DREAM WORLD Pep wants to boss it like Gareth... but only one day
PEP GUARDIOLA has dropped a tantalising hint that he could one day become England manager.
The Manchester City boss admitted he wants a crack at winning the World Cup after taking care of unfinished business at The Etihad. Guardiola’s contract with the champions expires in 2023 – and when he leaves City he will take another break from the game before looking for a job at international level. With current Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate hoping to move back into club management when his newly-extended contract ends after Euro 2024, the timing for the FA could be perfect.
Guardiola said: “Gareth Southgate is doing an incredible job and he has just signed a new contract, so congratulations to him.
“I don’t think about it but when I finish here training it would be a pleasure to live a World Cup or a European Championship.
“I would like that. But normally it is not easy because there are so few positions.
“I would like it to happen but if it doesn’t I will train a club. So no problem.
“Gareth is doing an incredible job. Reaching the semi-finals of the last World Cup is a huge success for English football.
“I don’t know how many years he has on his contract but if he is happy and he wants more… I’m not here to take a position from him.
“As long as my energy and love for what I am doing is here then I don’t know what’s going to happen.” Guardiola, who took a sabbatical in 2012, has won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and four consecutive Carabao Cups in his first five seasons at City.
And his impact on English football has been so profound that it would be unthinkable for the FA not to approach him should he become available. Guardiola is adamant he will never manage another Premier League club and revealed that he might even come back for a second spell at The Etihad.
He added: “Years ago, I never thought I would be the Manchester City trainer and that I would be here for six seasons. Never.
“So life dictates your future and we will see what happens.
“But in England, always I will be Man City and if they ever want me back I will come back to Man City.
“I don’t think I will train another club in England apart from this one.” City face West Ham at The
Etihad today and the Blues boss believes the Hammers are genuine contenders to finish in the top four.
He insists that the Premier League remains the acid test – despite his determination to win the Champions League with City.
Guardiola, who is planning to take his squad to Abu Dhabi for warm weather training in January, said: “It’s a fact that West Ham are really good.
“They have had an incredible season – and not just this season but the previous season as well.
“It’s not a secret how well they are doing under David Moyes. As long as Man City are there, it doesn’t matter to me who else is there in the Champions League.
“At the end of the season the four teams who qualify for the Champions League deserve it.
“The FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, the Champions League, you can have one bad day.
“But in the Premier League, the winner fully deserves it and the first four teams who qualify fully deserve it.
“You play every game, deal with injuries, go through good moments, bad moments, good weather, bad weather, refereeing decisions.”