Pep Guardiola reveals why he cried against Arsenal

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola opened up about the emotions that spilled out after his team’s 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, explaining the real reason behind his tears at full-time.

During his post-match press conference, Guardiola was asked about the game, his visible emotions, and what had triggered such a rare display of vulnerability. He revealed that his reaction had little to do with the match itself and more to do with a deeply personal moment.

“I was watching [for] my daughter! I tried to look for her but I didn’t find her!” Guardiola said, recalling the anxious moments. “At the end, when everybody went home to drink a good beer, I saw my daughter! So I was watching if I could find her, but I didn’t find her, and at the end I found her…”

The City boss, however, also spoke candidly about his side’s performance and tactical approach. Responding to questions about his team sitting deeper against Arsenal, Guardiola insisted that while City’s intention is never to adopt a defensive posture, there are moments when the quality of the opposition demands it.

“We will try not to be like this, but when the opponent is better and we defend deeper, with Erling [Haaland] or Tijjani Reijnders, we can use the counter-attack, yes,” Guardiola explained. “But our intention is not like that. Sometimes in 10 years, when we won leagues and other titles, we also made counter-attacks.

You remember Leroy [Sané] and Raheem [Sterling]? You remember how many counter-attacks we did with Kevin [De Bruyne]? I’d prefer not to, but you cannot expect at this level not to do it. It’s impossible.”

The game itself had a dramatic storyline. Manchester City struck first, with Erling Haaland finding the back of the net in the ninth minute—marking the earliest goal Arsenal have conceded in the Premier League since September 2024.

However, Arsenal refused to fold, and Mikel Arteta’s substitutions made the difference. Gabriel Martinelli, introduced late in the second half, produced the equaliser in the 87th minute, sparking wild celebrations inside the Emirates.

For Guardiola, the result means City have dropped further behind leaders Liverpool and rivals Arsenal in the Premier League title race. Still, the manager stressed that his team would regroup quickly, as they prepare for a busy run of fixtures against Burnley, Brentford, and Everton in the coming weeks.