PEP GUARDIOLA turned the freezing London air blue – after being put on the spot by Thierry Henry.
Guardiola was named The Best Fifa Men’s Coach for the first time in his illustrious career after leading City to a stunning Treble triumph last season.
Six of his City players – Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland were then named in the FifPro World Team of 2023.
It was the first time a single club had supplied as many team members since Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2010.
And as the Spanish tactician stood on the stage to accept his award he had a short Q&A with Thierry Henry.
And that is when the 52-year-old accidentally dropped an F-bomb in front of everyone.
Read More on Football
Arsenal legend Henry, who played for Guardiola at Barcelona for two years, asked him to compare the incredible team he put together at the Nou Camp between 2008 and 2012 with the Citizens.
The ex-Bayern Munich boss was caught so off guard with that difficult question that he suffered a funny slip of the tongue.
Henry asked: “The last time that so many players were in the World XI was with you, when you were the coach of Barcelona.
“You had six players in that team in 2010. So which is the best team, out of the two?”
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
Guardiola asked back: “Who would win?”
And Henry responded, “No, the best! You can be the best even if you lost a game.”
And a surprised Guardiola then accidentally hummed: “F***!”
But the Catalan head coach, who dropped his head into his hands, managed to gather his thoughts.
Guardiola continued: “My team at Barcelona was unbelievable. We were so young.
“But this team is in the Premier League, so tough and competitive.
“And for me, to wake up and be with them every day, is the best award you could have as a manager.
“Barcelona was the club of my heart. I was born there and everything I am is from Barcelona. I grew up there and they gave me my values.
“But City, what we have done is a dream come true. We couldn’t have expected to be here, winning a Treble. It is special for all of us.”
Guardiola, who name-checked City President Klahdoon Al-Mubarak and executives Ferran Soriano and Txiki Beguiristain, added: “Ferran and Txiki believed in me at the start of my managerial career when nobody could have done that.
“I will never forget what they have done for me.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“And I want to say thank you so much to my players for what they have done at this club for many years.
“Without exception, to all of them, thank you so much.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
