Manchester City are a mess. They lost again on Monday, this time to Crystal Palace, and our City blog is wondering if they’re even a top-four team. They still have a huge buffer between themselves, Liverpool and Tottenham, but it would only take two more bad weeks for things to get really interesting in that regard.
Backheel Breakfast: Manchester City are falling apart
Their title challenge is a very distant memory.
Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
The Guardian has five things City need to address, including the executives, so it’s basically “the whole club.” Manuel Pellegrini’s record since the new year started is worse than David Moyes’ before he got sacked by Manchester United. And speaking of them, Vincent Kompany says a Manchester Derby is just what the club need to break out of their slump!
Yes, Vince. A massive must-not-lose match against a superior opponent is exactly what Manchester City need right now.
In the news
Athletic Bilbao star Iker Muniain has torn his ACL and will be out 6-7 months. (Athletic Club)
Turkish police have arrested two suspects in connection with the attack on Fenerbahce’s team bus. (Guardian)
For the fourth time this season, Torpedo Moscow fans are being punished for racism. This time they displayed a Nazi symbol. (BBC)
Kyle Naughton will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury. (Mirror)
Carlo Ancelotti admits that the fans are not behind Iker Casillas. (AS)
Kekuta Manneh is on track to become eligible for the USMNT in August 2016. Dom Dwyer and Darlington Nagbe have fairly similar timetables. (MLS)
Arsenal should be fully fit this weekend. Yes, Arsenal. (ESPN FC)
Roma will face a partial closure of their ultras section after mocking the mother of a Napoli fan who was murdered before the Coppa Italia final. (Football Italia)
You should be reading
David Hirshey on Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil. (ESPN FC)
Henry Winter on what football can do for the homeless. (Telegraph)
Barney Ronay on the Raheem Sterling hype machine. (Guardian)
Fun with transfer rumors
The section in which nothing should be taken seriously.
Inter Milan are willing to give soon-to-be 32-year-old Yaya Toure a five-year contract. (Mirror)
Real Madrid Castilla manager Zinedine Zidane admits the club are monitoring Raheem Sterling. (Mail)
Manchester United might ditch Robin van Persie and sign Edinson Cavani. (Star)
What to watch on Tuesday (click for listings, all times ET)
Wolfsburg vs. Freiburg (1 p.m.) - DFB-Pokal quartefinals are Tuesday and Wednesday, and they’re all pretty easy to watch. Wolfsburg should win this one.
Monaco vs. Montpellier (1 p.m.) - Monaco can make it a true four-team title race in France with a win.
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Sociedad (2 p.m.) - Atleti should finish top four in Spain, but the competition's tight enough that they need to win games like this one.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Hoffenheim (2:30 p.m.) - The most evenly matched of the quarterfinals.
Fiorentina vs. Juventus (2:45 p.m.) - We’re now deep enough into Coppa Italia that it’s watchable.
Aston Villa vs. QPR (2:45 p.m.) - Will it be good? No. Is it important? Absolutely.
Levante vs. Sevilla (4 p.m.) - Sevilla are the team breathing down Atleti and Valencia’s neck for top four.
Copa Libertadores (from 7 p.m.) - There are four games on Tuesday night.
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