5th December, 2025
Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola applauds fans after the English Premier League football match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on April 19, 2025. City won the game 2-0.
Pep Guardiola joked Friday that he and Fulham manager Marco Silva deserved a bottle of wine for serving up a nine-goal thriller, but admitted Manchester City must tighten up defensively.
City, second in the Premier League, led 5-1 at Craven Cottage on Tuesday but were left hanging on as the home team pushed for an equaliser.
City manager Guardiola described the match, which finished 5-4, as “one of the games of the season”.
“If I were at home and watching that game, I wouldn’t change the channel,” he said on the eve of his team’s clash against Sunderland.
“I’m pretty sure the broadcasters are happy with us. They have a consideration for Marco and me, giving me a bottle of wine for all of us. No, I’m not joking. Broadcasters must be happy.”
City, dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool last season, have conceded 16 goals in the league so far this season — nine more than leaders Arsenal.
Guardiola admitted his team had to improve at the back but but said at least they were not conceding many clear-cut chances.
“Of course I don’t like to concede two goals (in a 3-2 win against Leeds) and four goals (against Fulham) — six goals in two games –, but at the same time we are the team scoring the most, and we have to build from that,” he said
