Pep Guardiola watched on as his Manchester City team defeated Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The visitors progressing to the last eight of the FA Cup.
Newcastle United taking the lead and the better team in the opening 25-30 minutes.
Pep Guardiola asked how it felt to recover from that goal down and beat Newcastle United at St James’ Park: “It is one of the best feelings.”
Savinho equalising in the 39th minute.
Then Marmoush scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.
Game over for Newcastle United.
As for Pep Guardiola, he made this huge St James’ Park claim: “This is the best performance we have played in this stadium in my decade here…I am proud.”
Sandwiched in between the Premier League match against Forest on Wednesday and Real Madrid coming up on Wednesday, 10 Manchester City changes were made.
The visitors clearly feeling the benefits of introducing almost an entire set of fresh legs and all ten of the incoming players of a high level, such a serious advantage when you consider how limited Eddie Howe’s options were.
When losing 2-1 to Newcastle United in November, Manchester City then made ten changes and lost to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, Pep Guardiola reflecting: “Against Leverkusen it was a strong squad too, but we won today, so it was fine. It was a good decision and when I lose it was a bad decision.”
There was one negative for the Manchester City boss.
Now banned for two matches from the touchline after picking up his six yellow card of the season after his petulant response to Doku not getting a free-kick, Pep Guardiola declaring: “I will tell you something…we have all the records in this country…all of them. We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I want all records and now I have it. A two game ban now? I will go on holiday the next two games. There are things after 10 years I cannot understand. Review the action. Of course I am going to defend Doku and all my team.”