In a wide-ranging post-season review with Manchester City's website, club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has outlined his mixed feelings about the season just completed and the excitement that lies ahead with Pep Guardiola taking over.
Emirati Al Mubarak also highlights, by name, some of the players he felt acquitted themselves well in an otherwise middling Premier League campaign – describing Kevin de Bruyne as 'a revelation' – and articulates the nagging feeling left by the team's Uefa Champions League semi-final exit.
Speaking to CityTV, Al Mubarak says of a league campaign that saw City limp to the finish and just barely hold on to fourth place on the final day: “I think at the end of the day I cannot hide the disappointment of myself, obviously Sheikh Mansour [bin Zayed], I know the fans of the club and I’m sure the entire team.”
An ageing City side, led by Manuel Pellegrini, looked on their last leg by the end of the campaign. But it was nonetheless not a campaign without some important markers for the club as Guardiola prepares to lead the team in 2016/17.
*** WATCH: Khaldoon Al Mubarak's full interview with CityTV ***
Asked about players who stood out, Al Mubarak said: “No doubt Kevin de Bruyne has been a revelation. We have invested a lot in bringing Kevin to the club and he has proven that he is worth every penny. He is an incredible talent, he has shown it this year and when he has been on the pitch we have been a different team.”
Al Mubarak also reserves his praise for Joe Hart, Sergio Aguero, Bacary Sagna and Fernandinho.
“You have the consistency of Joe Hart and Aguero, both competing respectively, Golden Glove and Golden Boot, and both really going all the way to the last game of the season very close on both respective levels, so both I think were standouts.
“There’s been other players, Sagna, I would say Sagna this year – a lot of people were doubting him last season. He came in this season I think played some very consistent football. He was a consistent defensive block for us.
“Fernandinho has had a wonderful season. I would say he is another standout performer for the team, just some of the players that really I think distinguished themselves this year.”
Al Mubarak also made clear that, in the club’s march to the Champions League last four, there was never a prioritising of competitions.
“Our priorities are crystal clear and I think everybody knows it. From the guidance we have, clearly from Sheikh Mansour, myself, the board, the management team, Manuel, we all knew and we were all clear and we continue to be clear: our objective is to win the Premier League every year, that is our target, and to go as far as we can in the Champions League and try to win the Champions League.
“These two are equally important and neither compromises the other or is at the cost of the other.”
City ultimately exited Europe’s premier club competition to Real Madrid, who went on to lift their 11th European Cup. Al Mubarak said that although there was no disgrace in the result, a 1-0 aggregate defeat over two legs, but the actual manner of their elimination left a lot to be desired. He lamented what he felt was not a “100 per cent” showing from the team.
“I think reaching the semi-final is progress, no question,” he said. “Is it an achievement? You know, losing to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu 1-0, losing both legs with a one-goal difference in the semi-finals, I think is OK.
“But I think what makes it difficult, and I’ll speak from my personal feeling here on this, is I don’t think we actually showed up for that game. I really feel bad in that I think in both games, both legs, we left too much that we know we could have done that we didn’t do. And that’s what disappointed me.
“I don’t mind losing the Champions League semi-final, I don’t mind losing to Real Madrid. I think we’re all pragmatic and we understand football – you can win and you can lose. But you want to at least feel that you gave it 100 per cent and I don’t think we gave it 100 per cent.
“I think we lost, but we could have done a lot more, and I think we missed an important chance. It was an important opportunity to go to the final of the Champions League and that I regret.”
The club chairman also touched on Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League title run, congratulating the club and expressing his admiration for their passion and commitment.
Turning his attentions ahead, Al Mubarak spoke at length about Guardiola and how he expects City to benefit from the leadership of a man whom he called “the epitome of passion”.
“I am absolutely excited about Pep joining our team. I consider Pep to be one of the best, if not the best, manager today in football,” Al Mubarak said. “I think in Pep we are going to get the epitome of passion.
“He’s a winner, he’s a proven winner, he has won professionally in every team he’s coached. His record in Bayern Munich, his record in Barcelona I think speaks for itself.
“We are getting a proven winner, a passionate man, we are getting someone that I think will be an incredible asset to Manchester City and I have no doubt he will transform our team to a whole new level.”
Again touching on passion and commitment, the kind he felt were critical to Leicester’s title charge, Al Mubarak said the machinations inside the club were currently about instilling those qualities.
”We will make changes, I hope as always for the better. We’re working very closely, I can assure you, we are always as committed as ever to make sure we have a team next year that Pep can take on, can develop, can nurture and then can play in a way that shows passion, shows commitment, shows quality, continues on some of the great things we’ve done the last couple of years.
“I must say I’ve never dealt with anyone like Pep. Pep is unique, his love for the game, his passion for the game.”
Al Mubarak also revealed some of the courtship process behind bringing Guardiola to City.
“You have to bear in mind this journey to get Pep didn’t start – I mean since 2012, was the first time we tried to get Pep to join us. And obviously the relationships within the club are known. The history with Txiki [Begiristain] with Ferran [Soriano], he is someone that knows our club well. He’s been following us ever since and I think you’ll be surprised at the level of knowledge he has about Manchester, about City.
“He’ll surprise many people with what he knows about our team’s history. And he wants to learn, he’s hungry to learn.”
Outlining what’s expected in the season ahead, Al Mubarak added:
“I have to say I have a lot of expectations, maybe I shouldn’t be saying that right now, but I think I owe it to the fans.
“Sheikh Mansour is approaching this year, as with every year but particularly this year, with a lot of expectations. And I am working very hard to make sure that together with Pep, with our management team – Ferran, Txiki, Brian [Marwood], the rest of our organisation – we’re going to do everything possible to ensure this team is well set for a hugely successful season next year.”
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
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The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
