23/02/2026

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MONDAY | FEB 23, 2026

Malaysian Paper

Battle-hardened City P EP GUARDIOLA hailed a “mas sive” win after title-chasing Manchester City held on for a cru cial yet nervy victory over best of the season. “We had the best vibes and we need those vibes between now and the end of the season. It wasn’t the ideal game, but we were a team and this is what we have to do at this stage of the season.” O’Reilly’s goals took the versatile mid Guardiola praises ‘massive’ victory as Nico O’Reilly brace cuts Arsenal’s lead at top

of EPL table

Alcaraz wins Qatar Open

Story on page 28

Newcastle yesterday. Nico O’Reilly struck twice as City edged out the Magpies 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium to cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to two points. Manager Guardiola now wants his players to focus on their next game, at Leeds on Saturday (Sun 1.30am Malaysian time), without getting distracted by the wider title picture. Guardiola believes that a signifi cant portion of his current squad lacks the necessary experience of a high-pressure run-in, suggesting that approximately 70% of his play ers have never found themselves in a title-winning situation before. “Massive (win). Newcastle is an incredible team. Awesome team,” said the City manager. “Physicality and the speed they have up front. Really tough but the team was unbelievable. “Seventy per cent of the players never played in that situation and I don’t play. We have to live it. They know – we know – that until the end of the season every game will be like this… a battle. “Now we have three days off. I say to them ‘what you have to do is take a lot of caipirinhas and daiquiris in these next three days, enjoy life,’ and then we make proper sessions and go to Leeds. “That is the proper way. If we say ‘we win this, then Arsenal do this or Aston Villa’ (you get a) slap in the face and what you thought (would happen), the oppo site happens. “I know how difficult it will be. Just win the next game, keep going, never give up. Ten games is a lot in the Premier League. Many things are going to happen.” Buoyed by Arsenal’s unexpected draw against Wolves in midweek, the game began amid a raucous atmosphere. The mood was more anxious by the end as Newcastle pressed late on, but Guardiola felt the crowd helped City to the three points. His animated, emotional reaction at the final whistle was mirrored around the stadium on a night when he said: “The connection we had with our fans was the

fielder’s – capable of playing at left-back – league tally to four, making him City’s fifth highest scorer behind Erling Haaland (22), Antoine Semenyo (13), Phil Foden (seven) and Tijjani Reijnders (five). The academy graduate described the victory as a “dream” as he looks to win his first Premier League title with the club. “It’s a dream of mine to win something like this,“ the 20-year old told TNT Sports . “There’s still a lot of games to go. We need to take each game as it comes. I’m enjoying every moment and taking it all in. “Definitely (City can win the title). We always believe we can win games. We had a week break, so we were able to prepare for this game very well. We just need to keep going.” O’Reilly’s emergence has been a high light of a season where City have had to adapt to several high-profile injuries and tactical shifts in the midfield. Newcastle demonstrated outstanding powers of recovery to show such energy and work-rate after the lengthy Champions League journey to Azerbaijan – and left Manchester nursing a sense of injustice that they did not earn at least a point. Yesterday’s display will have left man ager Eddie Howe satisfied despite what is now a traditional loss against City, who are unbeaten in 21 Premier League home games against the Magpies, winning the past 17. “It was a good effort from the lads physically. It has been a really tough run of fixtures for us,” Howe said. “Every time we enter the pitch I want the players to empty, to give everything. I can’t ask for any more. “For their two goals I don’t think we defended well enough and we made indi vidual errors but, considering everything we have put into the last few weeks, that was a good performance.” – The Independent/Agencies

Story on page 30 Real stunner

Man City’s Nico O’Reilly (top) scores the winning goal during the English Premier League match against Newcastle at the Etihad yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

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