Pep Guardiola 'feels weaker' when Man City face three different Premier League managers

Sun Sep 15 20:44:58 IST 2024

Manchester City's Pep Guardiola has revealed that he feels 'weaker' when facing three Premier League managers: Mikel Arteta, Enzo Maresca and Julen Lopetegui.

Speaking on channel, the City boss was asked some of the questions that supporters would want to ask top-flight coaches.

The 53-year-old admitted that he only ever speaks to opposition managers after a game if he previously had a good relationship with them.

The reporter asked: "Do you ever catch up with opposition managers after a game?", and he replied: "Sometimes, with my friends of mine, yeah."

When pressed for examples, Guardiola named Arsenal's Arteta, West Ham's Lopetegui and Chelsea's new manager Maresca - adding that he doesn't enjoy coaching against them. The City boss also mentioned his connection with Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi.

Guardiola said: "With Mikel [Arteta], with Julen Lopetegui for example, people who are friends of mine, Enzo Maresca, with Roberto De Zerbi. With managers that do have a relation - we worked together, a connection because life gives us a connection, yeah, I love."

"And I like to do it winning or losing, I'm not that - the other ones I prefer when you win and the other loses. When you lose and I don't know them, I don't want to be disturbed, I don't want to talk to anyone, I want to process the defeat of myself."

When asked why he doesn't like coming up against these managers, the esteemed manager said: "Yeah, because I feel weaker."

Both Maresca and Arteta have previously worked under Guardiola at City, while Lopetegui is a former Barcelona teammate of the Spanish manager.

All three share a strong bond with the Premier League coach - perhaps explaining why he prefers to face off against managers with whom he has no prior connections.