Pep Guardiola says Manchester City cannot be "tired" as they continue to compete on multiple fronts for silverware, with the prizes too big for them to falter in the final weeks.
The Premier League champions travel to face Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, with Kevin De Bruyne's goal having given them a 1-0 aggregate lead.
It is a match that comes sandwiched between two encounters with domestic rivals Liverpool.
The Premier League title challengers played out a thrilling 2-2 draw on Sunday and will meet in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on Saturday.
That hectic schedule is more of a badge of honour for Guardiola however, who explained that his side will not be sluggish when there are a trio of trophies at stake in the final few months of the campaign.
"We are close to the end of the season, where you have to be grateful to be here," he told his pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
"I would love to have more time, but in that moment, you are not tired. When you are so close to reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, or the FA Cup, you are not tired."
Atleti failed to attempt a shot in the first leg. Since 2003-04, when Opta began collecting such data, the fewest shots recorded by a team across two legs of a Champions League knockout tie is four, by Shakhtar Donetsk against Bayern Munich in 2014-15.
However, Guardiola knows his side will likely need to remain on the offensive and expects to face a different proposition to the defensively taut team that visited the Etihad Stadium last week.
"It will be slightly different," he added. "They play at home, and they create momentum.
"With the passion [that] all the fans [and] all the history that they have, there will be moments they will be aggressive and create problems."
Guardiola has faced Atleti away from home on six previous occasions as a manager (W3 L3), with the most recent of those being a 0-1 defeat in the Champions League while in charge of Bayern Munich in 2015-16.
It will be City's 100th game in the Champions League – they have won 55 of their first 99, which is already the most by an English side through a century of games in the competition. Overall, only Real Madrid have won more of their first 100 games in the competition (57).
Man City to open Premier League title defence away against Chelsea
Manchester City will begin their Premier League title defence with a testing trip to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend.
Pep Guardiola's side have already won a historic four straight titles and will begin their pursuit of a fifth consecutive crown with a tough away match on Sunday August 18 against a team now managed by Enzo Maresca.
Man City have won their opening Premier League match in 12 of the last 13 seasons, though the exception was an away game in London when they lost 1-0 to Tottenham in 2021-22.
This will be the first time in 53 years that Chelsea have begun a top-flight campaign with a match against the reigning champions. They last did that in 1971, losing to Arsenal at Highbury.
The Premier League fixtures for 2024-25 were unveiled on Tuesday.
Arsenal narrowly missed out to Man City in each of the last two seasons and Mikel Arteta's men discovered they will start at home to Wolves on Saturday August 17.
It is Manchester United and Fulham who will open the season on Friday August 16, with the FA Cup holders playing at home in an evening fixture.
Arne Slot's tenure as Liverpool manager starts with a trip away to play promoted Ipswich Town, who return to the top flight after a 22-year absence, while play-off winners Southampton will face Newcastle United at St James' Park.
The opening weekend concludes on Monday August 19 as Leicester City host Tottenham in a difficult start to the Foxes' Premier League return.
There are some other notable matches taking place in the early weeks of the season, with Arsenal away to Aston Villa in the two teams' second match of the campaign.
The Gunners also have back-to-back away matches against Tottenham and Man City in September, meaning they will have had road games against three of the top five sides from last season inside the first five matchweeks.
Man Utd, meanwhile, are due to face Liverpool at Old Trafford on August 31 in the standout fixture of Matchday 3.
Inter Miami v Columbus Crew: Black & Gold aim for further road joy against gutsy Herons
Inter Miami are sitting comfortably at the top of the Eastern Conference table but face a challenge on Thursday when Columbus Crew visit for an MLS clash at Chase Stadium.
The Herons are two points clear at the summit of the East standings after snatching a 2-1 triumph over Philadelphia Union last time out.
Yet Wilfried Nancy's Crew have triumphed in their last four road games in the league, battling to a 3-2 victory over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Friday.
"It's a massive run and just shows how good we are mentally" Mohamed Farsi said of the streak.
"I think we have more away wins right now than last year all season. I think so or the same, so I'm happy for that."
Farsi has become a central figure for Columbus and scored the go-ahead goal in the 53rd minute against the Pigeons, much to the delight of head coach Nancy.
"The idea for Mo is to be more consistent because he brings a lot of energy to the team," Nancy said.
"He wants also to show himself that he's a better player than last year when we had the same deal here. Good for him.
"Now, he knows that he has to work on certain things, but I'm happy for him. He's doing a good job."
Despite missing Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Matis Rojas – all of whom are on Copa America duty – the nine-man Herons overcame the Union thanks to Leo Afonso's last-gasp strike.
"It is clear that in 10 times, nine of these games we would end up losing," Miami head coach Gerardo Martino said.
"Absolutely all the credit belongs to them. That has to do with the effort, with the character, with the guts that the boys had."
Afonso echoed his coach's sentiment ahead of another crunch match-up.
"It's difficult when you're missing the best players in history in their positions," he said. "But we got to keep working, and we got to try our best."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Inter Miami – Jordi Alba
With stars Messi and Suarez on international duty, Jordi Alba will be expected to step up once more for the Herons.
The former Barcelona full-back has two goals this year in MLS, as well as five assists – that creative tally is only bettered by Messi (13) and Julian Gressel (six) among Miami team-mates.
Columbus Crew – Diego Rossi
Diego Rossi remains an integral figure in attack for the Crew, whose Javier Hernandez (five goals) has only scored more than the forward's four in 10 MLS games this year.
With other Uruguayan colleagues at the Copa, Rossi will hope to extend his fine scoring form here.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
Miami may be leading the way in the East but a draw appears the most likely outcome at Chase Stadium.
The Herons have never lost a home match against the Crew (W2 D1), though Columbus did earn their first away point against David Beckham's Miami-based side on the last visit to Fort Lauderdale, a 2-2 draw in July 2023.
Martino will hope to continue a strong run of form with another victory, however.
Miami have won eight of their last 11 regular-season matches (D2 L1) following a 2-1 victory at Philadelphia on Saturday. Since that run began in mid-April, Martino's side have managed 26 points and scored 28 goals – both league-leading figures.
Yet Columbus should not be ruled out for a win either.
The Crew have won four straight regular-season away matches for the second time in club history after a four-match run in August-September 2015.
Columbus have lost only one of their last 11 regular-season road matches, dating back to last September (W5 D5), and that streak could continue here.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Inter Miami win – 37.4%
Columbus Crew win – 36.3%
Draw – 26.4%
Mbappe injury leaves Deschamps concerned after France's Euro 2024 triumph
Kylian Mbappe suffering a late head injury marred France's Euro 2024 victory over Austria as Didier Deschamps was left concerned about the Les Bleus star.
The Real Madrid-bound attacker sustained a blow to his nose after an aerial challenge with Austria's Kevin Danso before Mbappe was withdrawn on Monday.
France held on for a 1-0 victory in Dusseldorf to move level with fellow Group D leaders Netherlands, but Deschamps will have to sweat over Mbappe's fitness before facing Ronald Koeman's men on Friday.
"[His] nose is not good at all," the France head coach, who hit 100 wins in charge of his country with the victory over Ralf Rangnick's side, told reporters.
"Even if it's just the nose, it's the big negative point for us tonight."
Mbappe missed a gilt-edged opportunity in the second half as his wait for a European Championship goal continued.
The former Paris Saint-Germain man remains without a goal from a total of 18 shots in the tournament, while he has registered 12 strikes from 39 attempts at the World Cup.
Mbappe played the cross in for Max Wober's decisive first-half own-goal, however, as the centre-back's inadvertent error proved the difference in the pair's tournament opener.
France are the first European side at major tournaments (World Cup/Euros) to benefit from 10 own-goals, four more than any other side – Germany are the next best on six.
Deschamps was still satisfied with Les Bleus' work, though acknowledged their failure in front of goal.
"Happy with what the players did even if we missed opportunities to double the tally," he added. "It was not perfect but we were solid.
"We could have been more efficient offensively but it's good to start with a win.
"There's quality and talent but being solid and working together is also important. We're not going to be over-confident, but it's a good start."
N'Golo Kante was named as the Player of the Match after his efficient display in midfield, having only returned to the international setup for this tournament after a two-year absence.
No France player made more successful tackles than Kante's two (level with Jules Kounde), while the midfielder's pair of interceptions marked the most for Les Bleus.
"Everything was not perfect but we have the result we wanted, this is a good start," Kante said. "There are solid foundations, we have to be more efficient.
"It makes me happy to be back. Things have changed, makes it feels good to get back into this jersey."
The defeat ended a run of seven games without a loss for Austria in all competitions (W6 D1), while it was only their second reverse in their last 17 matches (W12 D3).
Yet former Manchester United boss Rangnick refused to point the blame at any of Austria's players.
"We are all very disappointed... we allowed France to go ahead, they didn't shoot their goal, it was an unlucky own goal by us," Rangnick said.
"I think no one can accuse the team of not being engaged enough, not running enough. They gave their everything.
"They didn't always make the right decisions with the ball. But it isn't easy, the French were aggressive, and played compactly and that wasn't a surprise."
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