REFILE: Liverpool perfect opponents for 1,000th game, says Guardiola

VIDEO SHOWS: MANCHESTER CITY PRESS CONFERENCE REFILING WITH NEW VERSION OF VIDEO CORRECTING AUDIO SYNC ISSUE RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 7, 2025) (NICHE MEDIA – Access all) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER, PEP GUARDIOLA ON HIS 1,000TH GAME AS A FOOTBALL MANAGER, SAYING:    "Listen If I had to choose one rival to this milestone, I want to share it with many people obviously . That would be the best. I have been longer than ever in this country, of course Barcelona the impact on my life, as a ball boy, a football player and a manager and also honours obviously.  Of course Bayern (Munich) was an incredible step as a club.  But Liverpool, especially under Jurgen, has been my biggest rival in this country. It could not be better, to be honest. The best in the universe decide this. It’s nice to live in and I know how quickly, things go here. One week ago, Liverpool had six defeats, disaster, and now they have won two, they are the best. I am pretty sure that all the managers have a little bit more perspective in this situation and know they have ups and downs in the competition. I have a high opinion of Liverpool right now, last season and when they were losing six games in seven games." 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER, PEP GUARDIOLA ON HIS NUMBER OF WINS, SAYING:     "“The numbers are insane, I'm sorry to tell you I'm arrogant, presumptuous but I am saying I am not living thinking how many (wins), but when you have the milestone and you read what you have done… the victories, average, not just in the Premier League and Champions League and another one, we have done incredible things in Barcelona, Bayern Munich, here, incredible.  So, difficult to reach it. And if I start again, I will not reach it so it's too much games, a few defeats comparing 1,000 games and hopefully on Sunday we can continue if I start again, I will not reach it.” 4. WHITE FLASH 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER, PEP GUARDIOLA ON RIVALRY WITH LIVERPOOL, SAYING: "Maybe we help Man City to create this rivalry for the last decade. Before it was United (versus) Liverpool, I guess. Arsenal and Chelsea as well, derbies of London. Here our rivals were United.  But what happened with Jurgen (Klopp) period and our period is the biggest because maybe apart from my first season we always split the Premier Leagues between them and ourselves. Always I said I enjoyed this healthy rivalry that we had at both clubs.  Always I had the feeling how much we respected each other. I don't know (about) the clubs but in terms of Jurgen’s side and Pep's side, I think we respected a lot each other. Jurgen gave me a lot and I miss him, he gave me a lot in sense in how to beat that guy how hard I had to think and work and to do it better and that belongs to Liverpool and ourself." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER, PEP GUARDIOLA ON RODRI , SAYING:    "We will see tomorrow but I think we will take the risk. Now is the international break afterwards on we have to make him fine, the moment that he feels strong, feel fit and can sustain the actions in the game, it's so demanding, can sustain it proper, so to make that step. We are still only in November, the best part of the season is ahead us and we need him.  Still we are playing without the Ballon D'Or (winner) two seasons ago a massively important player for us.  We are desperate to have him back but knowing that Nico (Gonzalez) right now is becoming a really important and a really good player." STORY: Pep Guardiola takes charge of his 1,000th game as a manager when his Manchester City team face Liverpool on Sunday and he says he could not wish for a better fixture to mark the milestone. "Liverpool have been the biggest rival in this country and it could not be better, to be honest," Guardiola told reporters on Friday (November 7).  Former Spain midfielder Guardiola is regarded as one of the best coaches of all time, winning a combined 12 domestic league titles with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City as well as three Champions Leagues and numerous other cups. "The numbers are insane," Guardiola, who has won 715 games out of his first 999, said. "It's difficult to reach it, and if I started again I would not reach it. While his overall win rate is more than 70%, Liverpool have been a tough nut for Guardiola to crack since he arrived at City in 2016, first under Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot. He has only won seven of his 24 meetings against Liverpool, losing 10, including home and away last season as Slot's side dethroned City as Premier League champions. While many of those clashes have been pivotal in title chases, Sunday's game could determine which of the two clubs are more likely to try to chase down Arsenal who could have a nine-point lead over City by the time of kick-off at the Etihad stadium. Despite the importance of Sunday's game, Guardiola said midfielder Rodri, who has just returned from injury, is unlikely to be risked. (Production: Oliver Regan)

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