Pep Guardiola took a swipe at Ruben Amorim and Manchester United following Manchester City’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP in the Champions League.
The loss in Lisbon marked City’s third consecutive defeat, with earlier setbacks against Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth raising concerns about their form. Guardiola’s side struggled to break down Amorim’s tactics, and key players like Erling Haaland and Matheus Nunes were criticized, with Haaland missing a penalty that could have given City a lifeline.
Frustrated by the performance, Guardiola aimed a pointed remark at United, who are set to be managed by Amorim in the near future.
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“We will face them twice in the Premier League and maybe the FA Cup,” Guardiola said. “In the Champions League, it is not possible.”
United, who finished last season with their worst-ever Premier League position, failed to qualify for the Champions League but earned a spot in the Europa League by defeating City in the FA Cup final.
Following the defeat, City midfielder Bernardo Silva voiced concerns about the team being in a “dark place” after their recent run of poor results. Guardiola, however, dismissed those comments, insisting the team’s performance in Lisbon was not as bad as it might have seemed.
“I don’t agree with him,” Guardiola said of Silva’s remarks. “We’re not in a dark place. We played really badly against Bournemouth but really well here. The only regret is conceding the third and fourth goals – the penalties were unnecessary.”
Guardiola emphasized his belief that this challenging period was part of the journey, and he remained upbeat about the future.
“We knew it would be a tough season from the start, and this is what it is. I love it, I want to face it, and I will lift my players. Life is like this. We continue,” Guardiola said. “What should we do? Go back to Manchester, prepare for the game at Brighton. I won’t give up, that’s for sure.”