Pep Guardiola explains why he was at Stockport v Port Vale on same night as PSG v Bayern

Pep Guardiola explains in his press conference why he was at Stockport v Port Vale on same night as PSG v Bayern Munich were playing.

Sky Sports captured the Man City boss in the stands of Edgeley Park on Tuesday night, with viewers surprised he wasn’t watching the Champions League fixture instead, which ended up being a 5-4 win to Paris Saint-Germain.

Stockport fell to a 2-1 defeat to already relegated Port Vale, with the Hatters needing a point to secure their play-off place in League One, going to the final day.

Pep Guardiola is taking in the action at Stockport as they play Port Vale 👀⚽️ pic.twitter.com/46T0DTHM6O

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 28, 2026

PSG vs Bayern or Stockport vs Port Vale? Pep made his choice! pic.twitter.com/zZ1QFYP9jg

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 1, 2026

You just can’t beat a midweek matchday in the #EFL, can you, Pep? 🙌#EFL | #SkyBetLeagueOne pic.twitter.com/6ncFa5Cb8h

— Sky Bet League One (@SkyBetLeagueOne) April 28, 2026

Reporter: “It was nice to see you at Stockport in midweek. Why now to choose to go and watch Stockport?”

Pep responded: “Because the day before I saw the calendar, [I thought] the PSG game with Bayern – what a disaster game, the managers are not good, Luis [Enrique], Vini [Vincent Kompany], Really really shit shit players, so I decided to go to. I’m in love with English football and I went to see Stockport.”

Did he watch the PSG v Bayern highlights? “No: I watched the game right after when I arrived home from Stockport.”

As per City Xtra, Pep Guardiola says he has no plans to watch any EFL matches this weekend in-person.

He also shrugged off Manchester City’s fixture schedule after the Premier League turned down a number of fixture proposals, meaning City have to play three games in seven days.

“It is what it is, if you don’t like it go to train in France or in Portugal” 🤷‍♂️

Pep Guardiola on Manchester City’s fixture schedule across competitions and whether they could request a postponement like PSG in Ligue 1. pic.twitter.com/4BFXpxrT9z

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 1, 2026

Pep said per The Guardian: “It is what it is. I would prefer to play in a Champions League semi-final [than not]. It is what it is… Wwhen we won the Treble and Quadruple, always we had this type of calendar. Of course, it could be better. We will adapt, go to play game by game.

“Listen – it is what it is. The calendar, the broadcaster or the Premier League, whatever, they decide when the games are, and we’ll be there with 11 players and people on the bench.”

“In other countries it [scheduling] might be different. Here, it is what it is. If you don’t like it, go to France or Portugal. I never expected, from a long time ago [anything different].

“I like to be here [in the Premier League]. I’ve said many times, when I was in Barcelona, and I saw all the managers here complaining about the schedule, I said – ‘I will not be that’.

“It is what it is. I never, never expect differently. Whenever they decide to play, we will play.”

😁 Pep Guardiola explains why he was in attendance at Stockport-Port Vale on same night as PSG-Bayern.

“I saw the calendar, PSG-Bayern, I said what a disaster game, sh*t managers, bad players…”. 😂

“I love English football and I went to Stockport!”.@BeanymanSports 🎥 pic.twitter.com/kxcNRlkCA2

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 1, 2026

In 2025, he named three English managers including Neil Warnock who have ‘made English football a better place’.

Guardiola said of Neil Warnock, per cityxtra: “It would be a pleasure to see him again,” Guardiola said of his managerial colleague. “Neil, like Sam Allardyce, like Mr (Harry) Redknapp, have been legends in this country, have made English football a better place for sure.

“Sometimes now in modern football this type of English managers for a long time look like, and it’s not true.

“I admire them a lot for the contribution they have done in world football for different perspectives, different ways… Hopefully he doesn’t shout at me!”

He’s spoke highly of the Premier League too. In 2024, Pep said: “I really ENJOY being here. I LOVE English football. It is FANTASTIC. I really ENJOY it. They leave you alone to get on with your job. That doesn’t happen anywhere else. This is a GREAT club. I REALLY FEEL GOOD HERE. I AM PLEASED TO BE HERE!”

@bbcsport Pep Guardiola is a huge fan of Neil Warnock, Sam Allardyce and Harry Redknapp 🤩 #BBCFootball #PepGuardiola #Football #PremierLeague #PL ♬ original sound – BBC Sport

In 2018, Pep Guardiola explained why managing in England was a “dream come true.”

He said when honoured by the Football Writers’ Association, as per the Mirror: “I’m fortunate to be here in your country, in England.

“It’s incredible, it was a dream from a little boy for a young manager to come here to your country and be a manager here. It’s a dream come true.

“I want to share, of course, this award with the whole Manchester City family because I know it’s a real family.

“I know people say we have a lot of money, that’s true, but despite of that it’s incredible the people I’m working with and I’m a lucky guy to be here.

“Thank you so much to make me feel at home in your country here and in Manchester.”

Pep Guardiola meets Neil Warnock for an in-depth conversation about football

In 2025, Pep also admitted he would “love” England to win this summer’s World Cup: “I would like England to be there. I don’t want to pretend to be too nice but I have been here for many years and been part of the country.

“I would love Thomas [Tuchel] and the people to make the last step and do it.”

Here’s the social media reaction after Pep Guardiola explains why he was at Stockport v Port Vale on the same night as PSG v Bayern…

@cottonmufc: Scoping out potential opponents for next season after the points deduction #115

@Iewdawg: not being funny but why’s he calling his former player and probably mate (vincent kompany) a shit manager? listen i’m no expert but it pays to have friends in this industry, this is a one way ticket to making enemies

@Tom_Som08: Because he loves football and it’s a fairly local game

@mrianleslie: I just love him

@georgexedwards: Guardiola even saying the word “Stockport” is so weird man

@AdamJoseph: Preparing for life in the lower divisions. Fair.

@MattCorsey: You can’t be mad at that. Love that he keeps a sense of humour with the media.

@NathanAsh66: Bros ground hopping to complete the 92 I respect it