Pep Guardiola finds himself in uncharted territory. Normally when that has been the case in recent years, it has been a case of unparalleled excellence that has meant the record books required rewriting. Procuring 100 Premier League points, for instance, or winning 18 games in a row, or claiming a domestic treble. Now he finds himself 14 behind Liverpool before Christmas. “It is the first time,” said the Manchester City manager. “As a football player, maybe. As a manager, no.”
Saturday's Manchester derby defeat makes it unlikely in the extreme that City will complete a hat-trick of league title wins. Their form over the previous two seasons was so extraordinary that, logically, it was unsustainable. So it has proved. "The reality is we are 14 points [behind] for the mistakes we have done, for the quality of our opponents and especially as well the things we cannot control," said Guardiola. City have actually dropped fewer points than Manchester United did in the opening 16 games of their treble-winning season 21 years ago but the current gap reflects Liverpool's record-breaking pace.
The things City cannot control could include VAR – Guardiola spent Saturday repeating a mantra that it will be better next season – and injuries, an issue he is reluctant to raise. “I could come here and complain about many things,” added the Catalan. He could mention that Aymeric Laporte has not played since August and that Leroy Sane has not featured in this season’s Premier League. Sergio Aguero and Oleksandr Zinchenko have been missed of late. John Stones, David Silva and Rodri have been out and the defender may be sidelined again now. Benjamin Mendy, following a long lay-off, cannot play every game.
City have had to compensate and to recalibrate. The machine may not be as well-oiled as it was. “I like my team and how they play,” Guardiola said. “Maybe I am alone but that is how it is. But when you play this way you have to avoid the counter-attacks. We were so good in that in the recent past and this season sometimes struggle a little bit: for the new players coming [in], for different situations.”
United caught City on the counter-attack. So did Wolves for their goals when they won at the Etihad Stadium. It has been a theme, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Southampton all breaking quickly to score against City in recent weeks. Perhaps City are missing Fernandinho in midfield as he adjusts to life in defence and they begin a decade where Rodri could be the holding midfielder. It gives it a slightly transitional feel and scope for improvement as City look to pierce packed defences and stop opponents launching deadly breaks.
“United have the quality to defend and the quality to attack on the counter-attack and you have to accept that,” Guardiola reasoned after being asked if City would prioritise the Champions League. “But that is the level we face against Liverpool, United, Barcelona, [Real] Madrid, Juventus. They are the teams we have to face and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them [now] so we have to improve and accept it and move forward.”
Off the pitch, City will give a lifetime ban to a supporter who was seen racially abusing the United midfielder Jesse Lingard. Greater Manchester Police announced Sunday that they had arrested a 41-year-old man on suspicion of racially aggravated public order. City worked with GMP and reiterated they have a zero-tolerance policy about any form of discrimination. “I support the statement the club has made,” said Guardiola. The English Football Association are also investigating the incident.
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Tips for entertaining with ease
· Set the table the night before. It’s a small job but it will make you feel more organised once done.
· As the host, your mood sets the tone. If people arrive to find you red-faced and harried, they’re not going to relax until you do. Take a deep breath and try to exude calm energy.
· Guests tend to turn up thirsty. Fill a big jug with iced water and lemon or lime slices and encourage people to help themselves.
· Have some background music on to help create a bit of ambience and fill any initial lulls in conversations.
· The meal certainly doesn’t need to be ready the moment your guests step through the door, but if there’s a nibble or two that can be passed around it will ward off hunger pangs and buy you a bit more time in the kitchen.
· You absolutely don’t have to make every element of the brunch from scratch. Take inspiration from our ideas for ready-made extras and by all means pick up a store-bought dessert.
Honeymoonish
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
