Pep Guardiola claims he would QUIT football before following in Jurgen Klopp’s footsteps and becoming an executive – as manager insists he still ‘loves’ coaching amid uncertainty over Man City future
- The Catalan serial winner will see his contract with Etihad expire at the end of his term
- He had already been linked with the England job before Thomas Tuchel was appointed
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Pep Guardiola is said to be quitting football before following his great rival Jurgen Klopp down the executive route, promising the role of manager is the only one he would consider.
Guardiola is confident he still enjoys the day-to-day involvement with Manchester City, even as the club waits to hear whether he wants to extend his current contract, which expires this summer.
Klopp recently announced he is taking on a new role as head of global football at Red Bull, whose clubs include Leipzig, New York and Salzburg.
The German left Liverpool last summer due to a burnout.
‘I like the green grass. To be the man with the tie, I don’t like it,” Guardiola said when asked about his future plans. ‘I criticized my manager a lot! I can’t.
Pep Guardiola has reiterated his love for coaching amid questions over his future at Man City
As long as the manager remains in football, he will be in the dugout – unlike newly minted Red Bull director Jurgen Klopp
‘Still, I like coming here to work in the morning, I love it! This is the main reason I am a manager.
‘I think about Wolves on Sunday and the messages I have to tell them (the players), the images I have to see, the training sessions I have to prepare. I desperately want to beat Wolves.β
After calling on fans to get behind new England manager Thomas Tuchel, Guardiola admits he hopes England’s managers will not become extinct in the Premier League.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is just one of three English managers currently in charge alongside Eddie Howe (Newcastle) and Sean Dyche (Everton).
‘Of course I would like to have British players in the competition. It’s normal,β he said.
‘I don’t know why there aren’t more. Maybe Txiki Begiristain appointed me because he knew me from Barcelona. If the sporting directors were British things would be different.
βI spoke to my players: how is Lee Carsley doing, how is Gareth Southgate doing. And they speak highly of them. Said they’re really good.’
Guardiola’s legacy is already assured as he has won a record four Premier League titles in a row. He did not want to become embroiled in a debate over whether he has now surpassed Sir Alex Ferguson.
Guardiola backed new England manager Thomas Tuchel, but stressed the need for more English coaches in the top flight
‘In this country and around the world, Sir Alex Ferguson is the best. For the time, for the team change, for the trophies.
‘Being close to one of the most important managers of all time is more than enough. It’s an incredible honor for me and for the entire staff, all the assistants and all the players I’ve had.
‘For the United fans it’s always Sir Alex. Absolutely fine. I’m not saying I’m a bad manager, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to stay here for long and be a success, but to be the best or not the best, that is, believe me, that’s not important.
“Just to say that Djokovic is better than Nadal, Nadal than Federer, Federer than Djokovic, so all three are exceptional.”
‘Jurgen Klopp has made me a better manager, Jose Mourinho has made me a better manager, Mikel Arteta is now becoming a better manager.
Midfielder Jack Grealish sees no decline in Guardiola’s drive and intensity.
Jack Grealish has spoken about his manager’s continued hunger when it comes to competing at the top
βThe manager feeds that hunger in us,β he said. ‘Personally, it is one of the best feelings in football when you win trophies with your teammates after a long and tough season.
‘The way he looks at football is different from everyone else. It’s something you can’t buy, it’s so unique and so good.’