Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will be watching from a different viewpoint for today's FA Cup game against Liverpool
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: Pep Guardiola, head coach of Manchester City reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Manchester City FC and Real Madrid CF at City of Manchester Stadium on March 17, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola during Manchester City's last home game(Image: Molly Darlington/Copa, Getty Images)
View Image
Pep Guardiola will serve the final match of his latest ban from the dugout during Manchester City's FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool. The Catalan will not be allowed in the technical area for the clash against Arne Slot's side after picking up his sixth yellow card of the season in the fifth-round win over Newcastle.
Guardiola has already sat out one FA Cup game this season, watching from the stands in the third round after picking up three yellow cards in eligible games. After another three, the City boss was handed a further-two game suspension.
Despite being nearly a month since triggering the touchline ban, it only applies to Premier League and FA Cup matches. Therefore, while Guardiola was in the directors box at West Ham to watch the 1-1 draw in the league, he was able to be in the dugout for both legs of the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid and the triumph in the Carabao Cup final over Arsenal at Wembley.
Saturday will see Guardiola serve the final match of his two-game ban, with No.2 Pep Lijnders stepping up again to take charge for the match. Lijnders was proud to return to Anfield with City this season, having won major honours with Liverpool as part of Jurgen Klopp's coaching team, and will now be front and centre as the Blues look to book another trip to Wembley.
Guardiola will be able to return to the dugout for every remaining game of the season - starting with their Premier League tests away to Chelsea and then at home to Arsenal. However, he will have to watch his conduct to ensure he doesn't end up with another ban with another three yellow cards this season carrying a three-match ban.
A City victory on Saturday would mean that Guardiola has made at least the semi-finals of the FA Cup for nine of his ten years in English football, including all of the last eight seasons. They have made the last three consecutive finals but have only gone onto win the competition twice overall during the manager's time at the club.
Content cannot be displayed without consent