Earlier on Friday, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola held his pre-match press conference ahead of his team’s fixture with Wolves this weekend. The Spaniard had a dramatic reaction after he was questioned multiple times on links with the England manager role and whether he had been offered the job by the FA. Guardiola was one of the names being floated as a potential replacement for Gareth Southgate who quit the job as England coach after the Euro 2024 campaign that saw the Three Lions lose to Spain in the final.
The former Barcelona manager’s deal with City runs out at the end of this season and there has been no update on his future with the club. However, certainly, he will not be coaching England anytime soon after the FA confirmed the appointment of German coach Thomas Tuchel as the new national team head coach on Wednesday. When the speculation came up again at his presser earlier today, Guardiola responded, “Thomas Tuchel is the manager, so congratulations for the FA and Thomas for the big job. I wish England, just for the fact I am nine years here, the very best for them.”
When the question persisted, Guardiola, visibly frustrated, shifted the conversation to his current role as Man City manager. He said, “Thomas Tuchel is the manager, so forget about it. I’m the manager of Manchester City, so the conversations I have are about Manchester City. This is what it is. Tuchel is the manager already, Thomas is that. This is the most important, the rest is not important.”
Guardiola’s future at City came under greater speculation following Txiki Beginstain’s announcement that he will leave his role as the club’s director of football at the end of the season. Commenting on Beginstain’s decision, Pep admitted a part of him will be leaving City with the director. He said, “Part of me is leaving. A friend of mine, an architect who created one of the best teams at Barcelona and here. Personally he will be missed a lot.”
However, the Spaniard recently said he is undecided yet if he will extend his stay at City beyond next summer. He spoke on an Italian talk show where he assured fans, “When I take it [a decision], I will inform you, for sure, 100 per cent. That’s why there is no news, and that’s why I don’t have to add absolutely anything else.”
TRENDING
