Pep Guardiola has stressed that winning trophies still comes before style, as Manchester City prepare for a decisive Premier League trip to Anfield. With Arsenal six points clear at the top, City have little room for mistakes, and Guardiola responded directly to Arne Slot’s recent comments about prioritising entertaining football over silverware.
Asked about Slot’s stance, Guardiola replied: "If you want to be a manager it is better to win trophies, always. You do not always have the chance to play nice football. I think everything is related, because as a manager when you win you almost always play well. You want your players to win it in the best way for the players you have, to play the way that, in your soul, you believe in. I do think this
is the most important thing. "
City travel to face Liverpool in Sunday’s headline Premier League fixture, chasing Arsenal’s advantage after a mixed run. Guardiola’s side have taken only one victory from six league games in 2026, drawing four and losing once, yet Guardiola believes performance levels are climbing. "Are we at the top, top, top level? Not yet, he said. We are improving in moments, we just need some more consistency, then we will be there. So there are 14 games left, in the Premier League, this is an eternity. In my experience, it's a lot and anything can happen. Last season in the Premier League we were miles away from Liverpool, so let's see if we will be there. "
Across the last decade, Guardiola has repeatedly blended results with his possession-based approach, guiding City to six Premier League titles, four domestic cups and a first Champions League title. Apart from a year’s sabbatical after leaving Barcelona in 2012, Guardiola has never gone two straight seasons without a league crown, and admitted that the pursuit grows tougher for every contender. "Every season it is getting more difficult, but I think not just for us, for all the teams. "
Opta outlook on Premier League title race
Forecasts suggest City face a serious challenge in defending their Premier League title. Opta’s supercomputer currently assigns Guardiola’s team only a 5.7% chance of securing a seventh league championship under Guardiola, while Arsenal finish as champions in 91.2% of simulated seasons, underlining the importance of each remaining match, including the visit to Anfield.
| Team | Premier League title chance (Opta) |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | 91.2% |
| Manchester City | 5.7% |
Slot had increased interest around the fixture earlier this week by stating that entertainment could matter more to Liverpool than extra trophies, a stance that contrasts with Guardiola’s priority on winning. Liverpool began the season expecting another Premier League title push, yet Slot’s team now sit sixth, 14 points off first place, leaving Sunday’s meeting with City crucial for both clubs’ ambitions.
Anfield awaits #AsahiSuperDry pic.twitter.com/sjmIVU9It9Manchester City (@ManCity) February 6, 2026
Guardiola’s comments also reflected a deeper view on coaching, beyond the immediate Premier League title chase. The City head coach has long championed proactive, possession-focused football, but accepts that circumstances sometimes limit how attractively teams can play. Guardiola repeated that coaches must adapt style to the players available while still following the principles that feel right personally.
With 14 league fixtures remaining, the trip to Liverpool offers City a chance to close the gap on Arsenal and respond to recent scrutiny of their form. The match will also place Guardiola’s emphasis on winning against Slot’s comments on entertainment, adding another layer to an already intense rivalry in the current Premier League title battle.
