Pep Guardiola says he has no regrets about Jadon Sancho leaving Manchester City nearly four years ago, and wished the young winger all the best in his career.
Pep Guardiola said: “Not a regret, he decided. He’s doing really well, congratulations, an exceptional player. A national team player with huge quality, doing really well in Dortmund. We wanted him to stay but he decided to leave – when they decide to leave all we can do is let them leave. I wish him all the best except when he plays against us. If he’s happy, I’m happy.”
The City boss added that no-one can tell whether Sancho might have enhanced his team had he stayed.
Pep Guardiola said: “Nobody knows, maybe he stays and we don’t play good or better. The life of every person decides the life they lead, the other people have to respect. We wanted him, he decided to go – all the best. We will face him, try to control him. We know the quality he has, everyone knows. The individual quality in Dortmund is from all departments, a strong team which in the Champions League has done well for many, many years. We have to prepare well. We have five to ten days to watch them – in the Champions League, in important games in the Bundesliga, what different systems (they use). But most important is to be focussed on what we have to do and maintain levels and try to do a good game. Not thinking for one second about a semi-final or final. It’s what we have to do a good game, here or in Budapest or wherever, come back, face Leeds (in the Premier League) and do a second leg. It depends over 180 minutes if we are better we are in the semi-final if not we congratulate them, wish them luck and prepare for the next competitions.”
The Borussia Dortmund and England star could return to haunt the Blues in the Champions League quarter-finals next month – if he recovers from a calf injury in time. Asked if they might have handled things differently in 2017.
