Pep Guardiola: 'Defeating Liverpool is the greatest gift my players could give me'

Coach Pep Guardiola was deeply touched following the 3-0 win against Liverpool, describing it as “the best present” from his squad on the day he celebrated his 1,000th game as a coach.

In the early hours of November 10 (Vietnam time), Pep Guardiola shared heartfelt words after Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-0 at Etihad Stadium during the 11th round. of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

This victory not only helped his team close the gap with Arsenal to just 4 points but also marked a special milestone: the 1,000th match in the Spanish manager’s coaching career.

After the match, Pep Guardiola revealed he would celebrate this victory in the simplest way possible—by being with his family: “I will go home with my children, who came to support us today. I want to take a few days off to be with my family; that is the perfect way to commemorate this win.”

The 54-year-old coach also praised his players’ performance, calling it the most meaningful “gift” on his special day: “The players gave me a wonderful present with their performance against the champions. We played at the highest level. The whole team pressed, controlled possession, and defended excellently. We knew the strengths of Salah, Szoboszlai, and Wirtz, but our defense and Donnarumma were extremely solid. The two full-backs were fantastic, midfield controlled well, and Doku and Haaland were outstanding.”

Pep Guardiola emphasized that this win not only reinforces City’s status but also provides a huge morale boost before the international break. Meanwhile, central defender Ruben Dias expressed his happiness: “I’m very happy for Pep. This is a meaningful victory on a special day. We live for big matches like this, where quality is most clearly shown.”

This was clearly a perfect win in every aspect, both confirming Manchester City’s strength and serving as a complete gift for Pep Guardiola’s memorable milestone.

The 3-0 triumph over Liverpool has propelled Manchester City back strongly into the 2025/26 Premier League title race. After 11 rounds, Pep Guardiola’s squad has 22 points, climbing to second place on the table and trailing Arsenal by only 4 points. With impressive form and standout performances from Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and young stars like Nico and O’Reilly, Man City appears ready to reclaim the crown, especially with a favorable upcoming schedule compared to their rivals.

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