Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has revealed health issues

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has, for the first time, addressed the visible scratches on his head that fans recently noticed. Ahead of the match against Manchester United, the Spanish tactician spoke to reporters, with many observing that he frequently scratched his head, leaving marks behind.

The 53-year-old manager disclosed that he has been dealing with a skin condition for several years, requiring antihistamine medication.

"I have skin problems. For the past two or three years, I’ve been taking antihistamines. The scratches on my nose? Yes, they’re from my nails. But the rest is because of the skin issue."

It’s worth recalling that fans and journalists first noticed scratches on Guardiola’s face and head after the 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in the Champions League last month. At the time, when asked about the marks, the Catalan coach jokingly stated that he almost harmed himself after his team conceded three goals within 15 minutes.

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Notably, heading into the derby, City are arguably in their worst form under Guardiola, having lost seven of their last ten matches across all competitions.