Guardiola: ‘Part of me is leaving’
Coach Pep Guardiola gave a press conference on Friday morning (18) with curious answers about the changes behind the scenes at Manchester City and his uncertain future at the club. City faces Wolverhampton , this Sunday, away from home, for the Premier League .
On the 8th, the news came out that football director Txiki Begiristain will leave Manchester City at the end of the season . He is Guardiola’s right-hand man, who set up the club’s winning project and who was also successful with Pep at Barcelona .
— A part of me is leaving, I would say. A friend of mine, one of the architects of creating one of the best teams of all time at Barcelona back then, and now here. I knew about the decision for a long time, for family and personal reasons, I know how grateful he is for this experience here.
Guardiola continued his speech by highlighting that Begiristain will be missed especially because of the trust the director gave him in bad times.
— When things are bad I want to destroy everything, and all the time he would say: ‘See you tomorrow, have a coffee’. I have the opinion that Manchester City is so solid, incredibly well structured, and it has to be that way. All the families have to move on [in the case of Txiki Begiristain], and the club will move on.
Begiristain’s departure has further fuelled speculation that Guardiola, who is under contract with Manchester City at the end of the season, could leave. The manager has admitted that he has not yet made a decision and that the club are not pressuring him to respond.
He also revealed that he didn’t expect to stay at the club for so long, but it happened because he won a lot. In a humorous tone, he stated that the climate is the factor that will affect his future. ” I’m waiting for it to change, and then I’ll make a decision .”
Guardiola gives his opinion on his successor at Manchester City
Two names are being tipped as favourites to succeed Guardiola at Manchester City. Ruben Amorim , who has been doing a fantastic job at Sporting , seems to be in pole position, as he works with Hugo Viana , the Citizens’ next director of football . The other is Xabi Alonso , who made history by winning the German Championship unbeaten last season with Bayer Leverkusen .
The legendary Catalan coach has said he will give his opinion on Manchester City’s next manager if the club asks him to.
— Because of the relationship we have and if they ask for my opinion, I will give my opinion. But that is not my job. The decision will be made by them, not by me. It belongs to the club, but if they want my opinion, I will give it to them. As a friend, as people who share incredible moments together.
