Pellegrini coy on Hart return
Manuel Pellegrini insisted he has yet to determine Joe Hart's fate after his deputy Costel Pantilimon impressed in the League Cup victory over Newcastle.
Pantilimon was hardly overworked in the course of his side's 2-0 extra-time victory at St James' Park but did everything that was required of him when called upon.
He got down well while partially unsighted to paw a Shola Ameobi effort wide in the first half and then, with the scores still level early in added time, the Romanian came out to meet Papiss Cisse and stood firm to make a strong save.
That latter intervention was picked out by home manager Alan Pardew as the key moment of the match, giving City the platform to secure passage to the quarter-finals via goals from Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko.
The focus on the under-pressure Hart was inevitable, but Pellegrini did little to fan the flames around England's number one.
While he stopped short of guaranteeing a return to the starting XI against Norwich on Saturday, he also declined to anoint Pantilimon as his successor.
"He is a very good goalkeeper and he normally plays in the League Cup and the FA Cup," Pellegrini said. "This was a very important match for him. But I will start to think about the game against Norwich on Thursday. Today I was just thinking about winning this match.
"I think that we will talk tomorrow [about the team selection]. One goalkeeper can play but the other will have our full support. We will think about it."
Pressed for further details about Hart's standing, Pellegrini responded curtly: "I have just told you I will think about that tomorrow."
There was more praise, again slightly muted, from Dzeko.
"He was great, he's been working hard in training. It's his second clean sheet in the Capital One Cup so he's definitely improving," said the striker, who secured City's win by rounding Tim Krul at the end of the first period of added time.
Pellegrini was also able to react for the first time to news that CSKA Moscow had been hit by a partial stadium closure for their next Champions League fixture as a result of racist chanting against Yaya Toure.
"It is a country where the next World Cup (after 2014) will be played," he said. "It is an important way to finish those things. I don't know if there was less severity or more severity (in the sanction) but UEFA have three levels of punishment and this is the first but I can't tell you more than that."
THE GUARDIAN: The full extent of public contribution to Tottenham Hotspur's planned new stadium project can today be revealed for the first time, with the club positioned to benefit from controversial council plans to develop an area opposite the new ground involving the demolition of existing local businesses. Also: UEFA has sacked one of its officials after admitting its new anti-racism strategy was not properly enforced during the incident involving Yaya Toure that means CSKA Moscow will have to play their next Champions League game in a partly closed ground.
THE TIMES: A senior UEFA official was stripped of his duties last night after failing to act on the referee's instructions in the Yaya Toure race row. Also: It took a while for Manchester City to show much more than a flicker of interest in progressing to the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup, but when it came, it came with decisiveness.
THE INDEPENDENT: The Russian club CSKA Moscow will face partial closure of their Khimki stadium for their next home Champions League game against Bayern Munich after UEFA found that their supporters were guilty of racially abusing Manchester City's Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure.
DAILY TELEGRAPH: Tim Krul, the Newcastle United goalkeeper, twice denied Manchester City's Alvaro Negredo with late saves in normal time to send this Capital One Cup tie into extra time last night. Also: Yaya Toure and Manchester City were said to be satisfied last night after UEFA ordered the partial closure of CSKA Moscow's stadium as a result of their fans' racist abuse of the midfielder.
Yaya Toure is satisfied with UEFA's partial ban - which has been criticised in some quarters [ACTION]
DAILY STAR: UEFA's bid to clamp down on CSKA Moscow's racist fans has fallen flat - because they have decided to close only part of their ground. Also: Jose Mourinho nabbed Arsenal star Mesut Ozil's shirt for his son.
THE SUN: Edin Dzeko's six minutes of magic saw off Newcastle. Also: Tottenham ended their penalty shootout hoodoo - winning their first in eight attempts.
Yaya Toure says Manchester United 'really struggling' to retain title
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure says arch-rivals Manchester United are 'really struggling' to retain their title.
The Red Devils swept to the Premier League crown in 2012/13, offering the perfect send-off to outgoing boss Alex Ferguson.
A changing of the guard at Old Trafford has not run smoothly, though, with new manager David Moyes enduring a baptism of fire.
There have been signs in recent outings that the tide is turning, but a slow start has left the defending champions eight points off the pace.
Toure feels United will find it difficult to bridge that gap, with Liverpool considered to be a greater threat to the usual suspects in the battle for top flight supremacy.
He said in The Sun: "United will find it hard to defend the title since they have a new manager and are really struggling.
"Liverpool are a big threat at the moment because they have a strong squad and their strikers - Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge - are scoring goals at will."
City ended their latest outing empty-handed, leaving them just two points better off than United and with goalkeeper Joe Hart coming in for renewed criticism.
The England man endured an afternoon to forget during a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Sunday, but Toure is convinced he remains the right man to provide City's last line of defence.
He added: "Joe is a top keeper who gives his all to the team."
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Arsenal are considering making a bid for West Ham defender Winston Reid, 25, in January with manager Arsene Wenger having followed the centre-back's progress over the last 18 months.
New Zealand international Winston Reid joined West Ham in 2010 Metro
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has been offered a £5m-a-year deal by Toronto FC in an attempt to lure the 31-year-old England forward to the MLS, but they face competition from QPR. Daily Mirror
Blackpool are worried they could lose £8m-rated winger Tom Ince for as little as £155,000 if he moves abroad. Ince, 21, a free agent at the end of the season, can start talking to foreign clubs in January. DSSC
Defender John Souttar, 17, has turned down a move to Sunderland despite Dundee United's decision to accept a £600,000 offer. Daily Star
Liverpool are monitoring 18-year-old Ghanaian midfielder Daniel Amartey, who plays for Djurgarden in Sweden. DSSC
The futures of Nani, 26, Anderson, 25, Rafael, 23, and Ashley Young, 28, are all under threat at Manchester United after failing to impress new boss David Moyes. Sun
Derby County want at least £12m in January for midfielder Will Hughes, 18, who is wanted by Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Daily Telegraph
Barcelona are hoping to make Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, 23 - who is also a target for Manchester United and Arsenal - the 'next Xavi'. Express
Corinthians striker Alexandre Pato, 24, has confirmed Tottenham failed in a bid to sign him in the summer. DSSC
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has ridiculed reports that striker Mario Balotelli, 23, could join Chelsea in January. talkSHIT
Wales manager and former Crystal Palace centre-back Chris Coleman, 43, wants to take charge at his old club and has become joint-favourite for the vacant job. London Evening Standard
FA of Wales chiefs are bracing themselves for an official approach for Coleman and could offer Cardiff City striker Craig Bellamy and former Stoke manager Tony Pulis roles in the national set-up. Wales Online
England Under-21 forward Saido Berahino, 20, is closing in on a new contract with West Brom which will lift his wages from £850 to £10,000 a week. Express and Star
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has revealed the club are in talks with Uefa to stage next summer's Champions League ties in England or Ireland because Parkhead is being used for the Commonwealth Games. Daily Telegraph
Former Aston Villa and Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, 54, has indicated a desire to become Crystal Palace's new manager. Guardian
Midfielder Steve Sidwell, 30, has rejected an initial offer of a one-year contract extension at Fulham as he wants a two-year deal. Daily Mirror
German side FC Schalke have refused a $6m offer from Italian club Fiorentina for their 18-year-old midfielder Max Meyer, saying they are in talks with the youngster to renew his contract. Bild
Italian midfielder Thiago Motta, 31, says he is not interested in rumours about him moving to Juventus or Napoli and is focusing on improving at Paris St-Germain. L'Equipe
Barcelona could make a shock move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, 32, to replace Victor Valdes. La Stampa
German side Hoffenheim have signed Swedish club Malmo's 22-year-old midfielder Jiloan Hamad. L'Equipe
Former Manchester United team-mates Gary Neville, 38, and Ryan Giggs, 39, are opening a restaurant in London which they say will be "inspired by the game". On the menu will be gourmet chicken and mushroom 'pot noodle' and a half-time orange. London Evening Standard
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