Pep Guardiola gives X-rated explanation for watching League One game over ‘match of the century’

Rubbish managers and ‘s*** players’.

That was the tongue-in-cheek reason Pep Guardiola gave as to why he decided against watching Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich’s nine-goal thriller midweek.

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The two European powerhouses played out a Champions League classic for the ages in their semi-final first leg tie at Parc des Princes.

PSG edged out a 5-4 win on home soil, in what is now the joint-highest European Cup semi-final match.

Not since Rangers‘ 6-3 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1959/60 season had nine goals been scored in a single last-four tie.

Fans and pundits have fawned over the enthralling encounter, with many dubbing the spectacle as the ‘match of the century’.

Even PSG boss Luis Enrique and Bayern manager Vincent Kompany – Guardiola’s former captain at the Etihad – were left blown away by the contest, as they embraced with a laugh following the pulsating affair.

But one man who failed to be left in awe of the quality on show was Manchester City boss Guardiola, who passed on the opportunity to stick it on his TV.

Port of call

Instead, he opted to watch the League One tie between promotion-chasing Stockport County and relegated Port Vale at Edgeley Park.

While the game failed to replicate the goals on offer in France, it was no shortage of drama, as the hosts lost 2-1 to miss out on the chance to move up to third spot with one match to play.

Pictures circulated on social media of Guardiola sitting next to Stockport owner Mark Stott in the stands, with many left scratching their heads as to why he was there.

His decision to watch the third-tier clash instead of the blockbuster fixture was brought up in his press conference on Friday ahead of City’s clash at Everton on Monday night.

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Pep talk

To which he sarcastially quipped: “The day before, I saw the calendar, the game PSG versus Bayern Munich.

“I said, ‘What a disaster game, the managers are not good – Luis [Enrique], Vini [Kompany] – really, really s***, s*** players.’

“So I decided to go to… I’m in love with English football, and I went to go and see Stockport.”

Guardiola was then pressed as to whether he may treat himself to attend one of the final EFL games of the campaign on Saturday.

But the Spaniard was quick to rule himself out of getting involved in any of the play-off drama.

Instead, he quipped: “Next season, [when] Bayern Munich, my old team play in the Allianz Arena, I will be in front of the sofa.”

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Attention for Guardiola now turns towards the Citizens’ crunch clash at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as they look to keep the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal.

City could trail the Gunners by six points heading into the clash should Mikel Arteta‘s men beat Fulham on Saturday, though the Carabao Cup holders will have two games in hand over them.