Guardiola leaves everything open: “I have to reflect on my future at Manchester City”
‘Citizens’ coach says he is ‘tired’ and remembers Johan Cruijff as his main reference
At a time when there is much talk about the future of Manchester City , with doubts about Pep Guardiola’s continuity in charge of the skyblues and with the departure of Txiki Begiristain from the post of sporting director, 13 years later, the Spanish coach said, in an interview, that he will «reflect on the future».
“I’m not done with my career in Manchester yet, I have to think about the future,” he said on the Italian programme Che Tiempo Che Fa , also admitting to being somewhat tired after nine years in charge of the Citizens : “I’m a bit tired, we all are, but at the end of the day, we enjoy doing what we do. I’m very happy.”
In the same interview, the coach remembers Johan Cruijff, his coach at Barcelona , as his great mentor. “I don’t know what my life and career would have been like if I hadn’t met Cruijff. He taught me a lot tactically, but above all, he raised me from a human point of view. He was a genius, he was unique. He made me fall in love with football”, recalled the Spanish coach, who left a reflection: “In life, you have to meet the right people, at the right times…”
When asked about the fact that he was the only one to achieve the much-desired treble – league, cup and Champions League – on two different occasions (2009, with Barcelona and 2023 with Manchester City ), Pep Guardiola responded… with humor: «I’m really good!» He later explained: «I’ve been in three very strong teams, including Barcelona , which is close to my heart. It helps a lot to know someone like Messi , but for me it’s easy because he’s the best player ever. Maybe it’s a lack of respect towards Pelé or Maradona, but I never imagined this longevity.»
Guardiola recalled the time he spent with Roberto Baggio, when they both played for Brescia. “I remember him at the end of his career, with a bad knee, but he was the strongest. He is loved everywhere,” he said, jokingly leaving open the possibility of a future in Italy: “If Baggio comes with me, I will come!”
