With the dust having settled on Tuesday night’s triumph at Burnley and Manchester Derby build-up yet to fully kick in, media outlets of the footballing world set their focus on other topics at hand.
There are comments from Rodrigo on the importance of regaining confidence at Turf Moor, and Gabriel Jesus who explains Fernandinho’s influential role in helping the forward to rekindle his scoring form…
READ: Noel Gallagher’s Ultimate Derby Playlist
WATCH: The smallest things make the biggest difference...
From the players
Manchester Evening News: The Man City change which should alarm Manchester United ahead of the derby
Rodri (on Burnley win): “We needed this victory. It was a good performance – sometimes when you lose or draw, your confidence can go down and after this victory we were really having a party in the dressing room because we needed it to bring up the mentality and confidence of the team.
“Everyone is human, and when you don’t get the results, you need to get people’s confidence up, so this was an important victory.
“We will fight until the end because that is our mentality and identity. In football lots of things happen. There are a lot of matches and we fight until the end.
“For me it’s important not to look at the table, to look only to the next match – that’s the way to do it.
“Sometimes victory makes you stronger and more confident. When you have a good performance and draw there are doubts about your game. We always trust our coach and our way of understanding football, and victories work for this idea.”
(On the Manchester Derby): “I am excited about it. It’s a great match against a top team, Manchester United – I don’t know what the atmosphere will be, but it’s good that it’s in our stadium. If you have not been on the pitch you don’t know how it will be.”
Gabriel Jesus: “I’m very passionate about playing football and I always want to play well and score goals because I’m a striker and strikers must score. Especially at this level and fighting for a position with Sergio Aguero, who scores goals in every game.
“So, having a run of 10 games without scoring a goal is difficult for me. Negative thoughts cross your mind and that affects your mood.
“I’m a person who shows a lot the mood through my face and behaviour. I’m a very positive and cheerful guy and, when I’m happy, I transmit a lot of happiness.
“The same way, when I’m not happy, you can also tell. Fernandinho perceived it and came to talk to me. I had the chat with him and it helped me a lot.
“He has always been very important since I arrived at the club. With his experience throughout his career, he is giving me advice.
“The day before the game, we had a nice chat. He always looks after all of us, especially the young ones.
“As a countryman, he came to talk to me and tell me to remain calm. I was calm, more confident and I managed to score two goals. That was very important to me.”
Transfer gossip
Sports Mole: Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele agent ‘meets with Manchester City, Chelsea’
Leo Nieboer: “Ousmane Dembele’s agent has reportedly held meetings with both Manchester City and Chelsea ahead of the player completing a potential summer transfer.
“The Frenchman has failed to impress at the Camp Nou since completing a £112m move from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
“A string of injuries, along with questions over his commitment to recovery work, has led to reports suggesting that Dembele could leave next summer.
“According to El Desmarque, Barcelona are open to dispensing with Dembele, whose agent has held initial talks with City and Chelsea.”
HITC: Manchester City reportedly want young PSG duo
Danny Owen: “Manchester City are hoping to raid Paris Saint-Germain for two of their most exciting young talents, according to reports in France, with Edouard Michut and Tanguy Kouassi potentially set to swap the Ligue 1 champions for life under Pep Guardiola.
“The number of dazzling young talents who have been allowed to leave PSG in recent years is nothing short of staggering.
“L’Equipe claims that Kouassi, a centre-back who shone for France at the U17 World Cup, has recently held talks with the Premier League kings.
“Kouassi is yet to sign professional terms at PSG, even if he has been included in the matchday squad five times by head coach Thomas Tuchel this season.
“This comes just a couple of days after diminutive playmaker Michut was also linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, via FootMercato.
“Michut, whose tiny frame and probing passes have earned comparisons with Marco Verratti, started training with PSG’s first-team in November but he could still be lured away from the dominant force of French football in the New Year.”
