Pep Guardiola suggests he picked Man City over Chelsea because of Roman Abramovich tactic

PEP GUARDIOLA has suggested he picked Manchester City over Chelsea because of the sacking culture at the London club.
Guardiola’s Manchester City have piled the pressure on Maurizio Sarri by inflicting a humiliating 6-0 defeat at the Etihad yesterday.

And Guardiola was asked about his counterpart at the end of the game revealing he enjoyed the freedom he is allowed at City – and suggested that’s what allows him to be successful.

City had a difficult first season under Guardiola but then won the title in his second and are on course to do the same this year.

However Chelsea are famed for giving managers the boot at the first sign of trouble and are onto their 11th permanent manager since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was desperate to appoint Guardiola in west London, dreaming of a team who could play with the style his Barcelona side did.

But Guardiola first joined Bayern Munich and then eventually City when he did come to England.

Manchester United were also keen on Guardiola, with Sir Alex Ferguson meeting him in New York before he chose City, partly to do with his links to the Spaniards already at the club.

“People don’t understand how difficult the first year can be,” Guardiola said.
“People need time, it only depends on the owners, the people in charge need to believe.

“I came to Manchester City because the bosses, chairman and Txiki (Begiristain), he knows me.

“He doesn’t believe I’m bad when we lose and good when we win.

“That’s why I’m enjoying it in Manchester.”

Guardiola built his name at Barca and was constantly linked with a move to the Premier League when the time came for him to leave.

‘Pep Stalk’ was the Sun’s headline from a story reporting that Chelsea were ready for Guardiola to name his price.
And Oliver Kay from the Times discussed Chelsea’s obsession with Guardiola on the Sunday Supplement on Sky Sports in February 2016.

“Allegri and Conte are the two names buzzing around. Guardiola is the guy Abramovich has been obsessed with for as long as Man City have,” said Kay.



“When it came to it, they were not in the position to get him because they’ve made themselves look an unappealing proposition.

“Allegri is a completely different type of manager. He’s obviously a very good manager, but they have been obsessed with Guardiola for a long, long time.

“When are Chelsea going to appoint that manager that sees them through three years, let alone 18 months? It just seems with Chelsea that it’s always a case of: ‘Who is available?’ rather than having a plan.”

And now, with Sarri on the ropes, calls are coming for the Italian to be dismissed after just half a season.

Sarri’s side slipped out of the top four with the defeat after Manchester United beat Fulham 3-0 on Saturday.
And Chris Sutton thinks the players aren’t working for the Italian.

“He’s stubborn and I there are questions over Sarri,” Sutton told the BBC’s 606.

“This is the same Sarri who said not so long back that he can’t motivate his players.

“And if you’re the owner of the club, what are you thinking?

“Today (Sunday), did all the players give it their all? Well, I’m not so sure they did.”

Source:www.express.co.uk