By Chris Wright
“Can I just stop you there?”
No doubt you’re aware, but there was a ripple of tittle-tattle that spread over the weekend linking Pep Guardiola with Manchester City, with the incumbent Bayern Munich coach reportedly entering a “verbal agreement” to take over at the Etihad over the summer.
Both Didi Hamann and Lothar Matthaus were quoted by the press as having an inside line on the situation, with both claiming to have caught wind of Pep having entered super-secret negotiations with City via a mysterious text message that was circulated (apparently only among a few select ex-Bayern old boys).
“A well-informed source sent me a text message saying that Man City talked to Pep Guardiola two months ago and he said no,” Hamann told Sky Sports.
“In the meantime there are new well-progressed negotiations going on.
“There is nothing signed yet but it is likely – in fact, extremely plausible – that Pep will be at Manchester City next season.”
Pretty definitive, no? Well, turns out it’s all complete clap-trap. Who’d have thought?
Speaking in his pre-Champions League press conference this morning, Guardiola was asked directly about the City rumours.
This was his response:
“I’ve said it 200 million times before, I have another year on my contract.
“I will be here next year. There is nothing more to say.”
A quick, simple and unequivocal way to nip tabloid bullshit in the bud. It’s a wonder that more players/coaches don’t do the same.