For some reason, Pep Guardiola‘s still upset about the fact his “idol” Julia Roberts went to a Manchester United match back in 2016.
No, we’re not making this up.
Despite the fact that during his time as Manchester City manager alone, the Catalan coach has lead his team to four Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, and one FA Cup, as well as clinching the coveted domestic treble in the 2018-19 season, and breaking countless records along the way, he admits he still considers himself to be a “failure”.
He may be considered one of the greatest football managers of all time, and he may currently hold the records for the most consecutive league games won in La Liga, the Bundesliga, and the Premier League – but that’s not enough for Pep to see himself as successful, apparently.
And it’s all because Hollywood megastar Julia Roberts snubbed the Sky Blues to make a trip over to the red half of Manchester one fateful day back in 2016.
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"I'm a failure… Julia Roberts went to see Man Utd, not us!" 💔
Pep Guardiola reveals Julia Roberts is one of his three idols, and that he'll never get over the actress going to see his city rivals when she visited Manchester 😔 pic.twitter.com/arRsfgNqsS
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 15, 2023
“I am a failure in the Champions League,” Guardiola said in his press conference last night after City smashed RB Leipzig 7-0 in the second leg of the Round of 16 in the Champions League.
“If I win the Champions League three times in a row, I will be a failure.”
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He then went on to “explain a secret” to the listening journalists, and revealed that he has three idols in his life – Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Julia Roberts.
“These are my three idols,” he added.
Julia Roberts with her family at Old Trafford in 2016 / Credit: Manchester United (via Twitter)
“Julia Roberts years ago came to Manchester, not in the 90s when Sir Alex (Ferguson) was winning titles and titles and titles. She came in the period where we were better than United, in these four or five years, right?
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“And she went to visit Man United. She didn’t come to see us.
“That’s why, even if I win the Champions League, it will not compare for the fact that Julia Roberts came to Manchester and didn’t come to see us.
“Even if I win the Champions League, it will not compare to this disappointment I had.”
The enigmatic manager has been known for saying some bizarre things in his press conferences and post match interviews throughout his career, but it’s fair to say this is up there as one of his most confusing – especially as he never actually went on to reveal why he considers Julia Roberts to be one of his idols.
Regardless of the lack of context, Manchester United still managed to have a bit of fun with it, and took to Twitter to rub it in.
The Red Devils shared a handful of pictures of actress and her family at their home stadium, with the caption: “Throwing it back to when Julia Roberts visited Old Trafford.”
And it doesn’t take a genius to work out this wasn’t a coincidental “throwback”.
Also in the same press conference, Pep explained explained why he chose to substitute record-breaking Erling Haaland after the star striker scored five goals in last night’s match – including two in two minutes, and a hattrick in the first half – before he had the chance to smash in another.
Manchester Storm’s ‘own and loan’ scheme returns for 2026/27
Danny Jones
Manchester Storm have relaunched their much-loved ‘own and loan’ programme once again ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Having gone from a cult favourite option for die-hards to an increasingly popular choice among their growing number of supporters, it’s a great way for fans to get their hands on what could go on to be priceless collectables.
Set up over a decade and a half ago, the initiative has gone on to be replicated by multiple clubs in the Elite Ice Hockey League, across the country, and indeed beyond.
For anyone unclear on what exactly this scheme means for them, here’s all you need to know.
The own and loan sponsorship is essentially an opportunity not only to support the club and your favourite player, but to essentially reserve a valuable piece of match-worn memorabilia.
Put simply, fans can buy a squad member’s jersey and then loan it back to them for the season.
The shirt – be it home, away, created for cup tournaments or a special limited-edition sweater (of which MCR Storm have designed many over the years) – will then be worn throughout the course of the campaign before being given back to the owner, i.e. you.
Not just simply buying the shirt, but helping back the team’s talent, it’s one of the most direct ways people can contribute to the club.
The Greater Manchester side pioneered the push for this initiative here in the UK in the early 2010s, and with the local side now set to return to the AO Arena, where their journey began way back in 1995, you can expect plenty to mark the comeback with a special sponsored jersey.
Anyone who purchases an away strip will have their name featured throughout home games for the duration of the season – not a bad gift or way to secure a potential future collectors’ item.
You can see every player available to sponsor and find out all the information you need right HERE.
For regular matchgoers at the ‘Storm Shelter’, we’re sure it’ll be bittersweet to say goodbye to Planet Ice Altrincham, but just how excited are you about heading home to the AO Arena later this year?
Featured Images — Manchester Storm (publicity picture)/The Manc Group
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League One set for an all-Greater Manchester playoff final as Bolton book trip to Wembley
Danny Jones
It’s official: we’re all set for a fully Greater Manchester League One playoff final as Bolton Wanderers are the latest to secure a return to Wembley against Stockport County.
The resurgent old Lancashire club clinched their spot in the knockout conclusion of the third division with a single strike in the second leg of the semis, and it wasn’t a bad finish, either.
Beating Bradford City 2-0 on aggregate, Bolton will now play familiar regional rivals Stockport, with Wanderers set to clash with County in a decisive derby once again.
Bolton‘s instinctive volley from Chelsea youth product and former Hull City man, Xavier Simons, resulted in some very satisfying limbs at Valley Parade.
The home fans did have plenty to cheer on the night, with efforts from Metcalfe, Power and Wright all either hitting the woodwork or being deflected just past it.
They thought they were level in the tie at one point after Kayden Jackson put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ultimately ruled out.
Agonising stuff for the Bradford supporters to burst into bedlam before the flag was raised for offside.
Many supporters will argue that the key moment came somewhat against the run of play, but The Trotters won’t care one bit as they book another trip down to the capital.
You can watch the rest of the highlights, including those scenes in the away end, down below.
Speaking even before the game, head coach Steven Schumacher told Sky Sports: “It’s a club we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.
“The expectation and the demand to get to the Championship is there, and once you’re in the building and you feel the mood when you win games, when you lose games, you can sense that this is a club that is desperate to get out and get to the next level.
“When you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well they are supported, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves, and one of us has got to find our way out of it if we can.”
You’d dare say he can practically smell promotion via the playoffs now; the local side has come quite a way since the lows of administration in 2019 and the bottom tier of the EFL – not without some heartbreaks in previous playoff finals – but could he be the one to get them back where they belong?
In case you missed the action from the other game, you can see more HERE, and to hear Schumacher’s thoughts after the decisive result, look no further…
Emily Sergeant -
15th March 2023 
