Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola open to coaching in South America in future – ‘Why not?'
Pep Guardiola says he is open to managing in South America one day after experiencing the passion of their fans and teams in the opening week of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Manchester City manager praised the performances of the Brazilian and Argentinian team, as well as the colour their travelling supporters have brought to the competition.
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Guardiola has spent his entire managerial career in Europe but he has been linked with the Brazil national team role in the past.
With the Spaniard into his tenth season at Manchester City he spoke highly of the football culture when asked whether the experience has made him consider managing in South America in the future.
'Why not?' said Guardiola, who signed a new contract in November keeping him at City until the summer of 2027. 'Many many good things in all history that happen in football, many, many good things come from South America. Especially Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, I would say all the countries, many, many good things. The greatest players come from there, and after most of them come to Europe because the opportunities are economically prestigious.
'I love when you're in this tournament and you play South American teams with Europe, another continent. How they challenge, how they compete, how you see.
'I admire how they defend, Boca Juniors how every single goal is like, wow, the end of the world. You know, it's different styles, different ways. It's really, really good.
'I like that every game is tough, really, really tough. Except one or two, all the games are tight, and people say, 'Ah, surprise, European team lose'. Oh, yeah, welcome to the real world, right? Welcome to the world my friends. You look like you are just moving your belly, and you are not watching what happens, because they are good.'
Bayern Munich's 2-1 win over Boca Juniors on Saturday was the first defeat of the tournament for South America. The favourites coming into it were all European sides but Guardiola says he is not as surprised by some of the results.
'For the South American teams, the competition may be the maximum. For European teams, it is [just] a World Cup,' he said.
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'I was lucky to play as a manager in this competition four times and we won four times. What would happen in Brazil is they would have a carnival for one week, dancing and celebrating but it is cultural for the continent and countries.
'Now we are here, I want to do the best, I want to enjoy the moment here because you are here one time every four years and I want to do well and I want to arrive in the latter stages.'
Guardiola confirmed he will change all his outfield players against UAE side Al Ain but reiterated that he wants a smaller squad by the end of the window.
'No news, good news,' Guardiola said in response to a question about reports linking Ilkay Gundogan with a move to Galatasaray. 'So I don't know anything, I didn't speak with him, and if he will not be part, he would not be here. But at the same time, we have – right now – a long squad, too many players, so we cannot go with 26, 27 players this season because there would be more without playing, and step by step maybe a few players are going to move. But right now, Ilkay is absolutely part of my mind and the team.'
He previously threatened to quit if he was carrying too many players this upcoming season but he was more diplomatic on the subject this time.
'I would love to have the players that we have now all season. I would love it,' he said. 'I don't have any complaints about the players, how they behave. The problem is they will be unhappy during the season. They will be sad, they will be disappointed. I don't want that.
'For me it's not a problem. I have more selection (but) I don't like to be six, seven players, just in case injuries, being at home. So I do it that way. I do that for them.
'So that's why we have to see what happens. We still have a long time, I would say, until the transfer window will be closed. W''ll see what happens step by step.'
Ilkay Gundogan is one of the players who have been linked with a move away despite only returning to the club last summer following a year at Barcelona.
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