Commentary
Pep Guardiola doesn't intend to offend anybody
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jan 21, 2016
That possibility took on legs with a report by France Football that Manchester United officials met with Guardiola in Paris last week. The story even mentioned a location: the famous Bristol Hotel on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. There was only one problem with the story: Manchester United denied the meeting took place.
United's current manager is the unpopular Louis van Gaal, who at the end of December appeared on his way out at Old Trafford. But since a 2-0 loss to Stoke City on Boxing Day, United is unbeaten in its last five games. A 1-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday left United only seven points behind leaders Arsenal and Leicester City and van Gaal proclaiming that the Red Devils could still lift the EPL trophy.
There have been suggestions that van Gaal would be ready to walk at the end of the season, and no one at Old Trafford would seem to be unhappy if that happened. The feeling has been that Guardiola would be headed to Man City and with him unavailable United would have no choice but to sign Jose Mourinho as manager. But who would you rather have as your manager, Guardiola or Mourinho?
Former United star Gordon McQueen said his former club must pull out all the stops to sign Guardiola.
“Imagine if Guardiola goes to City and they sign Lionel Messi [who played for the Spaniard at Barcelona]," McQueen said last week. "That would devastate United. They might as well turn the lights out at Old Trafford -- that would be the ultimate nightmare. That’s why United have to go all out to get Guardiola, whatever it costs. United have the money, so just pay it!
Guardiola remains coy about his future plans, but he admits he doesn't like all the bother and how it might affect others, including van Gaal, who coached him at the end of his 11-year playing career at Barcelona.
"It was not my intention to offend anybody," he said. "Normally in my career as a coach and as a player, I respect my colleagues a lot."
6 comments about "Pep Guardiola doesn't intend to offend anybody".
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Pep Guardiola speaks with forked tongue. After his Bayern Munich organization completely flipped off MLS at the All-star game in Portland, OR in 2014, Pep had the brass balls to disrespect Timbers (and all-star coach) Caleb Porter by making an ass of himself and refusing to shake Porter's hand after the game. He needs to not only check his attitude, but also his history. This was not respect, it was total disrespect. But of course, he probably thinks MLS is bush league anyway and Porter is not on equal terms. I say pox on him and all the other egotistical coaches.
I agree he is egotistical and he probably does think of mls as bush league, but he did have good reason to be upset over that all-star game.
Yes Pep had a reason to be upset at the all star game, but he should have handled it better. Caleb could have handled it better too. He is young and was new to MLS. MLS should have an internal all star game. The real exciting possibility/news though is that Sunil was seen meeting Pep at a New York Waffle House! Adios JK?
Hey Woodie, wouldn't that be a helluva kick-in-the-grass if sunny sunil did cut his chord with JK and install Senor Pep? BUT... there is always a "but", does US Soccer have enough bucks to pay for the likes of DT Pep? and are you sure it was at the NY Waffle House, or the old CONCACAF offices in the chump towers? Just askin'!
Haha. I was trying for levity. I didn't know if New York had In and Out burgers. To be honest, we probably don't have the coin nor the players he's accustomed to. I still like to believe that JK took this position for the right reasons, to further US soccer. But for the life of me I can't tell what he's trying to do on the pitch.
so funny US teams take friendlies so seriously, only real match was 1-0, the Bayern fans were having a good time, & we we won't be sorry to see him go.......