Pep Lijnders Steps Up for Manchester City in Crucial FA Cup Clash
In a dramatic twist ahead of the FA Cup quarter-finals, Pep Lijnders is set to take charge of Manchester City against his former club Liverpool. This unexpected managerial shift comes as City's head coach Pep Guardiola serves a two-match touchline ban, forcing him to miss the highly anticipated cup tie at the Etihad Stadium on the weekend of April 4.
Guardiola's Touchline Ban Explained
Pep Guardiola received his sixth booking of the season during Manchester City's 3-1 victory over Newcastle in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday night. Under new regulations introduced this season, Premier League managers face a one-match suspension after accumulating three yellow cards, with a two-game ban enforced upon reaching six bookings.
The ban applies specifically to Premier League and FA Cup matches, meaning Guardiola will be absent from the touchline for City's upcoming trip to West Ham and the FA Cup clash with Liverpool. However, he will be present for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal on March 22 and both legs of the Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid.
Lijnders' Controversial Move and Rapid Rise
Pep Lijnders, the Dutch former assistant to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, made a contentious switch to join Manchester City as Guardiola's assistant last summer. His tenure at Red Bull Salzburg was abruptly ended when he was dismissed in December 2024, paving the way for his move to the Etihad.
During his two stints at Anfield, Lijnders played a key role in Liverpool's successes, contributing to their Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and two League Cup triumphs. Despite initial controversy over his move to a rival club, Lijnders has quickly become a trusted member of Guardiola's backroom team.
Guardiola's Reaction and Record
Following the booking at Newcastle, Guardiola expressed frustration with the situation. "I will tell you something - we have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything. We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I want all records and now I have it, two-game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games," he stated.
Guardiola added, "There are things after 10 years I cannot understand. Review the action. Of course I'm going to defend Doku and all my teams." The incident occurred after he vehemently confronted fourth official Lewis Smith following a foul by Kieran Trippier on Jeremy Doku at St James' Park.
Lijnders' Perspective on the Switch
Ahead of his first return to Anfield in a Premier League match last month, Lijnders downplayed the fuss over his move to City. He revealed that Klopp had encouraged him to accept the position, telling BBC Sport, "When I spoke with Jurgen he was so clear, 'If you don't do it, I will take the assistant job'. You cannot put away 10 years of Liverpool that easily, but I'm really proud to come to a club of this magnitude, so successful over the last 10 years and with a manager that defined football."
Looking Ahead to the FA Cup Quarter-Final
The stage is now set for a compelling FA Cup quarter-final where Pep Lijnders will face his former club from the Manchester City dugout. This managerial subplot adds an extra layer of intrigue to what was already one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season. With Guardiola watching from the stands, all eyes will be on how Lijnders handles the pressure of managing against the club where he spent a decade as part of the coaching staff.
