Pep Guardiola

MANCHESTER — Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola blames the congested fixture schedule for the injuries that have ravaged his struggling team this season, saying he needs a squad of 45 or 50 players to weather the storm.

Saying City are in survival mode, Guardiola added he could have just three defenders available when they host Manchester United in Sunday's derby at Etihad Stadium, another blow to their dwindling hopes of retaining their Premier League title.

They are fourth in the table and have just one victory to show for their last 10 games across all competitions.

Taunted by the Kop with chants of "getting sacked in the morning", Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola afforded himself a wry smile and held up six fingers to remind the ecstatic Liverpool fans of how many Premier League titles he has won.

It was an unforgettable moment on a Sunday evening on Merseyside which could spell the end of Manchester City's domination of the English top flight.

MANCHESTER — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he did not intend to make light of the "very serious issue of self harm" with a joke he made after Tuesday's 3-3 draw with Feyenoord at Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola was asked in the post-match press conference how he got a cut on his nose, and he replied: "With my finger, my nail. I want to harm myself." The 53-year-old took to social media on Wednesday to explain his answer.

Pep Guardiola harm myself comment

MANCHESTER — Manchester City squandered a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Dutch side Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday in another calamitous performance from Pep Guardiola's stuttering side.

Erling Haaland bagged a brace for the hosts, who looked poised for a comfortable victory to erase their woeful five-game losing streak across all competitions. But huge defensive blunders in the dying minutes saw them lose their advantage and fall to 15th in the Champions League table on eight points.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has signed a new contract to extend his stay at the Premier League champions until 2026, British media reports said on Tuesday.

Guardiola's current deal, signed in 2022, was due to expire at the end of this season. The new contract reportedly includes an option for a further year, according to The Athletic.

Pep Guardiola contract extension 

Pep Guardiola has agreed to stay at Manchester City for one more season!

The Premier League will not postpone reigning champions Manchester City's opening games of the 2025-26 season to give players recovery time after the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S., manager Pep Guardiola said.

Elite clubs are increasingly concerned at the impact of an expanding global football calendar on wellbeing of players, some of whom say they are struggling with the physical strain despite the enormous salaries they can earn.

MANCHESTER — Manchester City midfielder Rodri will miss the rest of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, manager Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday in a big blow to his team's quest for a fifth consecutive Premier League title.

Rodri underwent surgery for the injury earlier on Friday, Guardiola said.

Pep Guardiola Rodri update

"This season is over." ❌

Former Everton and United States men’s national team goalkeeper Tim Howard says that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and his tactics have had a negative impact on the sport. The Tim Howard Pep Guardiola comment has garnered plenty of attention.

Howard shared his opinion during an appearance on the new podcast “It’s Called Soccer” with Rebecca Lowe, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville.

LONDON — Champions Manchester City beat FA Cup winners Manchester United 7-6 on penalties to win the Community Shield at Wembley on Saturday after the traditional season curtain-raiser finished level at 1-1.

United created a host of chances to take the lead and were rewarded when 20-year-old substitute Alejandro Garnacho ran through the City defence to slide the ball into the bottom corner of the net in the 82nd minute.

Manchester United did the unthinkable and stunned their biggest rival Manchester City 2-1 in the FA Cup final on Saturday to end a tumultuous season on a high note.

Guardiola had won four Premier League titles in-a-row and was looking for a second straight FA Cup, however a feisty, scrappy and determined Red Devils side pulled off the biggest shock in the final in over a decade.