Pep Guardiola

24Dec

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Guardiola defends Haaland’s dip in form

Pep Guardiola has defended Erling Haaland, who has shouldered the brunt of the blame for Manchester City's dismal run.The Norwegian striker once again failed to score in City's defeat at Aston Villa, meaning he has only netted three goals in his last 12 Premier League games. He has played the full 90 minutes in all but one game during City's dismal run of form in which they have won just one match in 12, losing nine of them.Guardiola stuck up for his striker in the aftermath of their sixth league defeat of the season, stating without Haaland his side would 'be even worse'. And Guardiola doubled down on his comments on Christmas Eve, making a point of not singling out the forward in what has been his worst period in charge of the champions.'It's about us, not just one player,' said Gu...

Guardiola insists fatigue not a factor in City’s dropping points

7Dec

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Guardiola insists fatigue not a factor in City’s dropping points

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 7: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Manchester City FC at Selhurst Park on December 7, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) Pep Guardiola refused to blame fatigue after his injury-depleted 10-man Manchester City side were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Erling Haaland cancelled out Daniel Munoz’s fourth-minute opener with his 13th goal of the season, drawing him level with Mohamed Salah in the Golden Boot race. Maxence Lacroix fired the hosts back in front after the break, but Rico Lewis salvaged a point in the 68th minute before he was sent off for picking up a second yellow late on. With Liverpool’s Merseyside der...

Guardiola responds to rumours of Man City fall out with De Bruyne

4Dec

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Guardiola responds to rumours of Man City fall out with De Bruyne

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola watches the players from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 1, 2024. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has rubbished sugg...

Pep Guardiola says age not a factor in Manchester City’s loss of form

25Nov

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Pep Guardiola says age not a factor in Manchester City’s loss of form

Pep Guardiola, Head Coach of Manchester City, reacts during the UEFA Champions League match between Sporting CP and Manchester City at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 5, 2024. Pep Guardiola has denied that a key factor in Manchester City’s run of five consecutive defeats is that nine of his squad are aged 30 or older, with the manager pointing to how the same players were Premier League champions last season. The 4-0 defeat by Tottenham on Saturday was their second loss in the sequence to Ange Postecoglou’s team, the others coming against Brighton, Sporting and Bournemouth. This is City’s poorest run under Guardiola, and the worst of his 15-year coaching career. Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündogan,...

Pep Guardiola reveals the reason behind his departure from Barcelona

1Nov

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LALIGA

Pep Guardiola reveals the reason behind his departure from Barcelona

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) FC Barcelona has had the privilege of being able to count on several extraordinary managers throughout the club’s history. This included the likes of Johan Cruyff and now includes German head coach Hansi Flick as well. However, for almost every Barcelona fan and even for neutrals, the most successful coach at the club is a rather obvious name.Pep Guardiola, the current head coach of a dominant Manchester City side over in the Premier League, was formerly the head coach of FC Barcelona. However, while that may have been ...

Guardiola admits Man City are ‘in difficulty’ as injuries mount up

31Oct

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Guardiola admits Man City are ‘in difficulty’ as injuries mount up

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 30, 2024 in London, England. Pep Guardiola claimed Manchester City were in trouble after they suffered further injuries in a 2-1 loss at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup to leave them with only 13 first-team players available. Already without Kyle Walker, Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish for the fourth-round tie, Manuel Akanji was withdrawn ahead of kick-off before Savinho left on a stretcher in the second half. Guardiola was measured after first-half goals by Timo Werner – his first in 18 matches – and Pape Sarr inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on City, but he acknowledged p...

Pep Guardiola issues Man City reality check despite Liverpool vs Arsenal title race bonus

27Oct

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Pep Guardiola issues Man City reality check despite Liverpool vs Arsenal title race bonus

Manchester City's Manager Josep Guardiola during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Southampton FC at Etihad Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Manchester, England. Pep Guardiola will settle down on Sunday afternoon to watch Liverpool take on Arsenal knowing his Manchester City side are top of the Premier League. City beat Southampton on Saturday to leapfrog Liverpool at the top of the Premier League ahead of the leaders travelling to third-placed Arsenal on Sunday. Elsewhere on Saturday, Aston Villa and Brighton moved up places in the top five but were both held and Guardiola says the results so far this season prove that nothing can be taken for granted - especially after seeing City given two tough contests against the bottom two sides in the last week. "I will watch...

Pep Guardiola: Manchester City missing key quartet for Southampton game

25Oct

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Pep Guardiola: Manchester City missing key quartet for Southampton game

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku all remain unavailable for Saturday’s home Premier League game against Southampton. Guardiola, who named only 15 outfield players in his squad for this week’s Champions League win against Sparta Prague, also admitted he had no idea when De Bruyne would return to contention. When asked if De Bruyne and Walker were available, Guardiola said: “No, not yet.” And when pressed on whether De Bruyne’s extended absence due to a thigh injury was a concern, Guardiola added: “Yes of course. I’d prefer to have all the squad (fit) with the amount of games, but it is what it is. “Hopefully he can come back soon. I don’t know (when) yet. I would like to tell you, but I don’t know.” Playmaker De Bruyne has been out si...

Pep Guardiola: England manager’s nationality does not matter

19Oct

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NEWS

Pep Guardiola: England manager’s nationality does not matter

Pep Guardiola attends the "Che Tempo Che Fa" TV show at Nove Studios on October 13, 2024 in Milan, Italy. The appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England manager has led to mixed reactions from media and fans but Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called on the country's supporters to back the German unconditionally regardless of his nationality. Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Tuchel is the first German to manage England and only the third foreigner to take charge after the late Sven-Goran Eriksson of Sweden and Italian Fabio Capello. "We don't decide where we're born. Mum and Dad decide that and nine months later we're here. I didn't decide to be Catalan, you don't decide to be English," Guardiola told reporters ahead of City's clash at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. "The f...

Traore says Guardiola gave him some pointer

17Oct

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Traore says Guardiola gave him some pointer

Kyle Walker of Manchester City battles for possession with Adama Traore of Fulham during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Fulham FC at Etihad Stadium on October 5, 2024 in Manchester, England. Fulham winger Adama Traore has revealed that Pep Guardiola gave him ‘some pointers’ about how to finish the one-on-one opportunities he missed at Manchester City. The winger was disconsolate after spurning three good opportunities to get on the scoresheet at the Etihad Stadium before the international break as the Whites went down to an agonising 3-2 defeat at the home of the champions. The Spaniard told El Larguero: “I’ve known him for a few years, but it’s always appreciated. He is the best coach in the world, without a doubt. After the game he came up to me to tell it was ...

Manchester City target Rúben Amorim as next manager if Pep Guardiola leaves

15Oct

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Manchester City target Rúben Amorim as next manager if Pep Guardiola leaves

Manchester City are strongly considering the Sporting Lisbon head coach Rúben Amorim as their next manager if Pep Guardiola leaves when his contract expires at the end of the season. Guardiola said last weekend that “anything can happen” in terms of his future. The importance of City having a succession plan is clear and the link with Amorim, regarded as one of the best young managers in Europe, is understandable. The 39-year-old is a close ally of Hugo Viana, who will take over from Txiki Begiristain as City’s director of football next summer. The desire for a smooth transition means Viana, who has been at Sporting since 2018, will collaborate with Begiristain before the 60-year-old retires at the end of the season. There is the prospect of an immediate recruitment challenge given that G...

Guardiola responds to England job speculation with intriguing remark

14Oct

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Guardiola responds to England job speculation with intriguing remark

Pep Guardiola has left the door open to one day become manager of England after suggesting “anything can happen” in his future. Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City runs out at the end of the season, adding to the uncertainty around the four-in-a-row champions amid a legal case brought on by the Premier League alleging more than 100 financial breaches, which City deny. ITV pundit Roy Keane suggested England should “go for Pep” while interim manager Lee Carsley admitted: “The job deserves a world-class coach that has won trophies and has been there and done it.” Guardiola recently stressed his love for City is “deep” and has not ruled out signing an extension, but has yet to make any definitive decisions amid links to succeeding Gareth Southgate as permanent England manager. “Leaving C...

Guardiola contract boost, De Bruyne extension, Messi reunion – Man City Club World Cup latest

9Oct

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Guardiola contract boost, De Bruyne extension, Messi reunion – Man City Club World Cup latest

In normal circumstances, a chance for Manchester City to defend their title as world champions in a major showpiece tournament would be one they would relish. However, the expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup from seven teams to 32 has been beset by delays, controversies and criticism. Pep Guardiola has insisted City will travel to the USA with a full squad and with the intention to defend their crown - but he has been equally critical of the new format that will extend City's season into 12 months. Guardiola is out of contract midway through the tournament, while Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne are in the same position. FIFA recently introduced rules to account for such situations, handing City a potential triple contract boost - although Guardiola reacted angrily when he learned of ru...

Man City working to sign Serie A midfielder

6Oct

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TRANSFERS

Man City working to sign Serie A midfielder

Premier League champions Manchester City came from behind to beat Fulham 3-2 on Saturday afternoon. Andreas Pereira had given the Cottagers a surprise lead at The Etihad, before a Mateo Kovacic brace put the hosts in front. Jeremy Doku then added a third for the Citizens, before Rodrigo Muniz pulled another back for Marco Silva’s side. Fulham were unable to find an equaliser, though, and the victory puts City second in the table, behind leaders Liverpool. Kovacic is likely to be used regularly by manager Pep Guardiola with Rodri set to be sidelined for the remainder of the season, but in the meantime it appears City are attempting to sign a Serie A midfielder. As reported by Football Insider, City are laying the foundations to make a move for Atalanta’s Ederson. The Brazilian – who has bee...

Man City issue Rodri injury statement as Pep Guardiola faces ‘problem’

25Sep

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Man City issue Rodri injury statement as Pep Guardiola faces ‘problem’

Manchester City have revealed Rodri has suffered ligament damage to his right knee - although the full extent of the injury remains unclear. The midfielder has been in Spain this week consulting specialists after limping off during the first half of City's 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday. A statement on mancity.com read: "Manchester City can confirm that Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee. The injury was sustained during the first half of this weekend's 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League. "The midfielder travelled to Spain to seek specialist consultation this week, following initial tests in Manchester. Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis. Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery and mancity.com ...

Blow for Pep: “Unique” Man City star now in danger of missing Arsenal game after injury news

21Sep

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Blow for Pep: “Unique” Man City star now in danger of missing Arsenal game after injury news

As Manchester City gear up for a game that could prove to make all the difference in the Premier League title race, they could be forced to fight for three points without one of their most influential players. Man City injury news Ask any previous title winner and they'll say that injury luck certainly plays its part where the silverware ends up come the end of the campaign. It is a lesson centred around squad depth that so many sides have learned in the past and one Manchester City took on board the last time they missed out on Premier League glory in the 2019/20 season. Unlike that campaign four years ago, Manchester City have so far not skipped a beat in pursuit of a fifth Premier League title win in a row to extend an unprecedented record and further cement themselves among the very b...

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola talks admiration for Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller

4Sep

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola talks admiration for Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola recently took some time to talk about why he thinks Bayern Munich star Thomas Müller is so special. “No other player is like Thomas Müller! He’s one of the greatest players in the history of FC Bayern and of football. Not only because of his many titles but also because he’s fully focused when his team needs him,” Guardiola, who coached Müller in more games (148) than anyone else told FCBayern.com. “Football fans from all over the world know how important he is on the pitch. He’s a clever, unpredictable player who always knows where he has to go.” Guardiola reflected back on why he thinks Müller is so special.“My start in Munich wasn’t easy. Jupp Heynckes had done an incredible job, winning the treble. We travelled a lot and I tried to introd...