Pep Guardiola says ‘I don’t remember’ tipping Roberto De Zerbi to succeed him as Man City manager… as Treble winner admits he can LEARN from Brighton boss
- Guardiola has expressed doubts about the mussels he tipped De Zerbi to succeed him
- High-flying Man City play Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Pep Guardiola says he cannot remember telling anyone that he believes Roberto De Zerbi will succeed him as manager of Manchester City.
A story has emerged claiming the Catalan privately tipped the Brighton boss to succeed him after City drew at the Amex Stadium in May.
But while Guardiola may have cast doubt on whether that has taken place, he has repeatedly been effusive in his praise for the Italian and continues to do so ahead of Saturday’s meeting between their two clubs.
Guardiola, whose future is unclear beyond the expiry of his contract in 2025, said: ‘I don’t remember that.
‘Maybe I have a bad memory, but I’m sure Roberto can train in any team in the world. I have no doubts whatsoever.
Pep Guardiola doubted the mussels he tipped Roberto De Zerbi to succeed him at ManCity
‘I don’t remember saying that to the players. I remember saying before he arrived, one or two games later, about supporting the manager, but I don’t remember saying that honestly.
‘It’s none of my business. If the chairman asks my opinion, I will give my opinion, but that is none of my business.
‘I am not the sporting director. It is not my responsibility to say what is right or wrong.’
Former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk boss De Zerbi has made a big impression since taking over at Brighton just over a year ago.
He guided the club to European competition for the first time with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season and they have started the current campaign strongly.
Guardiola believes this proves that a manager does not need top-level experience to land the biggest jobs.
He said: ‘It doesn’t mean you have to be at the top clubs to be a manager of the top clubs. I was appointed first team (manager) of Barcelona, coming from the fourth division with no experience at the top level.
‘You have the idea of the club, the sporting director follows the idea, they hire the manager for this idea, they hire players to follow the idea. If that happens, things are going well.
‘Man City have done this for many years, Liverpool with Jurgen (Klopp) and won titles with the same process and the same ideas.’
The 52-year-old Guardiola is widely regarded as the greatest coach of his generation. Last year he added a third Champions League title to a stellar CV, which also includes five Premier League victories.
Yet even he has the feeling that he can learn from a relative youngster like 44-year-old De Zerbi.
Guardiola, 52, feels he can learn from a relative youngster like 44-year-old De Zerbi
He said: “His players are always in the perfect body shape to get the ball.
‘It’s stupid to say, but it’s one of the most important points. Everyone moves at the right time, pace.
‘Football is not ‘you have to move’, it’s when. It is a body shape in the perfect shape. It’s really good.
“Everything he does makes sense and I learn from it.”