Here are your Manchester City morning headlines for Sunday, October 4.
Dias “outstanding” on City debut – Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised new signing Ruben Dias after the centre-back put in a fine performance on his debut against Leeds United.
As he only joined the Blues last week for a club-record £65.2 million and they were facing an aggressive and attacking Leeds team, it seemed unlikely that he would be thrown straight in.
But Guardiola explained that he had "no choice" but to play him as John Stones had only just returned to training after 10 days out injured, while Eric Garcia has hamstring "niggles".
Portugal international Dias lined up alongside Aymeric Laporte, with Stones and Nathan Ake on the bench.
Guardiola said: “He made his debut after just two training sessions, and this team, Leeds, is not the best way to start, for the difficulty.
“But he was outstanding.
“He gave us the sense of the mature and leading the line and knowing what you have to do.”
City will be ready to go after international break
Raheem Sterling has praised the resolve and fitness of his Manchester City team-mates to navigate a tricky start to the season, despite dropping five points already in the league.
City go into the international break having played five games in 13 days, at times with just 12 fit first-team players.
Alongside two Carabao Cup wins, they have won, drawn and lost their opening three Premier League fixtures.
Sterling told BBC Sport after City’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United: “It was a difficult game. The energy levels start to finish were impressive. They were right in our faces.
“I prefer playing against teams like that instead of 11 men behind the ball.
“There were a few setbacks that we’ve had like injuries.
“I think we’ve done well with a short squad that we’ve had.
“We've done fantastic with a short squad that we have had, and after the international break we should have a fit squad and ready to go."
Richards: Blues form is a “concern”
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards believes that the Blues are not yet fully up to speed this season.
Following their 1-1 draw at newly-promoted Leeds United, he told Sky Sports: “I would say it’s a concern.
“He (Guardiola) would’ve liked it to be nine points, of course he would, but the one thing I have to say is that Man City’s pre-season, they didn’t have a great pre-season.
“There were teams that finished a couple of weeks before them and have looked more refreshed.
“The first five games, you never get to full fitness anyway. Of course, he would have liked to have nine points, but I don’t think Man City are truly up to speed yet.”
