Hello to City fans everywhere.

Today we welcome Burnley to the Etihad, a side I have so much respect for. Since I came to England, they have shown so many times how strong they are and how difficult they are to play against. I have spent the last days since our win in Greece making sure my players are fully prepared for the challenges Sean Dyche and his players will pose. They are physical, well organised and always have a clear way of playing.

There were plenty of positives to take from our win against Olympiakos – and from our Champions League campaign so far. To qualify after four matches is perfect, especially in a season with such a challenging schedule. It is the eighth-consecutive season this club has qualified for the last-16 and believe me it is not easy getting to the knock-out stages. You have to play teams who are conditioned to win matches and we should be proud to have made it through after four wins from four so far.

But today our focus shifts back to the Premier League. There are 30 games left and everything to play for. My players know this, and I can see in their eyes they are determined to do a good season. We now head into a very busy period, which sees us play nine games in December. It is, undoubtedly, a tough schedule, but it is what it is and it’s the same for all the teams playing in European competition. We have to manage the situation as best we can, eat well, rest wherever possible and make our training sessions count.

I have seen many times the support I have received during difficult periods here. For a manager, there is nothing more valuable and I appreciate it so much.

A unique, once-in-a-generation player who brought joy to so many people. Football will never forget Diego.

Myself, my staff and the players wish you could be with us for today’s game. I want you to know we think about you when we play, especially at home. Having an empty stadium is sad. But hopefully it will finish soon and finally we can be together. I want you to be proud of this team and I do my best to make sure you are.

Until then, stay safe and look after one another.

Enjoy the game!

Burnley are today’s visitors and as a former Burnley player, I was happy to see them get their first win of the season on Monday.

They haven’t made the best of starts but they are a hard-working side who will make things as difficult as they can this afternoon.

The current team are what I call a typical Burnley side and they have the quality in their team to take any chances that might fall their way, so we have to try and make sure we take ours as and when they come.

I do worry about the amount of travelling our players are having to do this season in a relatively short space of time plus the toll it can take on them physically.

We might have a big squad, but it’s difficult when you are flying here there and everywhere.

After the Olympiakos game, I was speaking to Brian Kidd on the plane home and he said that every team in this competition are hard to face, with no exceptions.

He’s been there and done it with United, so he knows what he is talking about, but it was an education for me to hear his thoughts.

What a said day November 25^th was for the football world.

The loss of Diego Maradona has touched everybody who loves football, because he was a quite wonderful footballer - the like of which we may never see again.

I also thought how sad that he should die on the same day of the year that George Best did – two geniuses who had all the talent in the world, both gone too soon and both on 25^th November.

And, of course, Sergio Aguero has lost his former father-n-law and grandfather of his son, Benjamin.

I’m sure everyone would join me in passing on our sincere condolences to the Maradona family and friends at this difficult time.

I had hoped we might have come out of the lockdown in a tier that would allow some of our fans to return to games, but as Manchester is in tier 3, we will have to wait a bit longer.

Everyone misses going to the game and I am missing the fans very much – sport is nothing without the passion of those who follow it – but we are still in the middle of a pandemic and as disappointing as it is, we just have to go with the advice we are given.

It’s been a hard world to live in this year, but we will come out of it and when we do, we will all have a new appreciation of the things we once all took for granted.

Enjoy the game and stay safe.

Burnley:
The Season So Far

Burnley arrive at the Etihad this afternoon having lifted themselves from second bottom to 17^th after a much-needed first win of the campaign against Crystal Palace on Monday.

At the same stage last season, Burnley had 12 points from their opening eight matches, so Sean Dyche’s men will be playing catch-up for some time to come.

The Clarets have had a number of injuries to key players, which has made things even harder for them and have faced Chelsea, Spurs. Leicester and an in-form Southampton already.

It’s doubtful Dyche would have chosen City to face after that first victory, but it will have no doubt given his players a psychological boost ahead of this game.

They scored two of those in the opening day loss to Leicester, with Brendan Rodgers’ side winning 4-2 at the King Power Stadium – a game the Clarets actually led in – and Dyche must wonder where his side might have been had they been able to see that result home.

Two Carabao Cup ties followed, with victory over Sheffield United on penalties and a 2-0 win at Millwall earning a place in the last 16 – and a home tie against City.

Next up, a fifth-minute Danny Ings goal was enough to give Southampton a 1-0 win at Turf Moor, before City comfortably progressed to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over the Clarets.

Then a trip to St James’ Park saw Burnley level the scores at 1-1 in the second-half, before a Callum Wilson brace secured a 3-1 win for the Magpies.

Dyche’s men were struggling to get off the mark, but finally earned their first point of the campaign with a 0-0 draw away to fellow strugglers West Brom – a game the Clarets must have hoped they could win with Spurs and Chelsea next up at Turf Moor.

Again, the attacking threat was lacking as Spurs left Turf Moor with a 1-0 win courtesy of a late Son Heung-min strike and Chelsea comprehensively won 3-0 there to leave the Burnley in trouble near the foot of the table.

And the drought continued away to Brighton, though a creditable 0-0 draw was a good result for the Lancashire side at the Amex Stadium.

Last Monday, the grafting Clarets finally got the victory they’d been working towards with Chris Wood’s eighth-minute goal enough to secure a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Burnley have had their backs to the wall many times before in recent years and of all the sides currently occupying the bottom six in the Premier League, you’d back the Clarets to have the nous to start climbing away from trouble in the weeks and months ahead.

 Meet our mascot for the Burnley game...

Name: Daniel Stratfold

Age: 8

Hometown: Murcia, Spain

Favourite player: Kevin De Bruyne

Favourite memory:  Vincent Kompany’s screamer versus Leicester in 2019.

Dani’s story: Daniel is a fourth generation City fan following in the footsteps of his dad, granny and great granddad. He was just one-and-half months old when he saw Sergio Aguero score THAT famous goal and has been fortunate to grow up in an amazing era for City. 

Though being born in Spain he is an avid fan and 100% City watching all the games he can while representing the club amongst his friends. He currently plays in midfield for his local team Bullas Deportivo who won their league this season and gained promotion.

His dream is to visit the Etihad and watch them play live along with one day playing for City - his favourite player is Kevin De Bruyne because of his incredible skill and eye for a pass. 

One of the games he remembers well is the 9-0 semi-final Carabao Cup win against Burton Albion, watching so many goals go in and of course any game where we beat United.

Dream XI:
Tommy Booth

With 16 years’ service, 491 appearances and 36 goals – Tommy Booth was a fantastic servant for Manchester City.

Tom featured in many great City sides between 1969 and 1981 having joined the Club as a trainee in 1965.

Take it away, Tommy…

“This wasn’t an easy task and I’m sure I’ve forgotten one or two of the lads, but here goes…

“In goal, I’m going for Joe Corrigan. When he first came into the team, he had no confidence and struggled, but he was sent out on loan to Shrewsbury where Harry Gregg was the coach and he came back a different player and went on to play for England.

“At right-back I can’t look past Tony Book. He’d signed as 32 year-old from Plymouth and had been playing non-League football a few years before that. So to come from there to lead City to the title and win the Footballer of the Year award is incredible.

“My left-back is Glyn Pardoe. Glyn started out as a striker but either Joe or Malcolm decided to try him at left-back and he just went from there. He used his left leg to stand on only, so how he managed to become the player he did as a right-footer, I’ve no idea.

“My central defensive partnership is Vincent Kompany and Mike Doyle – Vinnie was just a fantastic defender and Doyley just edges out Dave Watson.

“In midfield, I’m going for Kevin De Bruyne, Colin Bell and Yaya Toure. Colin was a supreme athlete and the total midfielder and De Bruyne reminds me of him a lot. Yaya was just magnificent when he was at his best and with all three, you’ve never seen them have a bad game.

“Up front, Franny Lee, Sergio Aguero and Mike Summerbee. Franny and Sergio are clever strikers and would guarantee goals. Buzzer was the hardest winger I’ve ever known and full-backs genuinely feared playing against him. He could drop back into midfield as and when needed.

“On the bench, Ederson, David Silva, Dave Watson, Peter Barnes, Rodney Marsh, Gio Kinkladze – what a player Gio was – and the great Denis Law.

“My management team would be Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison – two complete opposites who complemented each other perfectly.”