‘PREPARATION IS THE KEY’

MANCHESTER CITY’S recovery process after every match and their comprehensive preparation for the next game are the key to their ongoing 15-match winning streak across all competitions, defender John Stones has said. City are unbeaten this season and have won every game following their 1-1 Premier League draw with Everton in August, opening an eight-point lead at the top of the standings and progressing to the knockout stages of the Champions League. “A lot of it is down to the preparation and post match,” Stones told British media. “The recovery we do, how we go about things in the few days before the next game, the staff keep us fit and healthy and keep that mental state, the winning run.” The 23-year-old also believes that his teammates’ hunger to win their first league title since 2014 and the first trophy since their League Cup triumph in 2016 drives them on. The England centre-back has previously been criticised for his nervy performances but has regained form as City have become increasingly dominant, with Guardiola’s side conceding just seven league goals while scoring 38 in 11 games this season. “When you’re enjoying it, playing well, your mind is free and things come off,” Stones added. “I want to keep improving, keep this form going, striving to keep getting better. I think I am every day.” League leaders City travel to Leicester City on Nov. 18 after the conclusion of the international break.

I Tshould be at least be a mild surprise when a team with top-half ambitions concedes four goals at home to anyone. But when West Ham United lost 4-1 to Liverpool on Saturday can anyone say it was unexpected? The last game of the Slaven Bilic era at West Ham was desperately typical of so much of their football since he was in charge, and showed exactly why he had to go. No plan, no organisation, no intelligence and no real fight. Who could take over as West Ham manager from Slaven Bilic? Bilic is clearly an impressive man and has been a successful manager, first with Croatia, then briefly with Besiktas, and in his first season at Upton Park. But his successes are drawn from his personality: charismatic, persuasive and intelligent, rather than his methods. He was exactly the right man when he replaced Sam Allardyce in 2015 to rally and unite the fans, to harness the emotional power of the final year at Upton Park and to