arabnews.com - ’We don’t deserve bonus’: Man City boss Guardiola

’We don’t deserve bonus’: Man City boss Guardiola

LONDON: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted he and his players do not deserve a bonus even if they salvage their dismal season by winning the Club World Cup. Guardiola’s side are languishing in fifth place in the Premier League and crashed out of the Champions League and League Cup. English champions for the previous four seasons, City could finish without a major trophy for the first time since Guardiola’s maiden season in charge in 2016/17. Their last hope of landing domestic silverware lies in the FA Cup, with a quarter-final tie at Bournemouth looming on Sunday. But even if they win the FA Cup or the Club World Cup in June and July, Guardiola believes City have underachieved so badly that they will not deserve a bonus from the big prize pot on offer at the post-season tournament in the United States. FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, confirmed this week that the Club World Cup winners will earn up to $125 million in prize money, with a total pot of $1 billion going to the 32 participating clubs. “We don’t deserve it this season. We don’t deserve a bonus this season.

Local favorite Mansour ‘Tarzan’ Barnaoui to face American Archie Colgan at PFL Europe in Paris

LONDON: The Professional Fighters League has announced that Paris’s own Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui (22-6) will face the undefeated Archie “King” Colgan (11-0) in a clash of the top lightweight contenders looking to stake their claim for title opportunities.

NBA and FIBA explore new European professional basketball league

UAE: The National Basketball Association and International Basketball Federation have announced they will jointly explore a new professional men’s basketball league in Europe.

Jessica Pegula ends Alexandra Eala’s fairytale run, sets up final with Aryna Sabalenka

MIAMI GARDENS, United States: Philippines sensation Alexandra Eala’s remarkable run at the Miami Open came to a brave end with a three-set loss to Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on Thursday. In an enthralling battle over 2hrs 24mins, fourth-seeded American Pegula emerged with a 7-6 (7/3), 5-7, 6-3 win to seal a place in Saturday’s final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka blasted her way into the final with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. The 19-year-old Eala, ranked 140th in the world, had only two WTA main draw victories to her name before arriving in Miami. She proceeded to beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world number two Iga Swiatek. The lowest-ranked semifinalist in the tournament’s history, Eala seriously threatened to go one step further with another accomplished and effervescent display. The tide looked to have turned against her when Pegula broke to go 3-1 up in the second set, but Eala broke back and her fist pump and look of determination was a sign of things to come. Eala broke Pegula three times in the set and was broken twice herself but crucially was able to hold when serving for the set at 6-5. Both players protected their serve better in the deciding set but Eala’s forehand let her down when the American broke to go 5-3 up and she served out for a victory that brought her visible relief. “Of course there is disappointment right after the match,” said Eala. “But there are just so many times in tennis where you have to dig through the dirt to look for the positive and I’m just enjoying because there is so much positive around me and I don’t know how many times that happens,” she added. Playing with a strapped thigh from the outset,

Thunder set team record with 61st win as Giddey lifts Bulls over Lakers

LOS ANGELES: NBA scoring leader Shai Gilgeous-Alexander netted a game-high 37 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder over Memphis 125-104 on Thursday for a team-record 61st season victory.

Novak Djokovic beats Sebastian Korda, advances to semifinals in push for 7th Miami Open title

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Novak Djokovic is finding a higher gear in South Florida after a sluggish start to 2025.

Scottie Scheffler 2 back of a 4-way tie for the lead at Houston Open

HOUSTON: Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy wanted a final tunup before the Masters and spent parts of the Thursday at the Houston Open under an umbrella in wind and rain that prevented anyone from getting too far away.

Barca bolster Liga title bid by winning match they didn’t want to play

BARCELONA: Barcelona swept to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Osasuna to move three points clear at the top of La Liga despite their discontent at having to play their match on Thursday. The Catalans’ appeal against the rescheduling of this game was rejected but Hansi Flick’s side, unbeaten in 19 matches across all competitions, still made light work of Osasuna, 14th. Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo netted in the first half with Robert Lewandowski on target after the break. Barca were without key winger Raphinha as he played for Brazil on Wednesday in South America in World Cup qualifying but cruised at the Olympic stadium regardless. Flick was happy with the victory but said an injury to Olmo meant it came at a cost. “We have three points more but we paid a really high price with the injury of Dani,” Flick told reporters. “We don’t know how long he will be out but if it’s two weeks, he’ll miss a lot of games and if it’s three weeks even more.” The match was originally due to be played on March 8 but was postponed after a Barcelona club doctor died. Some players, including France’s Jules Kounde, played 120 minutes on Sunday for their countries before returning for the game. “It’s a lack of respect to the club to select this date,” Kounde told DAZN. “We’re not machines and to play our game and give the fans what we want, we need rest.” Flick put veteran striker Lewandowski on the bench, deploying Torres in his place to excellent effect. “Every game is a final, so today’s was a final, it was important for us,” Torres told DAZN. Barcelona controlled the game from the start, taking the lead through Torres after 11 minutes. Frenkie de Jong led the way as Barcelona moved the ball around smartly, with Alejandro Balde receiving it

Contacts

Arabnews.com Sport News

’We don’t deserve bonus’: Man City boss Guardiola

Local favorite Mansour ‘Tarzan’ Barnaoui to face American Archie Colgan at PFL Europe in Paris

NBA and FIBA explore new European professional basketball league

Jessica Pegula ends Alexandra Eala’s fairytale run, sets up final with Aryna Sabalenka

Thunder set team record with 61st win as Giddey lifts Bulls over Lakers

Novak Djokovic beats Sebastian Korda, advances to semifinals in push for 7th Miami Open title

Scottie Scheffler 2 back of a 4-way tie for the lead at Houston Open

Barca bolster Liga title bid by winning match they didn’t want to play