(Video) “Look how happy they are!”: Pep Guardiola appears to mock United in thinly-veiled statement

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has fired a sly dig at Manchester United following confirmation of their return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. Champions League football secured Last Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Liverpool not only saw United complete the double over their bitter rivals for the first time in a decade, but also mathematically secured them Champions League football. Kobbie Mainoo scored the winner after Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko’s first-half strikes were wiped out by Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo, who ruthlessly punished United’s mistakes in possession. The win also opened a six-point gap between United and Liverpool. Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Michael Carrick hailed his players for getting the job done and bringing Champions League football back to Old Trafford. However, the interim head coach warned against over-celebrating the achievement, insisting that full focus should remain on finishing as high as possible in the Premier League table. In a subsequent interview, Casemiro reiterated this stance, indicating that United should always aim to fight for the biggest trophies rather than being satisfied with just being in the Champions League. Ahead of City’s meeting with Brentford, Guardiola spoke to reporters and fired a subtle swipe at United. Guardiola’s dig Defending his side’s record this season, the Spaniard said, “We are in the final and we qualified for the Champions League four or five fixtures before.” “Look how happy they are, United. They qualified in their last game against…” “Who was their last game, Brentford? Who did they beat? Liverpool.” “They won the points against Liverpool that they needed to be in the Champions League. Look how happy they are.” Pep Guardiola: Look how happy [Manchester] United are after qualifying for the Champions League! 😅🎉 pic.twitter.com/DkNhH9Mqxu — Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) May 9, 2026 United are next in action later this afternoon when they face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Kick-off is at 15:00 BST. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Latest Top Stories… Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!