“Our best performance in this stadium” – Pep Guardiola raves about ‘incredible’ Manchester City display against Newcastle United | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was delighted with his side’s performance in their 3-1 comeback win over Newcastle United in the FA Cup fifth round.

The Blues returned to winning ways at St. James’ Park on Saturday night after suffering a major dent to their Premier League title hopes courtesy of a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in midweek.

Harvey Barnes opened the scoring for Eddie Howe’s side as a just reward for a fast start to the cup tie from the Magpies, who were facing Manchester City for the fifth time in all competitions this season.

Savinho levelled proceedings close to half-time and Omar Marmoush scored a brilliant second-half brace as Manchester City progressed to the FA Cup quarter-final – keeping their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive for now.

How did Pep Guardiola react to the win in Tyneside?

Guardiola was particularly animated on the sidelines during the contest and after showing his outrage over Manchester City not being awarded a free-kick for a pull back on Jeremy Doku on 54 minutes, the Catalan was shown a yellow card for dissent by referee Sam Barrott.

The yellow card – Guardiola’s sixth in domestic competitions this season – means the 55-year-old will serve a two-game touchline suspension and miss City’s upcoming Premier League fixture against West Ham as well as the FA Cup quarter-final. However, Guardiola will be allowed on the touchline for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal in a fortnight.

In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Guardiola said: “We played so good. The first 20 minutes always in this stadium (are difficult), it always happens.

“But after when we made sequences of passes, especially Savinho and Jeremy (Doku), it was so decisive. Incredible, the best performance we played in this stadium in our time together here, so it was really good!”

Which Manchester City players out for Pep Guardiola against Newcastle United?

Guardiola was full of praise for Savinho, who scored a crucial equaliser before half-time, and went on to admit that the Brazilian winger will be a world-class player when he progresses to being a finished article.

“At that age, in the one-against-one, he is unstoppable. When we finish the final product, he will be a top, top class player,” Guardiola said on Savinho in conversation with TNT Sports.

The Catalan also waxed lyrical about Marmoush, who maintained his fine goalscoring run against Newcastle – against whom he has now scored half of his goals in a Manchester City shirt since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt for £59 million in January 2025.

“I don’t remember these stats but I had a feeling that (he) scored a lot of times against them,” Guardiola added on Marmoush’s heroics against the Magpies in his post-match press conference.

“He’s a top striker and finishing and especially his second goal, our third, is his biggest quality. He had a little bit time. He has to improve a little bit in the small spaces and first control – but he made a fantastic game and he deserved it. I’m so happy for him!”