Pep Guardiola is confident new signing Savinho will be able to adapt to the demands of Manchester City’s packed schedule.
The 20-year-old attacker made his debut in City’s Community Shield victory over Manchester United on Saturday, with the Premier League champions triumphing on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
He joined Guardiola's side on a five-year-deal from Troyes, having impressed last season while on loan at Girona.
The Brazilian helped Girona qualify for their first-ever Champions League campaign with the second-most goal contributions in the squad (19), registering nine goals and 10 assists.
Guardiola is confident he can maintain those levels with City, telling the club's website: "He is so fast in transitions, so fast and he can do 30 or 40 games.
"I know he can play every three or four days. This is one of the details at which we take a look – how reliable the player is to play every three or four days, otherwise he cannot play in the big teams because the demand is like that.
"I had the feeling he is so strong to play regularly – a lot of games, a lot of minutes."
Last season, City played a total of 59 competitive matches as they achieved their fourth Premier League title in a row.
That tally means they have now played 120 matches over the last two seasons, having completed a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble in 2022-23.
Savinho will likely bring something different to City's attack, attempting 216 dribbles last season, a staggering 110 more than any Girona team-mate, and completing 104.
"His impact has been good. He’s so fast. He has to try to understand English a little and communicate with his mates," said Guardiola.
"But last season at Girona he was one of the best players in the league. Important.
"Michel, the manager, helped him a lot to grow up and be the player we believe he is. He is a young player, a good transfer for the club, and we are really pleased."
As well as stamina, Savinho will bring creativity to the Etihad, having created 53 chances at Girona last season, a tally bettered only by Aleix Garcia among his team-mates.
His attacking output was on display during his debut, as in just 34 minutes on the pitch, he contributed the joint-most crosses on the City team with four, despite Guardiola's men struggling to produce their usual attacking threat, creating chances worth just 0.48 expected goals (xG).
That creativity will benefit City from both sides owing to Savinho’s versatility, another factor attracting Guardiola to the signing.
"He is going both sides, playing right and left," he added.
"Jack [Grealish] just can play left, Oscar [Bobb] can just play right. Bernardo [Silva] can play right. Phil [Foden] right and left. Jeremy [Doku] and Savinho can play both sides."
Manchester City open their Premier League campaign against Chelsea on Sunday.
Vinicius rumours 'just speculation', says Ancelotti amid Saudi interest
Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that rumours linking Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior with a move to Saudi Arabia are nothing more than "just speculation".
Vinicius, who scored 24 goals in all competitions for Real last season, has received interest from the Saudi Pro League, reportedly considering the proposal.
The Brazilian is currently preparing for Los Blancos' UEFA Super Cup clash against Atalanta on Wednesday, with Ancelotti quick to dismiss reports of a departure.
"There isn't anything at all," Ancelotti said on Tuesday. "There's just speculation, at this time in the market. There's just speculation, nothing else."
Vinicius helped Real claim a domestic double last year, winning his third La Liga title and scoring in their Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.
The 24-year-old has the chance to win a 13th major honour in his sixth year as a Madrid player on Wednesday, with Ancelotti expecting him to be on top form in Warsaw.
"Of course speculation doesn't affect [Vinicius]," Ancelotti continued. "He's here, he wants to be here. He wants to do his best and help Real Madrid."
Ancelotti also shrugged off suggestions that Madrid's sporting project was under threat from Saudi Arabia's growing investment in the sport.
The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar have all made the move to the Middle East over the past two years, with many other high-profile names following suit.
"No, absolutely not," Ancelotti said. "We have our project and we continue in that. We have a squad of great quality.
"We've lost important players and we've brought in others who have to adapt.
"We have to work to maintain the atmosphere, and the commitment, which was the key last year."
Rossi inspires Crew comeback to end Inter Miami's Leagues Cup defence
The Columbus Crew came from two goals down to put an end to Inter Miami's Leagues Cup defence, winning 3-2 at the Lower.com Field on Wednesday.
Matias Rojas and Diego Gomez had given the visitors a comfortable lead just beyond the hour-mark, only for Christian Ramirez's strike to spark an unlikely turnaround.
Diego Rossi netted twice in 11 second half minutes to confirm the win as Wilfried Nancy's side advanced to the quarter-finals where they will face New York City FC.
Despite still being without Lionel Messi, Miami started brightly and were rewarded for their fast start when Rojas headed past Nicholas Hagen in the 10th minute.
Columbus finished the opening 45 the better side, but found themselves two goals down after the break as Gomez curled home their second following Luis Suarez's pass.
But Nancy's side would respond five minutes later as Max Arfsten's teasing delivery was powerfully headed home by Ramirez inside the penalty area.
The hosts found themselves level moments later when Cucho Hernandez's cross to the back post picked out Rossi to finish beyond Drake Callender.
Rossi grabbed his 15th goal of the season 10 minutes from time, finishing from a tight angle following a clever pass by Mohamed Farsi to confirm the triumph.
"Today, even after a defeat, we will continue trying to achieve some title in the local league, which is what remains," Miami head coach Gerardo Martino said.
"But I cannot accept that all this is measured based on whether you won or lost, I accept it because they are the rules of the game."
Data Debrief: Rossi brace continues Crew's sensational home form
Columbus continued their fine home form under Nancy and are now unbeaten in their last seven games on home soil in all competitions (W6 D1).
Rossi was the standout for the Crew, contributing 0.88 expected goals (xG) to Columbus' 1.79 total at the conclusion of the thrilling encounter.
Miami failed to make their opportunities in front of goal count, only managing three shots on target from the 12 they attempted while also missing five big chances.
Ancelotti coy over potential Mbappe debut in Super Cup
Carlo Ancelotti remained coy when asked about the chances of Kylian Mbappe making his Real Madrid debut in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.
Madrid won the Champions League by beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in June to set up a meeting with Europa League winners Atalanta in Warsaw.
Ancelotti had previously said after a pre-season friendly that he planned on using players who had won the trophy for the Super Cup match.
Mbappe joined as a free agent in June and has now started training with the team following his extended break due to France's involvement in Euro 2024.
And though Ancelotti remained tight-lipped about how Mbappe could be used, he did not rule out a first appearance for the Frenchman in a Madrid shirt.
"Mbappe has arrived well, just like the other players who joined last week," Ancelotti said in his press conference on Tuesday.
"We haven't had much time to train, but we are doing very well, and Kylian has also arrived in good shape. He is adapting very well. Obviously, everyone who is here can play tomorrow."
Madrid are aiming to win the Super Cup for a record sixth time, leapfrogging Barcelona and AC Milan, who have also both won five.
They are also chasing history once again this season with seven titles available for the first time due to FIFA's new Intercontinental Cup.
"As always, we're starting the season with all the excitement and desire," Ancelotti added.
"It's the first title of a season that is going to be very demanding but can also be very successful. We want to start it well. We are aware of the difficulties, but I see the team in good shape, motivated to play a great game."
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