Man Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola rejects concept of Barcelona return

Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola has closed the door on a return to Barcelona at any time sooner or later.

Guardiola, whose contract with Metropolis expires in June 2025, hinted in Might that subsequent season might be his final on the Etihad.

When requested on Monday if a return to Barça might be on the playing cards, Guardiola, who guided the Catalan outfit to 14 honours throughout his 4 seasons in cost, mentioned: “It is a door that’s closed.”

The 53-year-old spoke throughout a information convention at his annual golf match, the Legends Trophy, that’s being performed in Girona, Spain.

“The Barça bench is likely one of the most complex as a result of you must handle many instances. In Manchester every part we do stays inside and at Barça, every part comes out,” he mentioned.

The previous Barça participant coached Metropolis to a file fourth-successive Premier League title one 12 months after main his group to a historic treble.

Barça completed the 2023-24 marketing campaign trophy-less and appointed Hansi Flick as Xavi Hernández’s alternative in Might. Xavi was dismissed on the finish of the season with the membership in search of a change in route.

Xavi took over the Spanish group in November 2021 and was usually in comparison with Guardiola.

Guardiola mentioned of these comparisons: “What is definite is that it is not my fault. That is for positive. I have been 11 or 12 years away from Barcelona. I am not a suspect in that sense. Ask that to people who have made the comparisons, I have never. I want Xavi the most effective find a brand new problem.”

As for Xavi’s successor, Guardiola mentioned he believes Barça are in good palms. Flick, who had been out of labor since September 2023 when he was fired by the Germany nationwide group, had beforehand overseen appreciable success at Bayern Munich.

The German supervisor received the Champions League as a part of a treble in 2020 earlier than he took on the Germany job in the summertime of 2021.

“I want him the most effective of luck on the planet,” Guardiola mentioned.

“Whenever you arrive at a brand new membership you at all times need assistance. You need to attempt to get assist from inside and have complete assist. You need to go little by little. You may’t be champion in September or October.

“Hansi is a rare particular person, who has lots of want. Rather a lot. However he wants his time. What he did at Bayern was extraordinary, he received every part.”

Barça completed runners-up to Actual Madrid in LaLiga, with their rivals including France star Kylian Mbappé to their already robust roster.

“With or with out Mbappé, they’re at all times robust,” Guardiola mentioned.

“It is the rival to beat within the Champions [League], indubitably. Everybody is aware of that. For all of us which might be behind them, it is a motivation to attempt to beat them. Madrid has at all times been very robust and they’re including up entrance a participant that has lots of power.”