Pep Guardiola is widely regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time.
Not only has he won an unprecedented number of titles in Spain, Germany, and England, but the Spaniard has also revolutionised modern football with his distinct style of play that emphasises possession, quick passing and tactical fluidity. Guardiola’s influence has left an indelible mark on the sport, shaping how the game is played today.
However, it’s not just his coaching brilliance that has captivated the football world.
Like his former rival Jürgen Klopp and former coach José Mourinho, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss is also known for his wit and sharp remarks, making him a constant source of entertainment for fans.
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Some of his quotes are borne out of pure joy, while others stem from moments of frustration – but regardless of the emotion behind them, they always manage to leave a lasting impact.
Here are some of Pep Guardiola’s best quotes.
1 "It rains every day"
Guardiola’s Manchester City had faced a relatively tough start to the 2020/21 season, particularly struggling in front of goal.
However, after a 4-1 demolition of Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup in December 2020, Guardiola was understandably pleased.
Despite the emphatic win, however, he wasn’t ready to claim his side had fully found their form. Instead, he compared their performance to the unpredictable weather in Manchester.
“It’s like in Manchester. It rains every day. When one day the sun rises it doesn’t mean the weather is going to change,” he said. “It is just one game, but we will see what happens in the future.”
After Manchester City won the treble in the 2022/23 season, Guardiola once again referenced the city’s unpredictable weather during his speech at the club’s victory parade, over which the heavens had opened.
“We had to be the best parade with this rain, otherwise it is not Manchester,” he said. “We don’t want sunshine, we want rain, so it was perfect.”
2 "Like a jazz musician…"
Guardiola is renowned for creating teams that operate as a fluid unit, where every player contributes in defence and attack to form an unstoppable footballing force. Even the incomparable Lionel Messi, despite being given more freedom than most, was not exempt from Guardiola’s team-based philosophy.
In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, Guardiola humorously summed up his attitude towards individualism in his teams with a hilarious quip about jazz music.
“In some parts of the pitch, of course you have to be creative and take the chance,” he said. “But I don’t like it when people say: ‘I like freedom; I want to play for myself.’ Because the player has to understand he is part of a team, with 10 other players. If every player plays like a jazz musician, it will be chaos. They will not be a team.”
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Speaking of Messi, Guardiola has consistently showered the Argentinian with praise, calling him the greatest footballer of all time on multiple occasions.
However, perhaps the most memorable and amusing compliment came in 2022, when, in an interview with Telemundo Deportes, he compared Messi – who scored 211 goals in 219 games under Guardiola at Barcelona – to NBA legend Michael Jordan, and also took the opportunity to thank him for the significant impact he had on his career and his bank account.
“For me, Messi is everything in my career and he made me more competitive,” Guardiola said. “Without him, we would have won [trophies], but not as many. I compare Messi with Michael Jordan when Phil Jackson could feel what it was like to have the best player and he won six [NBA championship] rings. I also won because he made it easy.”
He added: “I still owe him a bottle of wine because thanks to him, I got better contracts.”
4 "All the alcohol in Manchester"
While Guardiola is undoubtedly a stickler for success, he also knows how to let his players enjoy the fruits of their labour.
In May 2023, City were confirmed as Premier League champions for a third consecutive year after Arsenal lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest. The next day, City beat Chelsea, lifting the Premier League trophy and collecting their medals in celebration.
However, before their upcoming trip to Brighton & Hove Albion just three days later, Guardiola’s squad made time for a proper knees-up. Photos emerged of the team enjoying a night out at a nightclub, soaking in the moment after their hard-earned title.
City played out a 1-1 draw on the south coast, and Guardiola praised his team’s performance, especially considering the celebrations they’d enjoyed since the weekend.
“The game we played, 40 hours after I think we drank all the alcohol in Manchester, 40 hours later we behave and we showed why we are the champions,” he told Sky Sports after the match.
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Since taking charge of Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola has transformed the club from a talented but inconsistent team to the most dominant force in European football.
So when the club was hit with 115 charges for alleged breaches of financial rules in February 2023 and rumours began circulating that City could face relegation as punishment, fans understandably feared Guardiola might be on his way out.
However, addressing the issue in November, Guardiola reassured supporters by stating that he remained fully committed to the club, regardless of the outcome of the charges.
“I will not consider my future [if] it depends [on] being here or being in League One,” he said. “There is more chance to stay if we are in League One than if we win the Champions League. What people accuse us of – we do not agree with what they say.”
“We are going to defend [ourselves] and after the resolution is done, I will be here, like a spokesman for my club,” he added.
6 "Everyone in this country supports Liverpool"
For much of his time as Manchester City boss, Guardiola’s main rivals have been Liverpool, with the Reds consistently going toe-to-toe with City for the Premier League title and other major honours.
In May 2022, the two teams were once again locked in a fierce battle for the title, with Jurgen Klopp’s side trailing Guardiola’s by just one point with only four games remaining.
After City thumped Newcastle United 5-0 to move within three wins of the title, Guardiola took a not-so-subtle dig at Liverpool, suggesting that the general public preferred to see them win the title over his team.
“Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone,” he told beIN Sports. “Of course, because Liverpool has an incredible history in European competition. Not in the Premier League, because they have won one in 30 years, but it is not a problem at all.”
7 "We cannot replace him"
One of Guardiola’s more emotional moments came in May 2021, when he couldn’t hold back the tears as he paid tribute to club legend Sergio Agüero after his penultimate game for Manchester City.
Agüero came off the bench to score twice as City, already Premier League champions, thrashed Everton 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium in what was a fairytale goodbye.
“We love him so much, he is a special person for all of us,” Guardiola said of Agüero, who won five Premier League titles during his time in Manchester.
When asked how the club planned to replace him, Guardiola, with tears running down his face, gave what has since become a memorable quote: “We cannot replace him. We cannot.”
8 "Happy New Year"
Sometimes, just sometimes, Guardiola lets his emotions get the better of him, lashing out at whoever’s in his path – whether that be a referee, a player, or even the substitutes’ bench, which he gave a good kicking during City’s draw with Arsenal in September 2024.
On occasion, he also loses his cool with reporters, just as he did with BBC Sport’s Damian Johnson back in 2017 following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Burnley, where Fernandinho was sent off after 32 minutes for a two-footed challenge on Johann Berg Gudmundsson.
Despite his side winning, Guardiola was visibly frustrated and found himself involved in a tense exchange, giving a series of short, abrupt answers.
Asked about his view on Fernandinho’s red card, he replied: “You are the journalist. Not me.”
Johnson replied: “You’re the manager. I’m sure the fans would like to know,” to which Guardiola shot back: “Ask the referee, not me.”
After insinuating that the interpretation of the rules was different in Spain and Germany than in England, Johnson commented, “You don’t seem that happy that you’ve won.”
Guardiola’s response has since become an internet meme: “More than you would believe. More than you would believe, I am happy.
“I’m so happy, believe me. I’m so happy. Happy New Year.”