Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, celebrates after the team's victory in the Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, celebrates after the team's victory in the Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on February 21, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Newcastle United play Manchester City again in the FA Cup in two weeks’ time.
Man City edged past Newcastle 2-1 on Saturday night to move two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
The Citizens lost the reverse Premier League fixture 2-0 at St James’ Park but have now won their last three against the Magpies, having won both Carabao Cup semi-finals legs.
Pep Guardiola on Man City’s ‘nightmare’ FA Cup tie v Newcastle United
The two sides meet for a fifth time this campaign in the FA Cup in a fortnight’s time, and Guardiola isn’t exactly pleased about it.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Guardiola said: “I don't know the guy who made a draw against Newcastle but come back again to Newcastle in three weeks, what a nightmare. Honestly, the guy could be nicer to us.”
When Guardiola was told Newcastle felt the same, the Spaniard said: “Yeah, but we have to travel. If they want to come, we'll invite them to play here if they want.
“No, listen, we lost the first game and we won three in a row. It's an unbelievable team. I saw the game in Champions League, 5-0 a half times. The pace they have up front with Anthony Gordon , with the long balls of Woltemade, Joelinton when it happened, the pace in the middle, the physicality, the quality,
“It's an incredibly complete team. It's so, so tough. They put that ball to set pieces and every department is really, really. Today they're man-marking, aggressive, they win duels, but we were there.
“So we learned today, we talked about a lot this last period, so we learned today that is the rhythm, the level of the football, modern football today. That's why the Premier League, all the teams are in Champions League. The rhythm they play and they behave is massive. And yeah, that really pays for the victory today.”
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