Pep Guardiola names three Premier League managers he feels 'weaker' managing Man City against

Mikel Arteta and Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City  looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at Etihad Stadium on May 9, 2018 in Manchester, England.
-Credit: (Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)


Pep Guardiola has named Mikel Arteta, Enzo Maresca and Julen Lopetegui as the three Premier League managers he feels 'weaker' against.

The Manchester City manager sat down with the Sky Sports to answer quick-fire questions about the life of a top-flight coach. Guardiola was asked if he caught up with other managers after the game - and noted that he only does with his friends.

The reporter asked: "Do you ever catch up with opposition managers after a game?", and he replied: "Sometimes, with my friends of mine, yeah."

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Guardiola was then asked to give some examples, and he named Arsenal manager Arteta, West Ham coach Lopetegui and new Chelsea boss Maresca - and also noted he doesn't like to coach against them.

The 53-year-old, who also referenced Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi, said: "With Mikel [Arteta], with Julen Lopetegui for example, people who are friends of mine, Enzo Maresca, with Roberto De Zerbi. With managers that do have a relation - we worked together, a connection because life gives us a connection, yeah, I love.

Manchester City's Spanish assistant manager Carlos Vicens, Manchester City's Italian assistant manager Enzo Maresca, Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola and Manchester City's Spanish assistant manager Rodolfo Borrell attend a training session on September 13, 2022 at the Manchester City training ground in Manchester on the eve of the UEFA Champions League group G football match between England's Manchester City and Germany's Borussia Dortmund.
Maresca also worked under Guardiola at City -Credit:LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images

"And I like to do it winning or losing, I'm not that - the other ones I prefer when you win and the other loses. When you lose and I don't know them, I don't want to be disturbed, I don't want to talk to anyone, I want to process the defeat of myself."

When asked why he doesn't like coming up against these managers, Guardiola said: "Yeah, because I feel weaker."

Both Maresca and Arteta have worked under Guardiola at City, while Lopetegui is a former Barcelona teammate of the Spanish manager.

All three have formed a good relationship with the Premier League coach - which could be why he prefers to go up against managers he has no previous alliances with.

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