Gary Neville's Salford City is set to face off against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup.
And Neville cheekily posted on X after the draw: "He's (Guardiola) getting sacked in the morning" - a reference Liverpool fans will appreciate. The League Two team, co-owned by Neville, has reached the third round for the first time and will be pitted against the Premier League champion. Salford secured its spot in the draw after defeating Cheltenham.
But City is currently struggling, with Guardiola overseeing a seven-match winless streak, including six losses. City's latest defeat was a 2-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. As Guardiola's players continue to struggle, the crowd chanted "you're getting sacked in the morning" toward the boss, which seems to have inspired Neville's post on X.
Salford, currently 15th in the fourth tier, is hoping for a major upset in the FA Cup. Guardiola has largely managed to avoid major upsets in cup competitions since his arrival in England eight years ago. His worst defeat so far was a loss to then-League One side Wigan Athletic in his second season. With City's current form, it may need to rely on cup competitions for any chance of silverware this season.
Neville has been highly critical of City recently, stating after its loss to Tottenham: They look well short. As short as I've seen them since Pep's first season. I've not seen them as bad as this, how they've been in the last few weeks."
He also said: "It seems madness, when you think about what they've achieved. They're easy to play against and teams are encouraged when playing them. The vulnerabilities are clear for everyone to see."
As City’s form falters, Guardiola will be eager to turn things around by the time they meet Salford in January. First, he must tackle the intense Christmas schedule, hoping his squad can rediscover its title-winning rhythm amid current shortcomings. Not only does Nottingham Forest lie ahead, but encounters with Crystal Palace, Manchester United, and Aston Villa loom, where City will aim to chase down Liverpool.
"Maybe I deserve to be sacked, honestly," Guardiola said after the Liverpool game. "Maybe I'm still in the job because we won six Premier Leagues. A lot of titles. Otherwise the hierarchy maybe would be thinking that this does not work."