Guardiola’s Gamble Backfires | Talking City Podcast

City fans, this one’s for you, and it’s not pretty. In the latest episode of the **Talking City Podcast**, Tyrone Marshall and Simon Bajkowski break down Manchester City’s shocking exit from the Club World Cup at the hands of Al-Hilal. Just days after talk of “City being back,” the Blues crash out in dramatic fashion, raising big questions about Pep Guardiola, the squad, and what comes next for the Premier League champions. 🎙️ **What went wrong against Al-Hilal?** 🎙️ Where does this leave City’s season and Pep’s plans? 🎙️ Is the “City are back” narrative dead and buried? 🎙️ Player performances, tactical issues, and squad depth worries. 🎙️ Can City bounce back, or are bigger problems looming? 🎧 | Listen to the Talking City Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/MCFCPod _ Welcome to the Talking City Podcast by the Manchester Evening News, covering everything Manchester City featuring Chief Manchester City writer Simon Bajkowski, Senior football writer Tyrone Marshall and Manchester City writer Joe Bray. 👩‍💻 | Manchester City news: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc 📖 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManCityMEN 🕊️ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mancitymen ⏰ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mancitymen 📸 | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mancitymen 🎧 | Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/MCFCPod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to a late-night Talking City podcast! Tyrone Marshall and Simon Bajkowski break down Manchester City’s statement 5-2 win over Juventus in the Club World Cup. Is this the best Pep Guardiola performance in a year? Are City finally BACK to their best? In this late night episode we dive into: Doku’s performance Reijnders & Aït-Nouri: the signings making a difference Squad depth, new signings, and selection headaches Foden’s spark: is this his comeback? What’s changed in mentality and style? Should City fans dare to dream of more silverware? Drop your thoughts in the comments: Are City back? Who impressed you most against Juventus? 🎧 | Listen to the Talking City Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/MCFCPod _ Welcome to the Talking City Podcast by the Manchester Evening News, covering everything Manchester City featuring Chief Manchester City writer Simon Bajkowski, Senior football writer Tyrone Marshall and Manchester City writer Joe Bray. 👩‍💻 | Manchester City news: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc 📖 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManCityMEN 🕊️ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mancitymen ⏰ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mancitymen 📸 | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mancitymen 🎧 | Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/MCFCPod #mancitynews #mcfc #manchestercityfootball #mancity #mancityfc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Talking City Podcast, Simon Bajkowski and Alex James react to Manchester City’s new ticket pricing structure following a key meeting between the club and fan board City Matters. A £60 cap will be introduced for the most high profile games next season, with category-based pricing bringing cheaper tickets for many fixtures. The club has listened, and fans are seeing real change. Also on the agenda: ⚽ A look ahead to Man City in the Club World Cup as the competition kicks off in the US 🎟️ How City’s new pricing structure compares across the Premier League 🔁 What this says about the relationship between the club and its supporters 🎧 | Listen to the Talking City Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/MCFCPod _ Welcome to the Talking City Podcast by the Manchester Evening News, covering everything Manchester City featuring Chief Manchester City writer Simon Bajkowski, Senior football writer Tyrone Marshall and Manchester City writer Joe Bray. 👩‍💻 | Manchester City news: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc 📖 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManCityMEN 🕊️ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mancitymen ⏰ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mancitymen 📸 | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mancitymen 🎧 | Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/MCFCPod#mancitynews #manchestercityfootball #manchestercity #mcfc #manchestercityfc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Talking City episode, Alex James and Simon Bajkowski reflect on Manchester City’s underwhelming 24/25 season — one that ended without silverware. 🔵 Key Topics: Pep’s blunt message: City must trim the squad, who goes? Phil Foden opens up: how injury and expectation have taken a toll Is this the end of an era, or just a pause in City’s dominance? How should City approach the summer transfer window? Plus: early thoughts ahead of the Club World Cup and what needs to change before August. 📣 Comment below: Which player should City let go this summer? 🎧 | Listen to the Talking City Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/MCFCPod _ Welcome to the Talking City Podcast by the Manchester Evening News, covering everything Manchester City featuring Chief Manchester City writer Simon Bajkowski, Senior football writer Tyrone Marshall and Manchester City writer Joe Bray. 👩‍💻 | Manchester City news: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc 📖 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManCityMEN 🕊️ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mancitymen ⏰ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mancitymen 📸 | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mancitymen 🎧 | Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/MCFCPod #MCFC #ManCity #PhilFoden #PepGuardiola #ManchesterCity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎙️ Talking City is back! Join Joe Bray alongside Luke Walters for an in-depth, heartfelt podcast covering everything from Kevin De Bruyne’s emotional final home game at the Etihad, to Pep Guardiola’s dramatic ultimatum about needing a smaller squad next season. We also delve into Phil Foden’s revealing interview, where he candidly opens up about his struggles with mental health, burnout, and injury leading to his omission from the England squad. On today's packed episode: 🔹 Kevin De Bruyne's Final Farewell: The emotional send-off from City fans, family moments, and his legacy at Manchester City. 🔹 Pep Guardiola's Squad Warning: Is Pep serious about quitting if the squad isn't downsized? We break down his explosive comments. 🔹 Phil Foden Opens Up: A deep dive into Foden’s honest reflections about mental struggles, injuries, and why he's taking a break from England duty. 🔹 Fulham Away – Final Game Preview: What to expect from City's final match of the Premier League season. Champions League qualification is on the line! 👇 JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Share your favourite De Bruyne moments and thoughts on Pep’s squad demands in the comments below! 📖 Read more: Phil Foden's Exclusive Interview: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ive-struggled-phil-foden-opens-31670129 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more Talking City content! 🎧 | Listen to the Talking City Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/MCFCPod _ Welcome to the Talking City Podcast by the Manchester Evening News, covering everything Manchester City featuring Chief Manchester City writer Simon Bajkowski, Senior football writer Tyrone Marshall and Manchester City writer Joe Bray. 👩‍💻 | Manchester City news: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc 📖 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManCityMEN 🕊️ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mancitymen ⏰ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mancitymen 📸 | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mancitymen 🎧 | Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/MCFCPod #mancitynews #mancity #manchestercity #premierleague #kevindebruyne #philfoden Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manchester City have lost the FA Cup Final. In this Talking City special, Simon Bajkowski and Alex James react to City’s 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley, and break down where it all went wrong. 🎙️ On the pod: Pep’s controversial team selection Why City’s attack failed to deliver Henderson’s performance vs Haaland’s penalty absence The Wembley atmosphere and how City fans reacted What this result means for the season and summer It’s a rare trophyless end for Guardiola’s side and a lot of questions will follow. 👇 Let us know in the comments: Was this City’s most disappointing performance of the season? 🎧 | Listen to the Talking City Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/MCFCPod _ Welcome to the Talking City Podcast by the Manchester Evening News, covering everything Manchester City featuring Chief Manchester City writer Simon Bajkowski, Senior football writer Tyrone Marshall and Manchester City writer Joe Bray. 👩‍💻 | Manchester City news: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc 📖 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManCityMEN 🕊️ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mancitymen ⏰ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mancitymen 📸 | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mancitymen 🎧 | Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/MCFCPod #mancitynews #mcfc #mancity #manchestercity #footballpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Bray and Simon Bajkowski are back ahead of the FA Cup final and ask whether it even matters if Manchester City beat Crystal Palace at Wembley. They discuss the tricky call over starting Kevin De Bruyne and then delve into Erling Haaland’s weird lack of goals in cup finals for the Blues. Will he break that duck on Saturday? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manchester City scraped through the weirdest of matches on the south coast — but with Wembley around the corner, are Pep’s men really ready? In this week’s Talking City, Alex James and Simon Bajkowski break down: 🫣 Why City’s performance at Southampton was... honestly unwatchable 🤕 Fatigue, rotation, and whether Pep’s squad is starting to wobble 🏆 FA Cup Final build-up — should we be worried after that display? 🔁 Ortega or Ederson? Doku or Grealish? Picking the final XI 🔵 Plus: how the crowd, pundits, and chaos at St Mary’s added to the madness 👇 Drop your predicted XI for the FA Cup Final — and your Wembley worries. 🎧 | Listen to the Talking City Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/MCFCPod _ Welcome to the Talking City Podcast by the Manchester Evening News, covering everything Manchester City featuring Chief Manchester City writer Simon Bajkowski, Senior football writer Tyrone Marshall and Manchester City writer Joe Bray. 👩‍💻 | Manchester City news: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc 📖 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManCityMEN 🕊️ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mancitymen ⏰ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mancitymen 📸 | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mancitymen 🎧 | Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/MCFCPod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes his team should have two Premier League titles , but City fans (and stats) say otherwise. In this week’s Talking City, Joe Bray and Simon Bajkowski react to the viral Arteta comments, assess City’s run-in, and lay out what Pep’s men need to do to clinch it again. Inside: 🧠 What Arteta actually meant — and why it’s got fans talking 🔵 City’s current form and how they compare to Arsenal and Liverpool 🏆 The final fixtures: can City keep their nerve? 💬 How Guardiola’s squad looks heading into the final weeks 👇 Comment your thoughts: Who really deserves the title this season? 🎧 | Listen to the Talking City Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/MCFCPod _ Welcome to the Talking City Podcast by the Manchester Evening News, covering everything Manchester City featuring Chief Manchester City writer Simon Bajkowski, Senior football writer Tyrone Marshall and Manchester City writer Joe Bray. 👩‍💻 | Manchester City news: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc 📖 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManCityMEN 🕊️ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mancitymen ⏰ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mancitymen 📸 | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mancitymen 🎧 | Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/MCFCPod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manchester City’s incredible U18 winning run came to a dramatic end at Villa Park in the Youth Cup final. On this week’s Talking City, Joe Bray and Simon Bajkowski break down: 😲 The shock of losing after 27 straight wins 🧠 Why the players looked flat on the biggest stage 🏟️ 25,000 at Villa Park — did the occasion affect them? 🔄 What this means for City's wider academy success ⚽ Reflections from a busy weekend of youth and U21 fixtures 👇 Let us know: Does this result change how you view City’s next generation? 🎧 | Listen to the Talking City Podcast on Spotify: https://bit.ly/MCFCPod _ Welcome to the Talking City Podcast by the Manchester Evening News, covering everything Manchester City featuring Chief Manchester City writer Simon Bajkowski, Senior football writer Tyrone Marshall and Manchester City writer Joe Bray. 👩‍💻 | Manchester City news: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/manchester-city-fc 📖 | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManCityMEN 🕊️ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mancitymen ⏰ | TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mancitymen 📸 | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mancitymen 🎧 | Spotify: https://www.bit.ly/MCFCPod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices