NOT A GOOD NIGHT FOR PEP Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts prior to the English Premier League football match against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium in London on January 14, 2025. Picture: Ben Stansall/AFP
Image: Ben Stansall/AFP
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola did not receive the best welcome from Brentford fans on Wednesday for their Premier League clash, as one fan did not hold back with his verbal abuse.
Guardiola, 53, has been in the news for personal reasons this week as he and his wife are going through a separation.
The champions’ struggles have been well-document this season, and Guardiola has often beared the brunt of the poor results.
Now it seems, opposition fans are trying to kick the man while he is down.
Guardiola was seen arriving at Gtech Community Stadium in West London as one fan shouted: ‘How’s the Mrs, Pep? How’s the Mrs?’
Though Guardiola would have definitely heard the fan, he chose to ignore the abuse and carry on walking into the stadium.
City went on to draw the game 2-2 with the hosts, as they find themselves in sixth place on the log - some 12 points adrift of table-toppers Liverpool who have a game in hand.
In fact, City had been on an improved run heading into the fixture after two wins in a row. The draw though, was their second in their last five league outings dating back to December 21.
City have won six of the last seven league titles, including the last four seasons in a row.
It seems highly likely though, that their stranglehold on English football has certainly slipped substantially.
Whether the personal issues of Guardiola have had anything to do with City’s results, is unlikely, but can’t be ruled out completely.