Guardiola: 'I take off my hat to admire Sevilla'

"I have to take my hat off at what Sevilla have done in the Europa League," the Man City coach told Marca newspaper on August 7. "It's unbelievable. They know how to be in top form in Europe. The European Super Cup will be an interesting match."

Guardiola also praised the way Jose Luis Mendilibar, the new coach who has been with Sevilla since March, leads the players. He was wary of Sevilla's ability to switch positions, use wingers, create many crosses and penetrate the penalty area. "I've known Mendilibar since I was in charge of Barca," added Guardiola. "He changed everything at Sevilla in a short time."

Meanwhile, Mendilibar warned Sevilla will face many difficulties against Man City. The 62-year-old coach thinks Guardiola is a great leader and has many ways to deal with his team.

"Guardiola has shown how mature he is," Mendilibar said. "He has proven himself year by year and now he has achieved his goal of winning the Champions League with Man City."

The European Super Cup match will take place at 2 a.m. on Thursday, August 17, Hanoi time, at neutral stadium Karaiskakis, Greece. Man City is competing for this title for the first time. Meanwhile, Sevilla won the European Super Cup in 2006 and lost five times after that: 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020.

Last season, Man City won the first Champions League thanks to a 1-0 victory over Inter in the final. Sevilla beat Roma 4-1 in the Europa League final penalty shootout. The Spanish team holds the record of seven UEFA Cup/Europa League wins.

Before the European Super Cup match, Man City and Sevilla both started at the national championship this weekend. The Premier League champions will begin their title defense campaign with an away match at Burnley, on August 11. On the same day, Sevilla took on Valencia in the first round of La Liga.

On August 6, Man City opened the 2023-2024 season with a defeat in the English Super Cup match. After more than 90 minutes of a 1-1 draw, Guardiola's teachers and students lost to Arsenal 1-4 in the penalty shootout. Man City lost their third consecutive English Super Cup match, after defeats to Leicester City 0-1 in 2021 and Liverpool 1-3 in 2022.