Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken of his disappointment over the scheduling of his side’s crunch Premier League clash with Liverpool.
Guardiola’s side take on Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday in what is a potential season-defining match, with just one point separating the two sides at the top of the table. However, with the game clashing with the final day of the Masters, Guardiola has admitted he would rather have been able to watch Tiger Woods ‘ comeback instead of having to focus on Liverpool.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game, Guardiola stated that City were going to beat Liverpool and he was then going to “watch the final round of the Masters”. He said: “I’m sad because Tiger [Woods] is back and I cannot watch the Masters because I have to prepare [for] the game against Liverpool.
“But we’re going to win on Sunday and after I’m going to watch the final round of the Masters.” Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Guardiola said he was “a little bit upset with the Premier League” over the clash with the Masters.
“I’m looking forward to Sunday, but if it could be tomorrow [Saturday] that would be better,” he said. “I’m a little bit upset with the Premier League because they put the game on when Tiger Woods is back!”
Guardiola is a big golf fan and, back in 2019, revealed he was planning to watch the final day of the Masters instead of Liverpool’s game against Chelsea which would see them leapfrog City and go top if they won. “I’ll be on the bus or plane,” Guardiola said.
“Tiger Woods and Francesco Molinari are playing. We will watch the Masters and maybe the Liverpool game. Hopefully, Chelsea do a good job.”
Liverpool ultimately won the game 2-0 thanks to goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. However, City were able to pip them to the league title that year by a solitary point.
Meanwhile, Woods recorded a historic victory at the 2019 Masters, finishing 13 under par and one stroke ahead of Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka. It was his first major win in 11 years and the 15th of his career.
