Pep Guardiola insists he nonetheless has an “distinctive” relationship with Mikel Arteta forward of Manchester Metropolis’s enormous Premier League conflict towards Arsenal this Sunday.
Guardiola and Arteta labored collectively at Metropolis for three-and-a-half years earlier than the Spaniard changed Unai Emery in north London again in 2019.
The 2 groups have since gone head-to-head for the Premier League title over the past two seasons, with Guardiola successful each over his former apprentice.
Of their assembly earlier this marketing campaign, John Stones’ 98th-minute equaliser sealed a share of the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw on the Etihad Stadium.
However following the encounter, tensions between the 2 sides reached boiling level, with Erling Haaland’s “keep humble” jibe at Arteta sparking outcry among the many Arsenal gamers.
Arteta additionally instructed that he had “all the knowledge” about Metropolis’s use of “darkish arts”, however Guardiola dismissed the declare {that a} rift had developed between the coaches.
“Distinctive,” Guardiola stated, when requested about his relationship with Arteta at a information convention on Friday.
“With him and his household. We’re not in contact a lot as a result of we have now enterprise, however the respect that we have now is all the time there.”
Again on the highway this weekend
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— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) January 30, 2025
Forward of dealing with Arsenal this weekend, Metropolis additionally discovered their opponents for the play-off spherical of the Champions League after beating Membership Brugge 3-1 on Wednesday.
The Residents completed twenty second within the 36-team standings and had been drawn towards holders Actual Madrid, the facet that knocked them out on the quarter-final stage in 2023-24.
It’s yet one more troublesome fixture for Guardiola’s facet to navigate this month, with additional clashes towards Newcastle United, Liverpool and Tottenham to return in February.
The Metropolis boss described his tie with Madrid as a derby, whereas additionally insisting his revitalised group are prepared for the challenges that lie forward.
“We began in Paris after which Chelsea, so we’re already there with troublesome video games,” Guardiola stated. “We’ve got handled this type of unimaginable schedule for a lot of, a few years.
“So it’s not an issue. Madrid is extraordinarily troublesome. We all know that. It’s robust taking part in towards Actual and the issue is within the center taking part in Newcastle.”
“It seems like a derby already. 4 years in a row dealing with Actual Madrid,” Guardiola added on dealing with Carlo Ancelotti’s facet as soon as once more.
“However Bayern or Madrid – each had been actually robust. Hopefully, we are able to arrive within the first leg right here, after which at Madrid, as finest as potential.”
