Arsenal Football Club manager, Mikel Arteta has sent a message of sympathy to Pep Guardiola after the Manchester City manager said he wanted to ‘harm himself’.
Arteta when asked about his former boss said: “That’s something very personal but I feel a lot of sympathy for all my colleagues because I know the job, how ruthless this industry is and how we get judged just by one thing — results.”
Following Tuesday’s 3-3 draw in the Champions League against Feyenoord, Guardiola was questioned in the press conference about scratches across his head and nose.
He explained that it was caused by his fingernail before adding with a smile, ‘I want to harm myself’.
The Man City boss took to social media on Wednesday to issue a statement, insisting he did not mean to make light of self-harm.
Arsenal manager also urged Guardiola to look forward to another game, amidst the current form of Manchester City.
“Regardless if you do exactly the same thing and the outcome becomes different. We have to deal with that, I know how difficult it is because personally I’ve been through that a lot and every defeat obviously is super painful and that’s it.
“Just put some perspective into it like we always do and move on because there’s always another game,” he added.
Both Arteta and Guardiola are close, Arteta having worked under the 53-year-old as assistant coach at the Manchester club between 2016 and 2019.
