VIDEO SHOWS: MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER PEP GUARDIOLA SPEAKING AHEAD OF PREMIER LEAGUE GAME AGAINST LIVERPOOL AT THE WEEKEND SHOWS: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (FEBRUARY 6, 2026) (NICHE MEDIA – Access all) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER PEP GUARDIOLA SPEAKING ON HIS SIDE'S TRIP TO ANFIELD, SAYING: "Always the toughest opponent in a difficult place in the stadium, and especially the quality of the players, the managers, been tough." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUARDIOLA SPEAKING ON LIVERPOOL'S QUALITY, SAYING: "Remain an exceptional team, top-class manager, exceptional team, no doubt. The moments are the moments, the seasons are the seasons, so I think he rebuilt the squad, and he's not rebuilt the squad for one season, for many, many years, so it always remains a good team. 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUARDIOLA SPEAKING ON LIVERPOOL'S QUALITY, SAYING: "In all the big stages and big games, always need big personalities. Always, I said many times, it's not about the skills, all the players in the first division, the Premier League, and the big leagues in the top clubs, the skills are there. I never know one player that is not good enough to play in the big clubs – it's how you behave, I'm not saying play good, but how you are – how you are as a player. I do it here in big, big stadiums at home. In latter stages in every competition, European competitions, that defines the good players, the mind you have, define the good teams." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUARDIOLA SPEAKING ON LIVERPOOL MANAGER ARNE SLOT'S COMMENTS IN AN INTERNAL INTERVIEW, SAYING: "If you want to be a manager, it's better to win trophies. Otherwise, you don't have a chance to play nice football! I think everything is related, because as much you win, you play good, you know, and everyone has… The most important thing is to always defend what you believe, your style, convince your players to try to do it in the way you believe is the best for the players to have and the players, in your soul, you believe. I think this is the most important thing." 8. WHITE FLASH 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUARDIOLA SPEAKING ON STRIKER ERLING HAALAND'S OMISSION IN THE WEEK, SAYING: "Erling is the best striker in the world" (Journalist asks "So he plays?") "I don't know, We'll see tomorrow, All I said was, Erling is the best." 10. WHITE FLASH 11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUARDIOLA SPEAKING ON RUMOURS HE COULD BE DEPARTING AT THE END OF THE SEASON, SAYING: "No, because I have one more year in the contract." (Journalist asks "So you'll see that year out then?") "The question of that, is it one month or two months ago that you were not here? I tell you again, so it's the same answer I answered two months ago." 12. WHITE FLASH 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUARDIOLA SPEAKING ON WHEN THE CLUB MIGHT HEAR THE OUTCOME OF FINANCIAL INVESTIGATIONS, SAYING: "It's not in my hands, I'm waiting for the resolution." 14. WHITE FLASH 15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUARDIOLA SPEAKING ON HIS PREVIOUS COMMENTS ON GLOBAL CONFLICTS, SAYING: "Why should I not express what I feel, just because I'm a manager? I'm not agreeing, but I respect absolutely all opinions. So what I said basically is how many conflicts there are right now all around the globe, around the world. How many? A lot right? I condemn all of them. Innocent people is killed, I condemn all of them. 16. WHITE FLASH 17. 15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUARDIOLA CONTINUES SPEAKING ON HIS PREVIOUS COMMENTS ON GLOBAL CONFLICTS, SAYING: "The world remain silent. That is what the world wants, right? Be silent, don't say anything. I think it's completely the opposite, but anyway, that's what it is." STORY: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola told a press conference on Friday (February 6) that mental strength separates elite players from the rest, as his team prepares for a Premier League game against Liverpool, in what he described as one of the toughest away fixtures in football. Ahead of Sunday's trip to Anfield, City are six points behind title leaders Arsenal after failing to capitalise when the league leaders also dropped points in recent weeks. City have only one win in their last six league games and Guardiola emphasized that raw talent alone does not cut it at the highest level, especially in the big games. "I have tried to see how they have played lately. What we have to do, if we have to adjust something. But it is Anfield. The biggest stages and the biggest games always need big personalities," Guardiola told reporters on Friday. "I have said many times, it's not about the skills of the players in the top leagues. In the top clubs the skills are there. I never know one player that is not good enough to play in the top clubs, it is how you behave. "How you play in the latter stages of the biggest competitions is what defines you as a player. The mind of the players you have defines the big teams." When asked if Anfield represents the ultimate test for visiting teams, the Spanish coach was unequivocal despite Liverpool's struggles this season. The reigning champions are sixth in the standings, eight points behind City with just one win in their last six games. "Yep, always a tough opponent and a difficult place and stadium, especially with the quality of the players and the managers. Yes, it's been tough," Guardiola said. "They remain an exceptional team. Top-class manager and an exceptional team, no doubt. The moments are the moments, the seasons are the seasons so always remains a good team." Guardiola refused to confirm if Erling Haaland would return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench in Wednesday's League Cup semi-final win over Newcastle United, while Bernardo Silva is also a doubt. Haaland leads the league with 20 goals but the striker has not found the net in his last three league games. "I don't know, we will see tomorrow. All I will say is I think he is the best. Erling is the best striker in the world," Guardiola said. Guardiola defended his comments from earlier this week about speaking up for victims of global conflicts and violence. "What I said basically is how many conflicts there are right now around the globe or around the world. How many? A lot, right? I condemn all of them," he said. "When innocent people are killed, I condemn all of them." (Production: Joseph Andrews)
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