“I’m only scared of only that guy and not Bruno Fernandes”: Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has revealed the only Manchester United’s player who he’s always scared for his team to face
Pep Guardiola has overseen games against five different Manchester United managers in nine years.
Guardiola has come up against Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim in Manchester derbies, and he has won 13 games in that period.
Those five United coaches have won eight games against Manchester City between them, although Ten Hag would probably argue his victory in the FA Cup final last season was the best.
Solskjaer is responsible for four of the eight derby wins, though. The Norwegian knew how to get the better of Guardiola during his managerial stint at Old Trafford and he oversaw memorable home and away victories against City in the Premier League in the 2019/2020 season.
Amorim now has the challenge of facing Guardiola and he made the perfect start in December, becoming the first United manager to win a first meeting against Guardiola in the derby.
The 40-year-old has Amad to thank for that record. The winger intelligently won a penalty in the 88th minute at the Etihad and scored two minutes later to seal a sensational comeback win.
“We gave away goals, our fault. We don’t play with composure. The results are not good, the game was not exceptional. I know the situation, I understand but the reality is this.
“The result will help us to take our best but right now we don’t have it. The way I learn is to keep going. I’m not good enough. I am the boss, the manager, I have to find solutions and so far I haven’t. That’s the reality. We want to play better, create chances. But at the moment, it’s not possible.”
When Guardiola gives compliments to colleagues, it usually suggests that the opposite number isn’t actually doing a good job. The City boss can be sarcastic when speaking to journalists in press conferences and he said Amorim was “much better” than him when he was appointed in November.
Guardiola’s comments were respectful, it’s important to note, and Amorim has actually won twice, drawn once and lost once in the four times that he’s managed against the 54-year-old.
Sporting Lisbon were hammered 5-0 against City in February 2022 but Sporting drew 0-0 in the reverse fixture at the Etihad. Amorim subsequently masterminded a 4-1 victory over City in November just gone, and that was his penultimate game in charge before his United arrival.
“We knew it would be a tough season at the start,” said Guardiola after that heavy defeat to Sporting. “I like it. I love it. I want to face it and lift my players. I won’t give up, that’s for sure.”
“I have to try to find an explanation but sometimes it’s just football so you have to accept it. Sport is that. Life is that. Sometimes we have bad moments but we face the reality. Everyone has to try to be better and we will find it. We are still alive in all competitions and we continue.”
Amorim got the better of Guardiola again a month later and he will be hopeful of doing the double in the Premier League when City make the short trip over to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
Guardiola arguably has something to prove against Amorim. He is one of the greatest coaches the game has ever seen and it’s not often he has more losses than wins against a colleague.
