Pep Guardiola

The Spaniard has found it difficult in FA Cup semi-finals and must now negotiate Sheffield United between Champions League quarter-final legs against Bayern ...

A manager accused of overthinking may have hampered his cause: selecting a second-choice goalkeeper at Wembley, particularly Zack Steffen, has tended to backfire. Talk of his six semi-final defeats are likelier to reference Barcelona’s exits to Inter Milan and Chelsea, Bayern Munich’s hat-trick of disappointments against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico and City’s loss to Real Madrid last season. They had the air of drama on an epic scale. But whereas Guardiola has won 73 percent of his other games in charge of City, his success rate in FA Cup semi-finals only stands at 20 percent. It’s not about reaching the final, I just always had the feeling that we didn’t compete, we were not there, we were not hungry enough.” Guardiola’s other semi-finals came in different circumstances: a 2017 loss to Arsenal more than a month after they were knocked out of Europe, a 2020 defeat to Mikel Arteta’s Gunners when, after football’s three-month shutdown, Champions League games were postponed until August. “The last years it always came before or after the Champions League quarter-final and we travelled,” Guardiola said. It may be the no-win situation for the manager who doesn’t win FA Cup semi-finals. “To play the semi-finals, you have to be ready,” Guardiola reflected. Last year’s loss to Liverpool came three days after a 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid in Spain. [Pep Guardiola](/topic/pep-guardiola)’s record is to survey his medal collection, there is an alternative approach: look at what he could have won. But Guardiola meant part of it seriously.

City face Bayern Munich twice in the Champions League quarter-finals, the first leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 11 April and the return game at the ...

I said to the players – come back fit. “You work here every day with our incredible staff and backroom staff. “I pray that no-one comes back with an injury. What you need to be fit, you need to do it in the national team and hopefully the managers take care of the players as much as possible. It’s a lot of times. “As you go through the competitions, the closer to the end of the season you are getting.

City are competing on three fronts with the team currently in contention for the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League making it a very important ...

At the same time, April could be a defining moment for us as well and could potentially give a fair idea of how the season will end. However, it could actually work to our advantage in our bid for a top-four finish come the end of May. Either way, it is time we give it our all for the remaining games this season. However, any lapse of concentration and bad results could derail our season further. I said to the players – come back fit. You work here every day with our incredible staff and backroom staff.

Media Digest: Liverpool and FSG have been handed a big further challenge by UEFA, while Pep Guardiola has sent a message ahead of next month's league clash.

It was also placed into a 'settlement agreement', which can see far greater sanctions for further non-compliance. “You work here every day with our incredible staff and backroom staff. [Guardiola](https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/liverpool-manchester-united-guardiola-ancelotti-26399095). You know exactly what you need," said Credible, incredible and anything in between: we round it all up in one place here, taking a sideways look at the day’s media goings-on from around the world. "It is what it is.

Pep Guardiola admits his Manchester City team will need to handle the schedule better to avoid another FA Cup semi-final stumble.

The final of FA Cup is a dream to play and this season we are going to try.” “Hopefully this time we can behave as who we are. To play the semi-finals, you have to be ready.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is 'praying' his players return fit and well from international duty as they prepare for Liverpool battle.

I said to the players – come back fit. “You work here every day with our incredible staff and backroom staff. The Reds were due to play Fulham in the league, but the London outfit had FA Cup commitments of their own. I pray that no-one comes back with an injury. For me, it’s perfect as I will go to Barcelona and Abu Dhabi so it’s perfect. READ MORE:

Liverpool have field a remarkable 23 different forward lines in 40 games so far this season as they look for their most potent combinations.

There will most likely be further variations over the final 12 Premier League games with Diaz poised to make his long-awaited comeback and Jota getting up to speed. The three most successful forward lines have scored 26 goals in 14 games together this season. Predominantly, though, the Reds have stuck to the usual three-man attack favoured by Klopp with a regular rotation of personnel. Some have seen a change of formation, such as the four-pronged forward line at Real Madrid last Wednesday or the employment of two up front. But the inconsistency in Liverpool's forward line can be partly explained by the remarkable lack of continuity this season. The other 20 have managed just 21 goals in 26, indicating Klopp knows his most potent combinations. There have been moments when the attack has clicked, most notably with the record-breaking romps against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Rangers. In the meantime, while they will most likely not possess the longevity of Liverpool's most famed forward trio, the front line of Gakpo, Nunez and Salah appears the most capable of giving the Reds a fighting chance of closing the gap to the top four. Nunez, Firmino and Salah have seven goals in three games having linked well in the build-up to the World Cup, while the temporary attack of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nunez and Salah notched two goals in three games over the Christmas and New Year period. And, for their opponents, it was often a frightening experience. Of course, the travails elsewhere in the team - particularly the midfield - have contributed to issues further upfield. But that Liverpool have failed to score in seven away games this season underlines why they are out of all the cup competitions and struggling to finish in the top four.