Pep Guardiola has ignited a fierce cross-rivalry debate after lavishing extraordinary praise on his new assistant manager Pep Lijnders following Manchester City’s dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Nottingham Forest on December 27, 2025.
In his post-match interview, the City boss stunned reporters and viewers by appearing to elevate Lijnders — the former Liverpool assistant under Jürgen Klopp — above himself. “He is so good. He is a top manager,” Guardiola said. “Sometimes people think, ‘he’s the assistant,’ well maybe I am his assistant.”
The comment, delivered with characteristic intensity but unmistakable admiration, has been interpreted by many as Guardiola “humiliating” himself in a rare display of deference to a subordinate. Social media erupted immediately, with Liverpool fans gleefully claiming it as validation of Lijnders’ genius, while Manchester City supporters insisted it was simply Pep’s trademark humility and team-first mentality.
Lijnders, 42, joined Guardiola’s staff in the summer of 2025 after eight highly successful years at Anfield, where he played a key role in Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League triumphs. His arrival was seen as a coup for City, bringing fresh tactical ideas and set-piece expertise that have already borne fruit in the early months of the season.
The Forest win — secured by late goals from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden after falling behind — showcased City’s resilience, and Guardiola was quick to credit Lijnders’ influence on training-ground preparations and in-game adjustments. “Pep [Lijnders] has brought something special,” he continued. “His energy, his knowledge — it’s incredible. We are learning from him every day.”
Rivalry fans wasted no time weaponising the quotes. Liverpool supporters flooded social media with memes of Guardiola “kneeling” before Lijnders, captioning them “The real Pep runs the show.” One viral post read: “Guardiola just admitted he’s the assistant to Klopp’s former assistant. Peak banter.”
City fans countered fiercely, praising Guardiola’s leadership in recognising talent regardless of past allegiances. “That’s why Pep is the best — he hires better than him and admits it,” one wrote. Another added: “Humiliates himself? No, he elevates the team. Class act.”
The exchange has reignited the passionate Manchester-Liverpool rivalry even during the festive period, with pundits weighing in on talk shows and podcasts. Gary Neville called it “refreshing honesty from a manager who doesn’t need to stroke his own ego,” while Jamie Carragher joked: “Pep’s finally found someone who can teach him something — and it’s a Scouser by proxy!”
Lijnders himself remained gracious, telling reporters after the match: “Pep is the boss, the best in the world. I’m here to help him and the team. We work together — that’s the beauty of it.”
As the Premier League title race heats up, Guardiola’s bold words have added an unexpected layer of intrigue. Whether seen as self-deprecation or supreme confidence in his staff, the Catalan’s praise for his “top manager” assistant has given football fans a fresh talking point — and a reminder that even at the pinnacle of the game, greatness involves recognising it in others.
