Mikel Arteta insists the time is not yet right for him to pay tribute to Pep Guardiola amid speculation the Manchester City manager is ready to call time on his Premier League managerial career.
The future of one of the most successful coaches in the history of English football has been a topic of intense speculation all season with Guardiola keeping everyone, including his players and employers, guessing until the very last.
Ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, the 55-year-old appeared to hint he was ready to see out the final year of his current contract, but widespread reports broke last night confirming he is set to depart following Sunday’s game against Aston Villa.
Enzo Maresca, who left Chelsea in January, has already been lined up to replace Guardiola having acted as his assistant at the Etihad earlier in his own career.
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Arteta, himself, meanwhile, owes much of the success he is currently enjoying to Guardiola having also learned by his side at City before returning to Arsenal nearly seven years ago.
Asked for his reaction to the news one of his mentors and major influences was set to make a decision that would send shockwaves through world football, Arteta opted for a brief and dignified response.
He said: ‘I cannot comment on that. I think the day that he makes the decision to stay or leave, then we can comment.’
City, for their part, are yet to respond to the mounting speculation ahead of tonight’s game against Bournemouth.
A victory on the south coast would see the title race go to the final day of the season and prolong the hope of what could be a fairy tale end to Guardiola’s reign.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager was yet again asked about his intentions at Monday’s pre-match press conference.
After being asked about Andoni Iraola’s imminent departure from Bournemouth, Guardiola was questioned on whether he had thought about his own farewell.
He sighed heavily and said: ‘Next (question). So many times – I have one more year!’
Guardiola was later asked if he would be honoured to have the newly-expanded North Stand at the Etihad Stadium named after him.
‘No, no, no, no, no, no, I have no idea (about) that,’ he said. ‘They don’t have to do anything, honestly.’
Guardiola then reflected on his time at City and the departures of John Stones and Bernardo Silva.
He said: ‘The important thing in our lives is when you look back and say, ‘Wow, you can look with a big smile and that is good’.
‘And Bernardo and John can feel that. We spoke about that in last days and about what we lived. So when you are an old grandfather and you look back and you can laugh for the memories. That is the most important thing in life.
‘Whatever happens in this part of the season, and when I extend my contract three more years, and after that I look back and say, how nice it has been.’