Pep Guardiola claims he would rather play golf than manage Man Utd as City boss prepare for derby
PEP GUARDIOLA insists he will never manage Manchester United – and would rather play golf than take charge at Old Trafford.
The current City boss was Alex Ferguson’s top choice to replace him back in 2012 and the pair held talks in New York.
But having spent three-and-a-half years in charge at the Etihad, Guardiola says that it will never happen now.
He says he would sooner be on the golf course or lie on a beach in the Maldives than make a controversial move across town.
Ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup derby, Guardiola said: “After training City I won’t train United. It is like I would never train Madrid. Definitely not.”
Asked if that would change if a spell at Old Trafford was the only one on the table, Pep smiled: “I’d be in the Maldives if I don’t have any offers!
“Maybe not the Maldives because it doesn’t have any golf courses!”
MAN UTD NEWS LIVE: Follow for all the latest on the Red Devils
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was under pressure towards the end of last year – particularly when Mauricio Pochettino left Tottenham.
But Guardiola believes the Norwegian – who masterminded a win at the Etihad only last month – is starting to put his mark on the team.
And he feels with time the former Molde boss can get it right.
most read in football
He said: “I think he starts to see his team like he wanted. The last game v Arsenal they lost but you see clear what he wants.
“It was not easy to handle a team big big club always demanding to be champions in all competitions.
“But I think every manager needs time and I have the feeling United starts to play the way he wants.”