Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that his next plan is coaching a national team.
However, taking the Spain job is no certainty for the Catalan.
He said, “A national team is the next step.
“I need to take a break after seven years at Manchester City, I need to stop and see, learn from other managers, and maybe take this path.
“I would like to be a coach at a European championship, a Copa America, or a World Cup.”
Manchester City staged a stunning late comeback with three goals in five minutes to beat Aston Villa and win the Premier League as their title chances looked to be slipping away amid dramatic scenes at Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side needed victory to secure their fourth title in five seasons but were facing the prospect of ending the season empty-handed as goals either side of the interval from Matty Cash and Philippe Coutinho put Villa 2-0 ahead and in control.
It looked as if Villa manager Steven Gerrard might help his former club Liverpool secure the title – until City turned the game on its head in an atmosphere bordering on hysteria.
Ilkay Gundogan, on as a substitute for Bernardo Silva, gave City hope with a far-post header in the 76th minute, and Etihad Stadium was a wall of noise when Rodri drove a low finish past Villa keeper Robin Olsen two minutes later.
The title-winning recovery was complete with nine minutes left as Gundogan once again arrived at the far post to put City in front, the decisive contribution on this nerve-shredding final day.
City did need those three points as Liverpool beat Wolverhampton Wanderers – with City boss Guardiola overcome with emotion and breaking down in tears at the final whistle.
Manchester United Champions League winner Patrice Evra has taken fresh aim at Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Evra and Guardiola have gone back and forth ever since City were knocked out of the Champions League as the Frenchman criticised the club for not having ‘personalities’. Guardiola hit back by suggesting that Evra himself lacked character as his Barcelona side smashed United in the 2011 Champions League final.
Evra spoke after United legends hosted Liverpool legends in a charity game at Old Trafford on Saturday, but the Frenchman wasn’t feeling so kind about Guardiola.
“I didn’t understand to be honest,” Evra told the Manchester Evening News following United legend’s loss to Liverpool.
“I am not watching that much in the media, and then a friend sends me Guardiola talking about ‘maybe Patrice Evra wants a job’ and then after ‘we destroyed them with Barcelona’. I was working for Amazon Prime and I just said playing under Guardiola, when you have personality, it must be difficult, when you have ego.
“I am talking about players when they played with him and they always say he has been a problem. What I said was nice, but now if you want to go talk, I will talk. I don’t see any City player who loves him.
“He is a genius, but as a person, I don’t know him personally. I was surprised he even had time to answer to Patrice Evra, I am a retired player, I am doing my job.
“I was a little surprised. But me, I am always happy, I don’t have any hate in my heart. But when people want to do some banter, I am ready for that.
“By the way, he wins because he had Xavi, Iniesta and [Lionel] Messi. Of course you’re going to win the Champions League. But since he don’t have them, it is a long time ago he won the Champions League.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says only by winning the Champions League will his team get the recognition they deserve.
City face a potentially season-defining six days in the coming week as they do battle with title rivals Liverpool twice either side of their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.
“We feel all together, inside, we will remember this period with big satisfaction for what we have done,” said Guardiola, whose side were beaten Champions League finalists last season.
“Sometimes (people say) we have to get the proof from outside to be happy inside. That is stupid. There’s no sense in always looking for proof from outside that what you are doing is right.
“But I agree with people that say, ‘You didn’t win the Champions League’ (because) maybe to have this recognition from everyone in the world outside you do have to conquer Europe.
“If it’s going to happen I don’t know but I think, so far, what we have done here we are incredibly happy with. We did many good things.”
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola admits part of his commitment to the club is due to his rivalry with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
On the eve of Sunday’s title showdown with Liverpool, Guardiola reaffirmed his commitment to City and said he would happily sign a new 10-year contract if he could.
“I’m under contract here, I’m so happy here,” said Guardiola. “I’m willing to stay here forever. There cannot be a better place to be, I’d extend the contract for 10 years. It looks like when you praise your team, you praise yourself, but that’s far away from my intention. My team, they are the best.
“But we absolutely wouldn’t be as good were it not for Liverpool. After 100 points, then we got 98 and they were just behind us. When you have someone pushing you, you have to make another step.
“Jurgen, as a manager, has been the biggest rival I’ve ever had in my career and I think what both teams propose is good for football.
“In Munich I faced Jurgen for one year and we were there all the time. Apart from the year we made 100 points, then they made 99, the rest were tight. The point is not a jibe to Jose – he’s an exciting manager and I was his rival, but I’ve been here five years and played many times against Liverpool.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits he feels sorry for rival Chelsea’s manager Thomas Tuchel after the London club were left with an uncertain future on Thursday.
The club were going to be affected by sanctions imposed on owner Roman Abramovich.
Guardiola said he was unclear about the implications of the action brought about by the UK government.
He was unwilling to delve into what it might mean for European club champions Chelsea.
Long-time Chelsea owner Abramovich was one of seven Russian oligarchs facing new measures after Thursday’s announcement, and the impact on Chelsea looks to be significant.
Abramovich, who has previously been photographed with Russian president Vladimir Putin, has had his assets frozen.
The decision was made in the wake of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Chelsea have been granted a special sporting licence to be able to continue trading as a football club.
But measures have been placed upon the club, including a ban on selling tickets, with only season-ticket holders permitted to attend matches.
Guardiola said he did not “know exactly the reason why” the sanction had been imposed.
But he said he understood the consequences for Tuchel and his Chelsea playing squad would be challenging.
“Of course with the position for the manager, for Thomas Tuchel and the players, it’s uncomfortable, and I feel sorry for them because they’re there to do their job as well as possible,” Guardiola said. “For the rest, I don’t know, I have to wait.”
Chelsea beat Manchester City in last year’s UEFA Champions League final.
They sit third in the English Premier League this season, with Guardiola’s team in a title battle with Liverpool further up the table.
Speaking at a pre-match news conference ahead of Manchester City’s trip to Crystal Palace, which does not take place until Monday, Guardiola gave reporters something to think about.
He acknowledged that Premier League managers and head coaches are often asked about subjects in which they lack specialist knowledge.
“We are the face of the club, we’re here every day, and you ask freely whatever you want, but you have to understand there are subjects we don’t know,” the Spaniard said.
“We don’t have a one-hour lesson to speak or talk about what you’re asking for.
“I’m empathic enough to put (myself) in the position of the manager of Chelsea and the players. It must be an uncomfortable situation, but it was this morning’s headlines and I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City must maintain their high standards if they are to fend off Liverpool this season.
City were sublime in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Manchester United at the Etihad.
The victory restored City’s six point lead over Liverpool, although the Reds have a game in hand.
The two contenders will meet at the Etihad on April 10.
“In the first half we struggled to get going, but we felt from the first minute of the second half that we had the game in our hands,” Guardiola said.
“I’m so demanding, but I know my players’ limits. If the second half wasn’t our best level then I don’t know what we have to do.
“The biggest success for this team is to have is to be there again to fight the best opponents I have ever faced in my life in Liverpool.”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says stopping Cristiano Ronaldo will see them beat Manchester United on Sunday.
Ronaldo has endured a difficult start to 2022, scoring just once in the calendar year so far.
Guardiola has admitted he is a big admirer, saying: “As a finisher he’s exceptional, I’m not going to disguise it was a joy to watch him these years.
“We have to explode our game, our strength to avoid Cristiano close to the box, because there he is almost unstoppable.
“When you are one of the greatest that he was in terms of being a goalscoring machine, you will always be there.
“He is so strong mentally. He handled pressure without a problem because he lived with expectation through his career and always responded in a positive way.”
He continued: “I remember when we played there and we were winning 1-0 and in control, perfect, perfect, and then the first time arrived he made a chance and Eddy made an incredible save.
“He hadn’t touched the ball but nearly scored. That is the quality and ability that he has.
“We have to control him.
“He’s been one of the greatest in the last 15 years, alongside Messi. What these two guys have done, we’re not going to see again.
“When you achieve these things, under scrutiny every second of your life and today, even more now with social media.
“As a finisher he’s exceptional, I’m not going to disguise it was a joy to watch him these years.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes they cannot afford any slip in this season’s title race.
Guardiola believes his side will probably have to win all their remaining matches if they are to successfully defend their Premier League title.
A late 1-0 victory over Everton got them back to winning ways after defeat to Tottenham and restored the six-point gap to second-placed in-form Liverpool, who have a match in hand.
“It’s not the first time we’ve been in this situation and we have learned from that in the past,” said Guardiola.
“If you want to be champion in the Premier League, against this rival – Liverpool, they are not going to drop points – you have to do your job in nearly all the games.
“We felt it in the past and we have to do it this year. So it’s not an exception.
“Eleven games left and we know exactly what we need to do; we need to win all of them or nearly all of them to be champion.
“Every game will be an incredibly tough battle and you have to face every game knowing if we drop points it will be difficult to be champion.”
Everton manager Frank Lampard admits he received a motivational message from Pep Guardiola after his sacking by Chelsea.
When Lampard was sacked by Chelsea in January 2021, Guardiola was one of the first people to get in touch to offer support.
Manchester City’s manager left a voice note, complimenting him on the work he had done at Stamford Bridge and how it would guarantee him opportunities in the future.
The pair had exchanged numbers a few years earlier – Lampard had been to watch City train – but didn’t have anything other than an amicable relationship, so the words that Guardiola left were not just unexpected, they were huge fillip for the 43-year-old.
“I’ve a huge respect for Pep,” said Lampard.
“I went up against him as a player, his teams were incredible; so to have that contact with him which, in all honesty, he instigated was a great thing. It gave me a real eye opener into what top managers and top people do.
“I think Alex Ferguson is a great reference point. He not only was one of the greatest managers of all time but he also had a real sentiment and emotional factor which means he has a strong link and support to any other coach, manager and person trying to walk anywhere near his path.
“The greats have that. They have real people skills. So when Pep contacted me or when we’ve had brief discussions on different matters, it is something I really appreciate. I look forward to seeing him in those terms.”