Pep Guardiola has suffered most DEFEATS against this North London giant in the Premier League
Here are Pep Guardiola's toughest opponents in the Premier League so far.
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Pep Guardiola (via GOAL))
Pep Guardiola is undoubtedly one of the best coaches in the Premier League as well as in Europe. The Spaniard’s time in England has been marked by 5 League titles as well as a Champions League last season. However, the master tactician also has his own ‘kryptonite’, with his side struggling against certain teams in the past.
On Sunday, December 3rd, Tottenham Hotspur once again shocked the Premier League with an exhilarating 3-3 draw against the defending champions. Ange Postecoglou‘s side gave the Cityzens a ‘run for their money’ as Dejan Kulusevski’s last-minute header yet again proved that Tottenham proves to be a difficult opponent for Pep Guardiola’s side. Here’s a look at all the teams that Pep Guardiola has suffered the ‘most’ defeats against.
Pep Guardiola vs Brentford
Kicking off the list, we have Brentford, who even though have only managed to win 2 games against his side, have done so in just 4 games!
A 50% success rate against one of the strongest teams in Europe is no small feat and deserves a feature on this list. The Bees have managed to win both of their last 2 meetings, winning 2-1 in November of last year and 1-0 earlier last season in May.
Pep Guardiola vs Crystal Palace
Pep Guardiola is yet to face any significant struggle against the Eagles. The Spaniard has only tasted defeat in 2 games in 14 encounters in the Premier League.
Moreover, the Cityzens have managed to avoid defeat in their last 3 meetings, with a Crystal Palace win last happening in 2021. Subsequently, the two sides are yet to meet in the 2023/24 season. Manchester City is 14-3 in a head-to-head record in all competitions.
Pep Guardiola vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City have suffered 3 defeats in a total of 11 meetings against the Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The side led by Pep Guardiola fell at the hands of Gary O’Neil’s game plan and Hee-Chan Hwang earlier in September. Even though head-to-head rankings show 14-5 to City in all competitions, the 3 losses in the Premier League rank 6th most for the Spaniard.
Pep Guardiola vs Leicester City
The defending Premier League champions have been at the wrong end against Leicester City thrice in 14 meetings in the league.
However, it is surprising to note that Guardiola’s 5th most difficult opponent is no longer playing in the league. Leicester City were relegated after an 18th-placed finish last season. Guardiola’s last defeat against Leicester came way back in 2020, in a humiliating 5-2 loss at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola vs Liverpool
Arguably Pep Guardiola’s most fierce rival, Liverpool have managed to get the better of Guardiola 4 times in their last 15 meetings in the league. Current Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is one of the very few who have an upper hand against the Spaniard in terms of head-to-head record (11-12). Their previous meeting ended all square while the one before that last season saw City win 4-1 in emphatic style.
Liverpool and Manchester City have finished in the top 3 of the Premier League thrice in the last 5 seasons. More often than not, games between the two sides are dubbed as ‘title deciders’ and ‘game of the season’. The two teams will face each other further ahead in the season, in March 2024.
Pep Guardiola vs Manchester United
Pep Guardiola has had an excellent track record against Manchester United in the past. However, 5 losses in 15 meetings in the league make the Red Devils the 3rd toughest opponent (statistically) Guardiola has faced. The Spaniard is also the only manager to have more than a 50% win ratio against United (playing a minimum of 10 games). He has a 53.3% win rate against the club as well.
Manchester United last managed a win against Guardiola in January of last year, in a close 2-1 encounter at Old Trafford. The one before that dates back to 2021; a 2-0 victory against their rivals. However, it should be noted that Guardiola has managed to secure at least 145 more points than United since he joined City. Their next meeting is in March 2024.
Pep Guardiola vs Chelsea
The Cityzens have ‘struggled’ against Chelsea in the past, be it the Premier League or the Champions League. Guardiola has managed an identical record to that against United (5 losses in 15). However, games between the two sides often call for high-octane clashes and frustrating results for one side or the other. Their most recent meeting was an instant Premier League classic, as either side shared the spoils in a 4-4 score line.
City have managed to remain undefeated in 6 of their last 8 meetings, but have missed out on a UEFA Champions League title and the FA Cup thanks to the Blues. Guardiola has an excellent head-to-head record against Mauricio Pochettino (13-4), who is the current Chelsea manager. The two sides are set to meet again next year in February.
Pep Guardiola vs Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur have constantly managed to be a thorn in Pep Guardiola’s side in recent years. The Spaniard has lost a total of 6 games against Spurs in 14 meetings, making them his ‘toughest’ opponent after joining the Premier League. Their most recent meeting ended 3-3, which was also the first being between Pep and Ange Postecoglou.
City’s overall head-to-head is separated by just one win; the record being 9-8 in their favor. The 2019 season saw Manchester City being knocked out by Tottenham in the Quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League as well.
Tottenham have won 4 of their last ten meetings, with City coming on top just thrice. The two teams are on top form this season as well. The next meeting between the sides is scheduled for March 2024 in the Premier League as well.
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Sherwin Shaju
(1306 Articles Published)