Pep Guardiola backs Newcastle United to improve next season



Manchester City were in total control of proceedings when they knocked out Newcastle United in the FA Cup quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Citizens were dominant but they did need elements of fortune for both of Bernardo Silva’s goals, although, Pep Guardiola’s men restricted the Magpies to just a single shot on target.

In his post-match remarks, Guardiola expressed confidence that Newcastle would learn valuable lessons from their return to the Champions League after a two-decade hiatus, emphasising their strides toward becoming a top-tier club.

Guardiola, known for his admiration of Newcastle, believes this season will serve as a valuable lesson for the Geordies. He’s optimistic that they will learn from their experiences and return even stronger next year.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, interacts with Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on August 19, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola backs Newcastle United to improve next season

Speaking in his post-match press conference, after Manchester City’s victory over Newcastle, Guardiola stated: “I’m sure they’ll take lessons because the potential is there. Last season was unbelievable, but they played one game a week. This season they’ve played a lot, and it’s completely different.

“When you have experience, you can handle the training and the minutes. I’m pretty sure they will learn the lessons and take decisions to try and still be there.”

Newcastle entered the season with immense optimism after securing a fourth-place finish in the Premier League just months prior, eagerly anticipating significant European encounters.

However, they faced a harsh reality as injuries mounted and they struggled to manage their fixture congestion, ultimately leading to exits from both European competitions and the Carabao Cup by December.

They are now out of the FA Cup as well, which means they can focus solely on getting their Premier League campaign back on track.

Newcastle are currently 10th in the top-flight on 40 points and are seven points behind sixth-placed Manchester United.