No Messi for Man City: Guardiola

Pep Guardiola began life as Manchester City manager on Sunday by dismissing any chance of signing Lionel Messi and outlining his determination to silence critics who doubt he will be able to replicate his success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Guardiola, possibly the most coveted coach in world soccer, was welcomed by an estimated 6,000 City supporters at a fan event at the club’s Etihad Stadium campus.

Presented alongside six players from across City’s various teams, in front of a screen bearing the motto “It Begins,” Guardiola was relaxed — even to the point of answering a question from a heck ling fan about whether Messi would be following him to City.

“He’s not a bad player, this guy,” Guardiola responded. “But I am sorry, Messi has to stay in Barcelona for the rest of his career.”

Guard io la has won 22 trophies— including the Champions League twice—since 2008, firstly with a Messi-inspired Barcelona until 2012 and then at Bayern Munich from 2013-16.

City will be the biggest challenge of his career, though, given the strength in depth of the Premier League. City finished fourth in the league last season in Manuel Pellegrini’s last year in charge.

“I proved myself where I was born in Barcelona and after I proved myself in Germany,” Guardiola said, “and I want to prove myself here.”

City said Guardiola will have an eight-strong backroom team including four assistant coaches, one of whom will be Mikel Arteta after the midfielder chose to retire following five seasons at Arsenal.