Blues make Rod for their own back as winning run comes to end

A WEEK ago Pep Guardiola played down the absence of Rodri from his City team for three games by insisting the Blues would still play with 11 men, even without the lynchpin of their midfield. It's not the quantity that would have concerned the Blues boss, but the quality.

Pep: Ref not to blame for loss, it's our fault

PEP Guardiola felt Ruben Dias and Mateo Kovacic had to run at the Wolves defence to cause them more problems during City's 2-1 defeat at Molineux.

Blues' cup exit eases fixture list congestion

\"I DON'T want to waste energy in this competition at that stage,\" said Pep Guardiola at full-time at St James' Park.

Decisions cost us in Palace defeat

UNITED manager Erik ten Hag lamented his side's decision-making in a second successive Premier League defeat at Old Trafford.

Gary's spot on over takeover priorities

VERY few United fans, if questioned, would be willing to see the Glazers stay at Old Trafford for a moment longer than necessary at this stage.

'Like getting tickets for Harry Styles'

THE hoops public sector leaders in the North are made to jump through by Whitehall to get their hands on much-needed funds never cease to amaze.

'We've always wanted to do what we do at the cheapest price we can'

Dianne Bourne hears why the chef behind Manchester's only Michelin-star restaurant is dropping his prices

The 'riff raff' Mancs given homes in posh town's council estate

In the 60s about 300 Mancunian families made a new life in Longridge, an overspill estate built on the outskirts of Knutsford, writes Damon Wilkinson

Ancient secrets of Stockport's pyramid(s)

Lee Grimsditch unearths original plans showing architects' vision for site dubbed Valley of Death and thought 'cursed by the Pharaohs'

Door wars: How 'One punch' Doyle took on 'Mr Big'

Hardman Paul Doyle remembers his dispute with Salford villain Paul Massey

HEAT IS ON!

Fundraiser will run marathon in one of the hottest deserts on earth

Music venues' call for help in survival fight

MORE than three-in-20 grassroots music venues have closed across the UK in the last year, according to an industry body - as venues in Manchester plead with the government for more help.

Drug and gun runner is locked up

A GUN RUNNER who arranged to sell a terrifying Skorpion machine gun has been locked up. Aweis Bashir, from Didsbury, was involved in selling firearms and ammunition, as well as the cocaine and cannabis trades.

Tory MPs want to unveil 'manifesto for the north'

THERE should be a dedicated cabinet minister for the north a group of Tory MPs have claimed.

'I just get by - I can't afford to go out there'

As skyscrapers rise in Manchester city centre not everybody feels included in its success', write Ethan Davies & Chris Osuh

Keira makes final wishes come true

After losing her father aged 4, teenager sets up charity to help families at hospice realise their loved ones' bucket-list dreams

Boris: Cutting HS2 leg to Manchester would be 'betrayal'

Former prime minister says 'we must be out of our minds'

We had to win this game, admits ETH

ERIK ten Hag was pleased United prevailed in a 'must-win' game at Burnley

Onana can learn lesson from De Gea

THE role of United goalkeeper can feel an incredibly lonely job at times

Pep blasts Rodri and ref after sending off

PEP Guardiola revealed Rodri had apologised to his City team-mates after he was sent off during the win against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad

Skipper's Henry delight after red hot Chile show

HENRY Arundell was praised by captain Owen Farrell for delivering a complete performance after the England wing starred in a 71-0 rout of Chile that offers clear sight of the World Cup quarter-finals

Guardiola's praise for 'clever' Jeremy

PEP Guardiola praised Jeremy Doku's decision-making in the final third after the £55m winger continued the bright start he has made to his City career against Nottingham Forest

'Headache' diagnosed as rare illness

Dental nurse's life was turned upside down after her eyesight started to fail

The rise and fall of gangland's 'King of the Hill’'

Damon Wilkinson recalls ruthless notorious member of the Hillbillies' feared for his brutality

Picture could tell the story of a generation

Author Colin Shindler is tracing fellow Baby Boomers pictured at primary school in 1960 to discover how their lives panned out, writes Neal Keeling

I always felt 'different'

TV documentary follows 31-year-old's odyssey to find his biological father after shock DNA test

BOOM & BUS

As a new era of public transport begins today in Greater Manchester, the M.E.N looks back at its 200-year history

Baby Luca should still be here - but errors were made

Coroner rules string of failures at hospital contributed to child's death

Dad was killed after cops left him barefoot and miles from home

Killer driver awaits sentence after court hears how troubled victim had been arrested then abandoned with no phone

I finally found out what had happened to my mum - after over 80 years

Jean meets nieces she never knew she had after dad's wartime lie about mother's Blitz death