Context: Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta’s Exchange Over Comments
A minor tension arose between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta after Arteta’s cryptic comments about his time at Manchester City. Arteta had previously suggested he had insight into the inner workings of the club, which led Guardiola to ask for clarification. Guardiola referenced the 115 charges of financial misconduct against City, suggesting Arteta’s comment could be related to those.
Pep Guardiola on Arteta’s Remarks:
Guardiola: “Next time he has to be more clear exactly what does it mean. He said he was here four years and we know exactly what happened here, because it can be related in all the process now with 115 charges, maybe it’s about that, he knows information about that maybe. Or maybe he had something like, I don’t know, because really, next time I have to see more clearly exactly what happened.”
Mikel Arteta’s Response:
Arteta: “I can repeat it very clear, I love Pep, I’ve admired him since I was 10 years old. I respect him profoundly, I am so grateful for everything he did for me and continues to do for me and I consider him a friend. I love and respect all of the staff there because I worked with them for four years and when I said that I know them, I meant I know how hard they work.
“I haven’t seen a human being work as hard as Pep and the coaches and everybody in that football club is consistently winning and the reason they are there is because they continue to maintain that hunger. This is exactly what I’ve learned and what I mean so it cannot be anymore clear than that.
“If you want to I can repeat it but if someone wants to damage the relationship that’s not in my hands but that feeling is profound, he knows it, the staff knows it because I still maintain with them today, with the board, with the ownership, with everyone.
“In sport there has to be a will to win, they have it and I have it. We have it for sure because we haven’t won it but they have it even if they have won it more than anybody else here. We have to learn and it has to be inspiring for us and it is for me, this is what I mean. It’s remarkable what they have achieved because they have that willing mentality, hopefully that is clear.”
