Pep Guardiola is wary of a fast start from Wigan Athletic. Walter Bieri / EPA
Pep Guardiola is wary of a fast start from Wigan Athletic. Walter Bieri / EPA
Pep Guardiola is wary of a fast start from Wigan Athletic. Walter Bieri / EPA
Pep Guardiola is wary of a fast start from Wigan Athletic. Walter Bieri / EPA

Pep Guardiola not taking Wigan Athletic lightly as Manchester City prepare for FA Cup rematch


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Pep Guardiola expects League One side Wigan Athletic to race out of the blocks when they face his Manchester City side in the FA Cup on Monday.

Premier League leaders City travel to the DW Stadium in a repeat of the 2013 final, which was won by Wigan 1-0 thanks to a late header from Ben Watson.

Wigan also stunned City in the 2014 quarter-finals and, even though they have since slipped to the third tier of English football, Guardiola is braced for a tough challenge.

Paul Cook's Wigan, who are enjoying a fine season and on course for promotion, have already beaten two top-flight sides in Bournemouth and West Ham United this season.

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"They are going to start so so so so hard because they are so intense, so aggressive without the ball and we have to be ready," said Guardiola.

"When you play at home it's one issue but when you play away in tough conditions in January and February teams like Wigan, who showed in the games against Bournemouth that anything can happen in one game - you could have a sending off, can win if you are not ready."

City continue to fight on four fronts in the shape of the Premier League, the Uefa Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup and Guardiola is pleased his squad's injury list is easing.

Fabian Delph, David Silva and Leroy Sane all returned to action in the midweek Champions League win at Basel and Gabriel Jesus is also back in training.

Guardiola said: "We have a (strong) squad when everyone is fit. Ten days ago we had seven injured but now most have recovered - Silva and Delph and other players - so of course we are going to take it seriously."

Claudio Bravo could also start in goal if Guardiola maintains his policy of playing the Chilean in place of Ederson in domestic cup matches.

Cook said he is under no illusions about the challenge facing his side against the side dominating the Premier League.

"When you look at the Premier League now, Tottenham are an absolutely fantastic team, Man United are probably going through an indifferent spell, albeit in a good league position," he said.

"Liverpool have had some fantastic results, Chelsea are probably going through an indifferent time - Man City lie 16 points clear after 27 games. It speaks for itself doesn't it?

"The record is phenomenal. No-one can put enough plaudits on them at the minute because they haven't been successful. But I think anyone who doesn't think they're about to be successful is very foolish."

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

The%20specs
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Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar

Anti-semitic attacks
The annual report by the Community Security Trust, which advises the Jewish community on security , warned on Thursday that anti-Semitic incidents in Britain had reached a record high.

It found there had been 2,255 anti-Semitic incidents reported in 2021, a rise of 34 per cent from the previous year.

The report detailed the convictions of a number of people for anti-Semitic crimes, including one man who was jailed for setting up a neo-Nazi group which had encouraged “the eradication of Jewish people” and another who had posted anti-Semitic homemade videos on social media. 

Score

Third Test, Day 1

New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

While you're here

T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings 
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10

The Meg
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Starring:   
Two stars

<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="UTF-8" /></head><body><!--PSTYLE=* Labels%3aFH Label 18 Sport--><p>Beach soccer</p><!--PSTYLE=BY Byline--><p>Amith Passela</p><p /></body></html>
How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less

Understand What Black Is

The Last Poets

(Studio Rockers)

Results

ATP Dubai Championships on Monday (x indicates seed):

First round
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x4) 6-4, 6-1
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x7) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4

Get inspired

Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).

Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.  

Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?). 

Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

Scoreline

Al Wasl 1 (Caio Canedo 90 1')

Al Ain 2 (Ismail Ahmed 3', Marcus Berg 50')

Red cards: Ismail Ahmed (Al Ain) 77'

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates