PEP GUARDIOLA GIVES PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE IN ADVANCE OF NEWCASTLE VS MAN CITY MATCH

Watch the Pre-match press conference with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola ahead of Newcastle v Manchester City at St James’ Park in the Premier League on Saturday 22 November 2025.

Pep Guardiola called Newcastle a “top, top team” and said St James’ Park has been “one of the toughest places in the last years”, describing the atmosphere as like a Champions League night as City return to league action after the international break. Newcastle go into the game looking to respond after a 3–1 defeat to Brentford and will be without suspended defender Dan Burn.

He was asked about momentum after City’s 3–0 win over Liverpool in his 1,000th game in management, which cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to four points, but stressed that “in November nothing is defined” and said the “real, real, real season” starts now with games every three days.

Guardiola confirmed that everyone in his squad is available except Mateo Kovacic and Rodri, who is making good progress but will only return when fully ready. He praised Gianluigi Donnarumma’s experience after starting for AC Milan as a teenager, highlighted James Trafford’s development during his loan at Burnley, and said City’s high running numbers show the squad’s focus and extra effort without the ball. He hailed Bernardo Silva as “absolutely one of the best players I have ever trained”, welcomed Nico O’Reilly’s rise from the academy to the England squad, and admitted he has been “a big fan” of Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes since his Lyon days.

On Erling Haaland, Guardiola noted that the striker is breaking “a lot of records” for City and Norway as he closes in on 100 Premier League goals and prepares for his first World Cup after leading Norway to qualification with a historic 4–1 win away to Italy. He also brushed off Wayne Rooney’s headline-grabbing decision to leave Haaland and all City players out of his top three Premier League performers this season, insisting that opinions are subjective and “it doesn’t matter at all.”