Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, will welcome Plymouth Argyle this weekend in the FA Cup. The Pilgrims caused a sensation in the previous round by eliminating Liverpool and have once again drawn a big opponent. Guardiola promised that the visitors will receive a warm welcome.
Manchester City’s FA Cup journey continues this weekend with a fifth-round clash against Plymouth Argyle a fixture that may look straightforward on paper, but one Pep Guardiola is treating with serious respect.
One of the key reasons for that respect is the man currently in charge at Home Park: Miron Muslic, the Austrian coach who only arrived at Plymouth a few weeks ago but has already left his mark.
Muslic’s appointment raised eyebrows in some quarters, given his limited experience in English football, but his work so far particularly Plymouth’s stunning FA Cup run has quickly silenced any doubts. On Thursday, in the buildup to this high-profile tie, Muslic paid a remarkable tribute to Guardiola, calling him "a giant" in the world of football management. It was a gesture that did not go unnoticed by the City boss.
Guardiola, who has often spoken about the importance of humility and respect between managers, responded with warmth and humor. "I have an incredible bottle of wine ready for him," Guardiola said with a smile. "Especially after those words they mean a lot to me. I really appreciate them. It will be an honor to meet him on Saturday." It was a reminder that, despite the relentless nature of elite football, moments of genuine admiration between coaches still have their place.
While the Premier League champions are overwhelming favorites for this tie, Guardiola knows all too well that the FA Cup has a habit of writing its own script and Plymouth have already played a starring role in this year’s story. On their way to the fifth round, the League Championship side pulled off two of the biggest shocks of the competition: first eliminating Brentford, a well-respected and dangerous Premier League outfit, before producing the unthinkable by knocking out Liverpool at Anfield.
Guardiola was quick to emphasize that any team capable of eliminating both Brentford and Liverpool the latter of whom he described as "the best team in England this season" deserves maximum respect. "If you manage to knock out those two teams, you are definitely not a small club," Guardiola said. "Liverpool are flying this year, they are top quality, so if Plymouth can go there and win, that tells you everything you need to know."
City themselves have enjoyed plenty of success in the FA Cup under Guardiola, but the Catalan coach knows from experience that this competition’s magic lies in its unpredictability. Whether it’s lower-league sides rising to the occasion or heavyweights suffering from complacency, shocks are part of the FA Cup’s DNA and Guardiola’s respect for Muslic and his players reflects that awareness.
In addition to previewing the match itself, Guardiola also found himself facing a familiar off-pitch topic during his pre-match press conference. When a journalist mentioned the name Javier Tebas the outspoken president of LaLiga Guardiola’s response was immediate and unmistakable. "Next question," he said, barely concealing his frustration.
Tebas, a long-time critic of Manchester City’s financial operations, had once again raised questions about the club’s compliance with financial regulations. It’s a narrative Guardiola has been forced to address on countless occasions, and this time, his tone made it clear he had no interest in entertaining the subject further. "I have no idea why Tebas and others keep focusing on us," Guardiola added. "Maybe they should worry more about their own league."
For Guardiola, the focus remains firmly on the pitch. With the Premier League title race, the Champions League, and the FA Cup all still in play, City’s schedule is relentless. But the visit of Plymouth offers something a little different a rare moment where the romance of the cup allows a global football giant to cross paths with a club whose ambition and fight have captured the hearts of neutral fans across England.
Regardless of the result, Guardiola’s post-match plans are already set: a handshake with Muslic, perhaps a tactical chat, and of course, the promised bottle of fine wine. For all the pressures of modern football, Guardiola hasn’t lost sight of what makes occasions like this special the meeting of minds, the respect between coaches, and the stories that make the FA Cup truly magical.
