Pep Guardiola issues sly dig at Premier League over rule-keeping following Manchester City fines

Pep Guardiola issues sly dig at Premier League over rule-keeping following Manchester City fines

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was keen to issue a sly dig towards the Premier League amid the top-flight’s rule-keeping and subsequent fines.

The timing of the manager’s pre-match press conference came prior to a dramatic weekend defeat at St James’ Park on Saturday evening – a result that handed Arsenal a golden opportunity to further extend their lead at the summit of the division.

The latest clash between the two sides saw moments of controversy, a string of missed chances, and late drama that left Guardiola visibly irritated at full-time. Though his pre-match remarks were light-hearted in tone, they were paired with a feeling post-match where City felt aggrieved by both refereeing decisions and the decisive goal that survived a VAR check.

City’s focus nevertheless remains on regaining momentum after missing the opportunity to maintain pressure on league leaders Arsenal. Performances have remained encouraging, but fine margins have cost Guardiola’s side in tight fixtures, and the manager has been eager to shield his squad from unnecessary distractions.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of City’s visit to Newcastle, Guardiola was quizzed on the decision to move his press conference to 9AM, as opposed to the traditional times of either 12:30, 13:30, or 14:00.

“We are training later and if we train at 12 until 1:30, I cannot be here [at the press conference] in time. The Premier League don’t allow me at 2PM. The club said if I don’t start by 2PM they will fine me or fine the club,” said Guardiola.

He continued, “We paid a lot of money as I’m late at half-time, but when we played in the Champions League final they had a show before the game and they are always late. They have to fine the singers!

“That is why I decided 9AM and the journalists have had their breakfast and will need to take a coffee. Sometimes I arrive one minute later but the rules are the rules. The Premier League is impeccable for that.”

Pep Guardiola’s remarks, while delivered with humour, continue a long-running theme in his public comments as light frustration with what he perceives as inconsistencies across competitions. With City battling on multiple fronts, the tightness of schedules and burden of regulations are only magnified.

As the Premier League title race intensifies, Guardiola may use moments like these to direct attention away from his squad and onto external factors, a strategy he has repeatedly deployed in past seasons.

It also raises the possibility that Manchester City could take a firmer stance in future discussions with league officials around scheduling flexibility, particularly during periods of congested fixtures.

For now, Guardiola’s priority is on responding to disappointment on the pitch. But as his latest quip indicates, he is unlikely to stop pushing back against Premier League policies he finds unnecessarily restrictive.

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