Manchester City reject Manchester United’s request to allow 2 stars join their flight for Ballon d’Or ceremony: Reports
According to a report by the Daily Mail's Mike Keegan, Manchester United have seen their request to see two stars travel with Manchester City to the Ballon d'Or ceremony rejected. The 20-time English champions are implementing cost-cutting measures and hoped their cross-town rivals could help give their players a lift to the event in Paris.
The players the Red Devils hoped to get on the plane alongside Pep Guardiola's men are Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. The pair were the difference when the two sides faced off in the FA Cup final last season and the brightest prospects at Old Trafford.
Manchester United are cutting costs following the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group to the club. Despite their intention to streamline the club, performances on the pitch have been poor this season, with the Old Trafford-based side currently sitting 12th in the Premier League table after eight games.
Manchester City remains the image of a perfectly run football club and aiming to retain the league title for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time.
"I don’t know what happened" - Manchester City boss baffled at Manchester United's struggles
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola does not know what led to Manchester United's collapse in the English game but does not think the same thing will happen to his team. The Red Devils were the preeminent power in English football and a regular contender for the UEFA Champions League before Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.
Since then, the 20-time English champions have gone through six managers and have lost their place as one of the elite sides in Europe. Guardiola could not place why exactly the three-time European champions fell off the pace but was certain the reigning Premier League champions would not follow their sites. He told FotMob:
"I don’t know what happened [at United] but I am pretty sure that is going to happen [City success], I know how it works. It will be a bad sign for the club if after just one person leaves and everything is dragged down. It [success] is going to happen, for sure."
"Maybe they [City] will make mistakes, but during the mistakes, they will solve it. Then the mistakes will be solved immediately, that is for sure. The guys know exactly what they have to do."
The Catalan tactician concluded by praising his current employers, saying:
"When it is going bad, they will find the solutions immediately. They will be patient, calm and know what they have to do. Absolutely, I don't have doubts about that. With Txiki [Begirlstain] for 12 years and my case, it is normal that it looks like we cannot leave, but of course, we can move on. Life moves on. The earth continues round."
Pep Guardiola is currently in the final year of his contract with the reigning English champions and could end his glorious stewardship in charge of Manchester City with a seventh League title.