Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hit back at an AI-generated claim that he selected his best-ever starting XI, insisting he has never and will never make such a list out of respect for all the players he has coached.
Speaking in the unsealed portion of his pre-match press conference ahead of City’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on May 14, Guardiola addressed a range of topics, including AI’s impact on public figures and his team’s evolving style.
When asked about a video released by La Liga’s social media featuring AI recreations of Barcelona legends like Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi, along with Guardiola himself, the Catalan coach expressed measured concern. “I’m not afraid of AI in this world, because there are many other catastrophic things far worse. But I saw something on ChatGPT—a claim that I had picked my best XI of my coaching career. I never did that. I never will. It’s a lack of respect for all the players I’ve worked with,” Guardiola said.
He added, “Due to AI, people start saying, ‘Look, Pep picked these players and left out those.’ They put words into people’s mouths, even public figures. It’s fake news. ChatGPT lets you cheat on exams without effort. Honestly, I don’t know what the future holds.”
Asked whether he discusses such topics with his children, Guardiola replied that they are adults now, but acknowledged the new challenge of deepfake videos making it appear as though he gave interviews he never did.
On the subject of his team’s running and sprinting data, Guardiola dismissed concerns that City had overexerted themselves. “Running a lot is very important. It might not directly win you games, but the level we reached that season was amazing. You always have to run and never feel ashamed. The competition demands it. After that, we look at what we do in possession, tactical patterns, and efficiency. We’ve done many brilliant things,” he said.
Reflecting on his decade at Manchester City, Guardiola noted that his coaching style has evolved naturally. “If I had the same training sessions and plans for 10 years, it would be so boring. Players change—I had Vincent Kompany then, now he’s coaching in the Champions League semi-finals. Opponents change too, with some using five at the back and others defending zonally. You have to adapt. Plus, managers today are a new generation, extremely well-prepared, and technology has changed a lot. It’s cool,” he added.
Guardiola also brushed aside questions about player fatigue in the final weeks of the season. “It’s not fatigue—it’s the last few games. We have our last home match tomorrow against Crystal Palace. I always prepare with a clear mind and the belief that we can win. That’s what we have to do,” he said.
