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Domenec Torrent named as New York City boss after Patrick Vieira departs for Nice

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New York City FC have made Pep Guardiola’s trusted lieutenant Domenec Torrent their new Head Coach after Patrick Vieira left the club to become manager of OGC Nice in France.

Vieira had been in charge of City for two and a half years, had led the club to consecutive MLS playoffs for the last two seasons and the side are currently second in the Eastern Conference.

Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff (including Domenec Torrent - second right - and Mikel Arteta - far right) at the Manchester City title Parade on May 14, 2018
Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff (including Domenec Torrent – second right – and Mikel Arteta – far right) at the Manchester City title Parade on May 14, 2018

The Frenchman’s replacement at City, Domenec Torrent, takes over as Head Coach pending the approval of a US work permit.

He was an assistant to sister club Manchester City’s boss Pep Guardiola for 11 years during which he won 24 trophies but admitted he was looking for an opportunity to manage again.

Torrent, who is also a former Head Coach of Girona FC as well as being Assistant Coach at Barcelona and Bayern Munich as well as being Guardiola’s right-hand-man at Manchester City, signed a deal taking him to the end of the 2020 season 

Commenting on his new role, Torrent said: “Though I have enjoyed a wonderful 11 years working alongside my colleague and close friend Pep Guardiola – it has always been my ambition to manage a team again and I really couldn’t have hoped for a better opportunity than at this football club.

“I know we have a very talented team, I have watched many of the matches and I enjoy the way the team plays and I now can’t wait to begin working with the players on the training pitch.

“I am looking forward to living and coaching in this special city and meeting the fans as soon as possible. I am eager to experience and play a part in the soccer culture of New York.

“I’d like to thank the players and all my colleagues at Manchester City for making my time at the football club such a wonderful and memorable experience.”

Coaching changes at Manchester City after Domenec Torrent leaves

The departure of Guardiola’s right-hand-man will mean coaching changes at Manchester City and although the Catalan has lost one of his most trusted staff the opportunity is there for former Everton and Arsenal player Mikel Arteta, who joined the Manchester City coaching staff two seasons ago when Guardiola first arrived at City, to shine.

Arteta had been briefly linked with the Head Coach role at Arsenal while speculation over the future of Vieira appears to have quickly led to a reshuffle in the City Football Group and the change of backroom coaching staff could be a precursor to another future promotion for Arteta to the managerial hot seat at City if Guardiola decides to move on again in 2021 when his own deal is up.

Aymeric Laporte on his new start at Manchester City

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Manchester City may have missed out on the signing of Riyad Mahrez after a late transfer window drama emerged with the Leicester City player but they did manage to make Aymeric Laporte, their club record signing after paying Athletic Bilbao his buyout clause worth over £57m earlier this week.

Aymeric Laporte
Aymeric Laporte

Eliaquim Mangala was later unveiled as an Everton player after joining the Toffees on loan following City’s 3-0 win against West Brom on Wednesday where Laporte made his debut after John Stones was left out of the side because he was unwell.

Although he hadn’t been given the chance to play alongside Stones, Laporte was keen to fit in quickly with his new team mates and said:

“I think all of us will help each other. We will get along very well. I’m sure about that.

“I think I can help him [Stones] with things and he also can help me with other things too. We will make each other better.”

Laporte had earlier spoken about how impressed he was with City’s facilities having met his team mates, adding:

“The facilities are incredible. People have treated me really well, I’m delighted to be here and I’m really looking forward to starting this new stage in my career.

“Looking at the results you can tell how we are doing. We are top of the table. I think we must continue in this way and I expect it’s going to be like that.

With the prospect of a World Cup call for France (or Spain) this summer, Laporte has joined a team with a strong chance of silverware at the end of the season and Laporte, who uncapped at senior level, is eligible for France or Spain (by residency), and could get the call to go to the biggest footballing stage of all.

Laporte said: I’m coming to a big club to achieve great things and obviously, the World Cup is a big thing.

“We need to work hard until the end of the season, I need to put in great performances, keep growing and try to be able to be called up for Russia.”

Midfielder Jack Harrison was also brought in from New York City FC and was immediately sent on loan to Middlesbrough.

Guardiola confirmed that some players would go on tour to America after the World Cup where next season’s plans would be finalised.

Manchester City go third after 5-goal victory against Crystal Palace

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MANCHESTER CITY 5, CRYSTAL PALACE 0

  • David Silva scores after 2 minutes off a cutback from Raheem Sterling
  • Vincent Kompany makes it 2-0 early in the second half from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross
  • Kevin De Bruyne hit the bar; but later scored from Gabriel Jesus’ layoff on the hour
  • Pablo Zabaleta’s cushioned header was struck past Hennessey on the half volley by Raheem Sterling after 82 minutes
  • Kevin De Bruyne’s free kick was headed in by Nicolas Otamendi in injury time.

Manchester City climbed above Liverpool into third place with a 5-0 home win against Crystal Palace. The scene was set after David Silva scored City’s fastest goal at home this season in under two minutes.

Vincent Kompany doubled that lead early in the second half as Palace threatened to come back into the game before Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling put the game beyond the visitors after 60 and 82 minutes before Nicolas Otamendi’s flying header put the finishing touch on it in injury time.

Crystal Palace hardly got close to City, inexplicably giving David Silva, Leroy Sane, and Raheem Sterling free rein to cause havoc, and the bloody nose inflicted (acidentally) on Joel Ward by Sane in the closing stages only served to illustrate a dominant performance at the Etihad for the home team.

City also improved their goal difference over Liverpool to +4 – a factor which could be vital in the chase for Champions League qualification.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was pleased that City got over the problems presented by Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace side and responded with a glut of goals but was still mindful of City’s shortcoming this season in both boxes.

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City create the most chances in the Premier League

He declared: “Only one team created more chances than us – Tottenham at White Hart Lane. The others – no chance.

“We are better than all the other teams in the Premier League, home and away.

“Even against the next Champions, Chelsea, here and at Stamford Bridge. We created more chances but in the boxes we are not good.

“Vincent helped us in just his presence to be better in our own box but in their box we are not good.

Guardiola added: “Today we scored in the first minutes and within five minutes in the second half.

“Benteke had a clear chance but Willy Caballero made an outstanding save.

“We created enough chances to go in the locker room with a better result at half time but we were lucky with an amazing goal from Vincent and after that it was a little bit easier.

“It was a good perfomance but I can remember similar performances when we were not able to score a goal.

“I am convinced the boxes were the difference today.”

Guardiola heaped praise on David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, both players who have been carving out chances all season long but this time found themselves on the scoresheet too.

He said: “The big big teams, [have players] when you are close to the box of the opponent, you don’t lose the ball.

“David is one of them. He can miss but not often. I am so happy that he scored and Kevin scored a goal after he hit the post again.

“If we arrived in the last 20 minutes in the game 1-0 against Crystal Palace we don’t win the game. I said to my players at half time either we score a goal or we forget about it.

“We had to be careful with [Wilfried] Zaha because things started from him.

“We can’t forget that Crystal Palace were able to win at Stamford Bridge and Anfield and were able to destroy Arsenal at home.

“I know the quality of their players and how good Sam Allardyce is. In a way he’s the only one who could do that.

Manchester City improve goal difference

Guardiola was happy to improve the goal difference and wanted to make a difference in the remaining games, pointing out that City could rest more in the second half after their goal blitz.

“The staff can enjoy the last 30-35 minutes without the pressure for the result and we can play better and improve our goal difference.”

Guardiola had earlier noted that Claudio Bravo would be missing for the rest of the season with a calf injury while he hoped John Stones would return after this game.

It was also too soon for Sergio Aguero after a groin injury sustained against Middlesbrough last weekend but David Silva recovered from his recent hamstring injury against Arsenal to start.

In all, City made four changes from the side that played against Middlesbrough with Silva, Leroy Sane, Yaya Toure, and Raheem Sterling starting, and the injured Aguero missing out along with Aleksandar Kolarov, Jesus Navas, and Aleix Garcia.

Early goals have been rare at the Etihad this season and Crystal Palace were sporting enough to give the not fully-fit Silva the run of midfield with City dominating the majority of possession.

City were out of the blocks early and Silva delayed a forward pass to Raheem Sterling before racing into the area to sweep the resulting cut-back home past Wayne Hennessey with less than two minutes on the clock.

It was his 50th goal for City and Palace, with four full backs in defence including former Leicester player Jeffrey Schlupp, were struggling.

With the likes of Gabriel Jesus running at them and constantly trying to win the ball back, Martin Kelly soon collected a booking for hauling him down.

The visitors were getting the run-around from City but although Hennessey was the busier of the two ‘keepers Willy Caballero had the most difficult save to make – when Willy Cabello had to dive to save a downward header from Christian Benteke from going past him in the 35th minute.

Palace only regained a little composure after that morale boosting effort but had somehow managed to keep the scoreline down as City’s wingers did all the hard work but didn’t overly test Hennessey.

Sane was particularly dangerous, producing a trio of nutmegs in the first half while Sterling seemed to grow in confidence during the game, trying his luck with shots rather than passing the ball on as he did early on.

Sane had a decent shot blocked by Hennessey while Sterling’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Patrick van Aanholt.

It was some surprise, then, that City didn’t score again until the second half.

Vincent Kompany had stayed up following a corner and David Silva brought the ball under control before laying it off for Kevin De Bruyne whose cutback found City’s captain inside the area – he smashed it past Hennessey into the roof of the net.

Kevin De Bruyne hits that woodwork again but scores soon after as City power to victory with goal glut

Kevin De Bruyne’s 20 yard free kick hit the bar while Fernandinho had a shot saved by Hennessey who was later grateful for intervention from Jason Puncheon as Sane and De Bruyne broke away.

There was little Hennessey could do with De Bruyne’s strike on the hour mark after Gabriel Jesus laid the ball off to him on the edge of the area and the Belgian struck it first time past the Welshman who got a hand to it but couldn’t stop it from going in.

By this time City were passing rings around the flagging visitors and City could afford to bring off David Silva who wasn’t fit enough to finish the game.

Wilfried Zaha had been Palace’s only attacking outlet to cause City’s defence problems, creating a chance for Mathieu Flamini that deflected off Nicolas Otamendi and had to be tipped over his own bar by Caballero.

City continued to generate chances though and a vintage move saw Yaya Toure’s crossfield pass find Pablo Zabaleta whose cushioned header down allowed Raheem Sterling the time to let the ball bounce once before he slashed it left footed past Hennessey 8 minutes from time.

City never stopped pressing home the advantage and got their fifth goal in injury time when De Bruyne’s free kick was headed past Hennessey by Otamendi.

Frank Lampard announces New York City departure

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New York City FC midfielder Frank Lampard has announced he will be leaving the club when his two-year contract expires at the end of 2016.

The highly decorated goal-scoring midfielder, 38, signed for New York City in 2014 and made a total of 31 appearances for his new club, scoring 15 goals and making three assists.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak with Frank Lampard
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak with Frank Lampard

Lampard left Chelsea, with whom he scored a club record 211 goals from 648 appearances, but joined Manchester City on loan from New York City in a move which angered New York City fans.

His first season with New York City was blighted by injury after he belatedly arrived following his short stint with Manchester City.

In his second season with New York City, Lampard helped his team make the MLS play-offs although they lost 7-0 on aggregate against Toronto FC this month.

Lampard told NYCFC.com: “As my time at NYCFC comes to an end, I would like to thank so many people for the kindness and support that they have shown me over the last two years.

“My teammates have been a pleasure to play alongside. The amazing fans have given me incredible support and backing.

“I have very much enjoyed my time, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to play for such a great club and in such an incredible city.”

Lampard had already expressed an interest in going into coaching following an interview with Match of the Day host Gary Lineker and hinted about a future announcement on his Instagram page.

He added: “I leave with many great memories as I embark on the next stage of my career and I’ll be making an announcement very soon.”

New York City’s head coach, Patrick Vieira, also paid tribute to a player who has scored goals wherever he has been.

Vieira said: “Everybody talks about Frank’s goal-scoring record from midfield but I can tell you after a year of working with him, he brings so much more to a team than just goals.

“What Frank has brought to the locker room is something just as important – his experience, his elite mentality and his mentorship for the younger members of our squad have helped us greatly this year.

It is clear that Frank has embraced playing in this league and for this club. I am grateful for his service in my first year here and I wish him the very best in whatever he chooses to do next.”

It’s expected that Chelsea will offer a role to a man who has been a legend for them over 13 years if Lampard opts to retire from playing.

Andrea Pirlo signs for New York City FC

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New York City FC have signed Italian midfield legend Andrea Pirlo, 36, after Champions League finalists Juventus agreed to release the veteran from his contract a year early to join the MLS outfit on a two and a half year deal.

Pirlo, who has 115 caps for Italy, had been courted for some time by New York City FC and explained his decision to move to American on NYCFC.com:

“I have been wanting this experience for a long time and now that the opportunity materialised I wanted to take it.

This is a Club on the rise and shares my same hunger to achieve important results in the League.”

“I had several opportunities to play outside of Italy, but I never had a doubt in picking New York for the enthusiasm of the people that come watch the team.

“I met with the coach, Jason Kreis, and he gave me a fantastic impression of the Club. He has well defined ideas in mind, and I am sure we will get on well and create a good relationship to train well and try to win together.”

Pirlo will become NYC’s third designated player and will join Frank Lampard and David Villa on July 21.

Pirlo’s potential future midfield partner Lampard is expected to make his first start for the American side at the Yankee Stadium on Sunday against Toronto FC.