Steffen (Manchester City), and Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

Defenders: Reggie Cannon (Boavista), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Chris Richards (Hoffenheim), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp), DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray), and Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Valencia), and Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)

Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg), Paul Arriola (DC United), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), and Tim Weah (Lille)

The United States got the best of Mexico this summer, but it’s likely the two CONCACAF giants play to a draw. In Kingston, the Americans will be the favorites, but with Antonio and Bailey in the mix for Jamaica, they’ll have to focus a little more on defending but should come away with the win.

The post Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic leads the call-ups for the United States’ World Cup Qualifying fixtures appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen has opened up on his reaction to when Manchester City first approached him.

The American international was signed from MLS side Columbus Crew by Man City in 2019 and has since become a steady deputy for number one goalkeeper Ederson.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Steffen revealed that he when he first heard about Pep Guardiola and Manchester City wanting him, he believed it was a joke.

You can see the full video below:

? "I thought it was a joke! It was very surreal… I just couldn't believe it"

Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen opens up on signing for the club ??

The United States international was speaking to Sky Sports as part of #BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/k2TpAEssMK

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 26, 2021

Since joining Manchester City, Steffen has been limited to the number of appearances he can make due to his role as the number two goalkeeper.

However, the 26-year-old has a pretty decent record when he has played, with seven clean sheets in 15 appearances.

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Steffen has largely been the domestic cup goalkeeper for City since his arrival and consequently this is where the majority of his appearances have come.

He has also made 24 appearances for the United States senior team, keeping 10 clean sheets.

The post (Video) Manchester City goalkeeper thought “it was a joke” when the club signed him appeared first on CaughtOffside.

It hasn’t been a particularly great international break for one Manchester City star, after back spasms and a positive Covid test ruined any chance he had of staking a claim for future World Cup qualifiers.

When the US men’s national team took on El Salvador in the opening fixture of this round of games, Zack Steffen was absent and didn’t travel with the team because of back spasms according to AS.

If the goalkeeper thought that things would get better, he was sorely mistaken as he also missed the game against Canada on Sunday night after testing positive for Covid.

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He’ll also miss the final World Cup qualifier of this international break as a result.

Ahead of the fixture against Leicester City, Steffen’s absence could hand Pep Guardiola a real issue.

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If Emerson were to be injured or ill in the meantime, it would leave 36-year-old Scott Carson as City’s only recognised keeper to play against the Foxes.

The post Crisis at Manchester City as keeper tests positive for Covid whilst on international duty appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals are underway, and there’s the possibility there could be some history made from an American football perspective. 

Christian Pulisic will be suiting up for Chelsea FC against Real Madrid; meanwhile, Zack Steffen will be backing up Ederson in their matchup against Paris Saint-Germain.

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Both players have the opportunity to see their clubs advanced to the Champions League final where, as Diario AS points out, they can become part of an elite company as they could become only the second American to win the competition.

The only time that an American has won the competition with his respective club was in the 1996-97 season when Jovan Kirovski became the first and so far the only American to win the Champions League. , during his time at Borussia Dortmund, which in that edition beat Juventus.

Pulisic or Steffen will look to put an end to that streak that stretches over 20 years.

The post Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, Manchester City’s Zack Steffen look to join elite company should either win the Champions League appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester City FC picked up a 1-0 over Tottenham Hotspur to claim the 2020-21 EFL Cup. 

With having one eye on their UEFA Champions League matchup against Paris Saint-Germain this week, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola decided to give American goalkeeper Zack Steffen the start against Spurs.

Steffen wouldn’t face much action as Spurs would only get one shot on target that the Manchester City goalkeeper stopped, and after that, he partook in the celebrations of the club’s latest trophy.

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After arriving at Manchester City in 2019, Steffen went out on loan to Fortuna Düsseldorf, so he wasn’t part of the squad that won the EFL Cup last year.

Nonetheless, the 26-year-old has won the domestic cup this season and joins an exclusive company of American goalkeepers to win this trophy. Steffen has become the fourth goalkeeper from the United States to win the EFL Cup, per Paul Carr of TruMedia.

The Manchester City goalkeeper joins John Harkes, who in 1991 won the title from Sheffield Wednesday. Six years later, Kasey Keller with Leicester City and Blackburn’s Brad Friedel would be the last American to win it in 2002.

Steffen has now put an end to the near 20-year-old drought of American goalkeepers to lift the EFL Cup.

The post Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen becomes fourth American goalkeeper to win EFL Cup appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea have been given a boost ahead of the FA Cup semi-final this evening, with Pep Guardiola confirming that Ederson will not be starting between the sticks.

Man City are a side who like to rotate players, with Guardiola shuffling his pack throughout the FA Cup campaign to date, and still reaching the semi-final stage. That’s testament to the strength he has within his ranks.

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Guardiola is likely to make changes once again against Chelsea this evening, not because it’s an insignificant fixture, but rather through necessity – with Man City still competing across four competitions.

He has already confirmed one selection decision which has been pre-determined, with Guardiola confirming that Zack Steffen will start in goal, with usual number one Ederson on the bench for City.

CONFIRMED: Zack Steffen starts for Manchester City in the #EmiratesFACup ?? pic.twitter.com/GUIERqDUnd

— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 17, 2021

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Chelsea fans will understandably see this as a boost to their hopes of beating Man City and reaching the final of the FA Cup, where they would be facing either Leicester City or Southampton.

However, they ought to wait and see whether Thomas Tuchel gives Kepa Arrizabalaga a chance in goal before getting too excited about Steffen’s involvement.

The post Boost for Chelsea as Pep Guardiola confirms star man will start on the bench for FA Cup semi-final appeared first on CaughtOffside.