Erik ten Hag makes dramatic Pep Guardiola claim in punchy interview

Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola is the only Premier League manager to have outperformed Erik ten Hag since his arrival at Old Trafford, claims the Manchester United boss himself.

The two Manchester rivals are poised to meet at Wembley Stadium in the FA Community Shield next month, with Manchester City seeking to avenge for May’s shock Emirates FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United in north London.

Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a surprise 1-2 loss to Manchester United, as first-half goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo saw Erik ten Hag’s side race into an unassailable lead, despite Jeremy Doku’s inspired second-half performance.

Manchester City, who beat Manchester United in the 2023 FA Cup final, had won both Premier League meetings during the 2023/24 campaign, registering a 0-3 win at Old Trafford and 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium.

The Sky Blues also thumped Manchester United 6-3 during Ten Hag’s first season at Old Trafford, with both Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scoring hat-tricks for Manchester City during an emphatic victory.

The Dutch manager has won two trophies since arriving at Old Trafford, and believes that only Guardiola has outperformed him since his arrival from Ajax.

Speaking during Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the United States, the Dutchman sensationally said: “This club didn’t win trophies, before I came, for six years. In two years, after Guardiola, we won the most trophies in English football. So we are in a strong position.

“Look, we can beat every opponent. Not one time, more than one time against City and also against Liverpool.”

Guardiola has won six of the last eight meetings against Manchester United, with the Blues having also won 17 major trophies since the Catalan’s arrival at the Etihad Stadium in 2016.

Manchester City have won six trophies in the past two seasons, meanwhile Manchester United have lifted both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup since the arrival of manager Ten Hag from Ajax.