Pep Guardiola misses Man City press conference for ‘personal reason’

WorldFootball
30 Jan 2026 • 9:30 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola missed media duties ahead of his side’s trip to Tottenham for personal reasons on Friday.

The City boss was due to hold a lunchtime press conference to preview Sunday’s Premier League game but the club later confirmed assistant boss Pep Lijnders would take his place.

It comes after Guardiola gave a speech in support of Palestinian children at a charity concert in his home city of Barcelona on Thursday.

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The club said Guardiola was not present due to a personal reason.

The Spaniard was expected to be back for training on Saturday.

Addressing the matter, Lijnders said: “The manager is good, as always, full of ambition and passion but it is a personal matter. He will arrive back here in Manchester today.”

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