Pep Guardiola blames Carabao Cup ball for City's struggle against Wolves

Pep Guardiola branded the ball used in Manchester City's 4-1 penalty shootout win over Wolverhampton Wanderers as “unacceptable for a high-level competition” after his side survived a scare to progress to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after extra time.
Claudio Bravo's two penalty saves help Manchester City past Wolves
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Claudio Bravo saved two Wolves penalties before Sergio Agüero scored the decisive spot-kick and while Guardiola was pleased with the victory, he expressed displeasure at the Mitre ball which is usually used in Football League matches. “It is not acceptable, the ball was unacceptable for a high-level competition,” Guardiola said. “It is too light, it moves all over the place, it is not a good ball. It is impossible to score with a ball like that and I can say that because we won, I'm not making excuses. All of my players said: ‘What is that?' I'm sorry Carabao Cup is not a serious ball for a serious competition. It's [for] marketing, money, OK but it's not acceptable – [it has] no weight, nothing.”

Asked if his players had had time to practise with the ball that was introduced at the start of the season for all EFL competitions but not the Premier League, the 46-year-old was dismissive. “One day or two days, but the ball is bad for one year or two years, it's not acceptable. All the players complain,” he added.

Of Bravo, who also made four crucial saves during the match, Guardiola said: “Claudio gave us the chance to go through, I'm so happy for him, the way he's trained, a good performance and good penalties. I'm happy to win in this way.”

Bravo was signed in the summer of 2016 as Joe Hart's replacement but lost his starting berth due to a series of high-profile mistakes. Guardiola accepted it has not been easy for the player. “Yes, of course,” he said. “It was not easy last season for him but he's a keeper at a high level – you can't be [the] Barcelona and Chile [goalkeeper] without being a high level. He deserved the performance. Without him we would not be in the next round.”

The manager added: “It's not easy for him, like with Yaya [Touré, who also had a rare start], he wanted to touch the ball but it's difficult because the space was tight. For Claudio he's here to play but he's a good professional and he has to be ready – you never know what happens in football. But it's not easy to come in for games like this.”

Of the win, Guardiola said: “Maybe now people will understand why things are difficult in football – it's so complicated in this competition. From tomorrow we have to focus again for the Premier League. In the first half we deserved to score one or two goals – we had chances in the first half but in the second half there were some counterattacks, they were so fast.”

Modern Bridalwear – Introducing White One Collection By Missy Dress

Missy Dress has been designing and making gorgeous wedding dresses since 1964 and, with more than five decades of dressing brides, they most certainly understand what it takes to create beautiful gowns. The company is actually named after the famous Gothic cathedral on New York's famed Fifth Avenue, so style and matrimony definitely go hand in hand at Missy Dress.

The White One Collection has been designed by Herve Moreau, the genius creative director of the Pronovias Fashion Group. It's perfect if you're looking for a fresh, modern, versatile gown to wear on your big day and each dress is brilliantly individual. Created mainly from dreamy georgette and tulle, this collection features ethereal gowns and full skirts for a truly bridal feel.

Missy Dress is well known for the design details that bring such beauty to each dress and the White One Collection continues this tradition. I love the tattoo effect that's achieved on some of the sleeves and bodices. This stunning look is achieved thanks to fine crystal tulle embroideries and it's certainly a signature look in this collection.

Missy Dress has also included so many more fantastic details in the collection, it's actually tough to know what to mention first. Famosa is one of my favourites because I LOVE a backless gown! It's an exquisite design in tulle and lace and it's one for the modern romantics amongst you, combining such a delightful design with a super feminine, figure-hugging mermaid shape.

Felicidad is all about the tulle and yet it's still so modern. The voluminous skirt is teamed with an illusion bodice that's embellished with Chantilly appliques, embroidery and beading. If you love this spectacular ballgown style then you also much take a look at Florida. Again, the combination of bodice and skirt is just incredible. The traditional sweetheart neckline and beaded waistband give way to an eye-catching skirt where asymmetrical layers of luscious tulle form the most gorgeous flounces you ever did see. There's also an open back in draped tulle on this gown so it really is full of surprises.

For clean, sophisticated style, look no further than Fiana. The elegant bateau neckline, the flattering cap sleeves and the spectacular silhouette of this dress just make me smile. From the reverse, you'll see another open back design, this one featuring cutout embroidery. I love the contradictions and unexpected details in all of the White One Collection dresses.

Finally, I just have to mention, Flavia because my love for wedding dresses with pockets simply knows no bounds! However, when you combine pockets with a full skirt in heavy Mikado, a tulle and lace bodice and a lace back, I'm pretty much in heaven.

And that's what makes this collection so very special. It's just heavenly. The combinations of fabrics work fabulously, the designs that mix traditional details with on trend flourishes are perfect and there's a real sense of elegance with modern appeal. White One 2018 is just exceptional.

Focusing on football a challenge for displaced Texans

FRISCO, Texans -- On Monday morning at the Dallas Cowboys' training facility, the Houston Texans had their first practice since they were unable to fly back home after the team's preseason game in New Orleans.

And while coach Bill O'Brien said the Texans had a good practice, several players noted the challenge of focusing on the field while so much is going on back in Houston.

“We have a job to do and I think that's got to be the way you go about your business and handle it,” veteran cornerback Johnathan Joseph said. “But it's hard at the same time to kind of sit there and play football and then think about your family that's back home when there's updates going on around the clock about things that are going on back in your hometown.”

The Texans and Cowboys were scheduled to play on Thursday in Houston, but the game is expected to be shifted to AT&T Stadium due to the flooding. Joseph said even when it's tough, playing in the NFL is still a job, and the players have responsibility to do that job.

“We're professionals, and if that's what it calls for, we've got to get up and still do our job and go out there and play to the best of our abilities," Joseph said. "At the end of the day, we're in the National Football League and they pay us to do a job. And if they call for a game to be on, everyone has to put forth their best effort, and once the game is over, have to go back and take care of our business with the things that are going on off the field."

Long-snapper Jon Weeks, who has his wife, Amanda, and eight-week-old daughter, Parker, at home, said the ability to take his mind off anything happening off the field when he has to is something he learned as a young athlete.

“It's definitely tough. But I think that's something that as little kids we're taught," Weeks said. "When you come to this game, you always leave the personal stuff -- and back then it's grades and school and that kind of stuff -- you leave that off the field when you come to the football field and you concentrate on what your job is. And I think we've all been able to do that.

"Again, granted, they're not far from our thoughts. We're thinking of Houston, we're praying for Houston. We're praying for everybody. We're praying and hoping everybody's safe. But when it's time to come here and work, we're all professionals. We come in here and work, and as soon as it's done, we go back and we start doing whatever we can to help the city."

And while "nothing is more important than family," O'Brien said, "at the end of the day, football goes on."

"Thirty-one other teams are working to get to the same goal we're working to get to," O'Brien said. "We're trying to concentrate on football. We're preparing for the Dallas game. We're preparing for football. But we're making sure that our players have time to be in contact with their families."

Football transfer rumours: Is Gareth Bale to Manchester United back on?

If Kylian Mbappé flaps his wings, will he create an extraordinary front of hot air around Old Trafford? That was the main imponderable on the Mill's lips this morning upon the news that Gareth Bale could be Manchester United-bound if the Monaco speedster gets his possibly-unwise world record switch to the Bernabéu this summer. Zinedine Zidane has not quite ruled out one of the famed “BBC” leaving if he gets his man – and United have been sniffing around Bale since time immemorial.

It's not a stretch to say dealings between United and Real have not always progressed smoothly, so you'd expect that to be one for 31 August. Tuck it away in your back pocket and gorge, instead, on Chelsea's masterplan to snare all three of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ross Barkley and Alex Sandro. They'll have to fight Liverpool for the wacky old Ox, while Tottenham might yet move for Barkley. Those two are part of a plan to up the quota of Englishness at Stamford Bridge, apparently, but if part of it doesn't work out they can always have a dig at transfer window stalwart Renato Sanches.

None of them are likely to be playing alongside Diego Costa, who is the latest star name to be targeted by Milan's they-can't-really-afford-this-can-they revolution. He's still willing to sit it out and play for Atlético Madrid when their transfer ban expires, but Milan have asked the question to his agent Jorge Mendes, who presumably is more focused on securing Costa's move to Wolves. That's all OK, anyway, because Chelsea still want Fernando Llorente onboard as their backup striker.

Another favourite from this summer is Naby Keïta, who has presumably completed all the attractions of up-and-coming hipster paradise Leipzig because he remains hellbent on a move to Liverpool, who are ready to have one final go at getting him out of his personal hell. This will only end one way, rendering miles of print and days of diligent journalistic labour mere stardust.

In other interminable sagas, Ronald Koeman remains desperate for Everton to get their cut-price £45m bid for Gylfi Sigurdsson over the line while Arsenal, by happy coincidence, are back in for Monaco's Thomas Lemar with a bid of exactly the same sum.

Premier League new boys Brighton could be about to make a big move for Leicester winger Tom Lawrence, who impressed on loan with Ipswich last season and appears to have no future under Craig Shakespeare even if Riyad Mahrez gets a move to Roma.

Finally, remember that big-name Billericay Town signing revealed in yesterday's Mill? It's Jermaine Pennant. He's said to have picked them ahead of Hibs.

Martin Ling: Leyton Orient appoint ex-manager as director of football

Leyton Orient have named former O's manager Martin Ling as director of football, less than 24 hours after the National League club was taken over.

The 50-year-old managed Orient between 2003 and 2009 but had been out of football since stepping down as Swindon Town boss in 2015 for health reasons.

On Thursday, a consortium led by Nigel Travis completed its takeover.

"His immediate goals are to develop the squad for next season and appoint a first-team coach," said Travis.

"His deep ties to the club will help him build on Leyton Orient's heritage of developing strong young talent through its academy."

After retiring from playing, Ling returned to the O's as a youth coach before moving up to the first team and winning promotion to League One in 2006.

Ling left Orient in January 2009 before spells at Cambridge United and Torquay United.

He moves to East London after Baskin Robbins and Dunkin' Donuts chief executive Travis purchased the club from Francesco Becchetti.

Orient were relegated to the National League at the end of last season, their second relegation in the three years under Becchetti, ending their 112-year stay in the Football League.