‘Come on’: Pep Guardiola looks unimpressed after reporter asks him about Man City’s ‘siege mentality’ as he gives a priceless reaction to the suggestion that the rest of the Premier League are ‘against’ his team
Pep Guardiola has suggested that Manchester City’s success during his reign at the club was fueled by the rest of the Premier League hating his team.
Guardiola became City manager in July 2016. He finished third in his first season, but City have since won six championships in the last seven seasons.
City’s success on the pitch has been made possible by some heavy spending on the pitch and the club is currently in court to defend itself against 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
At the same time, City have been battling Arsenal for the Premier League title for the past two and a half seasons.
City came out on top in 2022/23 and again in 2023/24. Guardiola’s men faced the Gunners for the first time this season last weekend in what turned out to be an explosive 2-2 draw. Star midfielder Rodri suffered a season-ending ACL injury during that match.
Pep Guardiola was pictured speaking to TNT Sports ahead of Man City’s away match against Newcastle
The subject of Rodri’s injury was discussed, with the City midfielder set to miss the remainder of the season
Guardiola pictured during Saturday afternoon’s league match at St James’ Park in Newcastle
Ahead of this weekend’s away match in Newcastle, Guardiola spoke to TNT Sports reporter Becky Ives.
The City boss was first asked whether he believed, with Rodri out injured for the rest of the season, that Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic would become his first choice in defensive midfield.
His answer was short. He said, ‘I don’t know. Today yes. But tomorrow I don’t know. It depends on what’s going on.’
Asked whether his team could hold their own in Rodri’s absence, Guardiola replied: ‘They have to. That’s why when you use the word “team” it means that. We have to do it as a team.’
Ives asked a third question about Rodri, after which Guardiola admitted that he and the City players were ‘sad’ about the Spanish midfielder’s injury.
But it was Ives’ final question of the interview that elicited the most interesting response from Guardiola.
Man City manager Guardiola was interviewed by TNT Sports reporter Becky Ives
Guardiola appeared unimpressed by any of the questions asked during the pre-match chat
Ives pointed out that the word “war” had been used in the media in recent days to describe City’s rivalry with Arsenal. She then asked Guardiola if there was a ‘siege mentality’ in his dressing room at the moment and whether it felt like ‘Man City against the Premier League, the rest of the teams’?
Guardiola reacted with his face before saying a word. He seemed somewhat unimpressed and his eyebrows said it all before he finally replied quietly with the message, “We did it for seven years.”
Ives continued, “So this is nothing new to you?”
Guardiola continued with a grin before shaking his head: “Come on. Otherwise we would not have what we have achieved. Absolutely not.’