Pep Guardiola spoke in a press conference ahead of their FA cup clash against Arsenal. Here is what he said.
Guardiola opens up about when he knew he had to let Arteta join Arsenal
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta spent three years together on the Man City bench dissecting the English game.
Now that the Spanish coach is doing the same with Arsenal, the Man City manager has spoken candidly about letting his friend go in 2019.
Guardiola claimed he had to let Mikel Arteta leave Man City to become the Arsenal manager because he could not obstruct his buddy and former assistant’s ambitions.
According to the Independent, the former Barcelona coach said: “Everyone has dreams, and I know he went to his club, the team he dreams of. Because he played there and loves the team, he supports Arsenal.”
“Except against one team, when we score many goals here, he always jumps up and celebrates when I do, and he sits there.”
“I always say, ‘That guy likes Arsenal,’ and it was Arsenal. You have a contract, so I don’t have to stay here. You must fly. Life is too short.”
? "Always he jumps and celebrates, except one team. One team every time we score a goal I jump, come back he was sitting there. It was Arsenal. I said that guy likes Arsenal."
Pep Guardiola knew about Mikel Arteta's great love for Arsenal from when he was working at Man City pic.twitter.com/DhhqHVV4jD
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 26, 2023
Guardiola: Touchline bust-up with Arteta could happen sooner or later
Pep Guardiola acknowledges that he and Mikel Arteta would likely argue on the sidelines “sooner or later.”
“The last time we spoke, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” Guardiola remarked.
“Of course, he is a rival. He wants to win over me, and I want to win over him. From my perspective, he is a manager and a person I have the utmost regard for.”
“I know our personalities; we are not the world’s best friends when we lose. Even if we start fighting on the sidelines, that won’t alter.”
“I assume that’s going to happen sooner or later, but when it does, it won’t change how much I respect him or anything,” he said.
Guardiola responds to a question about his decision to sell Zinchenko & Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has claimed that he has no regrets about selling Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal.
“Oleks and Gabriel have been excellent with us,” Guardiola said to reporters before the two teams’ FA Cup match.
“Both as people and as football players, they have my utmost regard. Naturally, we want to defeat them. If it did, the players and teams agreed it should happen.”
Pep Guardiola was asked if he regrets letting Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko move to Arsenal ? pic.twitter.com/2ZUafmfPxC
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 26, 2023
“Oleks had numerous opportunities to leave, but instead he would say, “No, no, I want to stay,” and he would stay. Gabriel is identical. They needed a fresh challenge because they had been here for a long time.” “
They were desired by Arsenal, and this came about naturally. But given their success, I am incredibly happy for their family. So, if everything is going well for them, congrats.”
“Tomorrow, the following week, later in the season, and in the future, you must attempt to defeat them or come close to doing so.”
