PEP GUARDIOLA claims Chelsea have lost “an incredible manager” – then told Manchester City HE will decide when he leaves as he shot down talk of pal Enzo Marseca replacing him.
Italian Marseca’s turbulent relationship with the Blues board reached boiling yesterday when he was axed after a series of fall-outs.
There was a growing feeling at Stamford Bridge that the 45-year-old has been trying to engineer an exit.
It then emerged that Marseca, who was Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad in the 2022/23 campaign, had discussed the possibility of succeeding the Spaniard should he leave City this summer.
But after the Cityzens blew the chance to close the gap on leaders Arsenal with a draw at Sunderland, he issued a spiky response when asked for his reaction to those suggestions.
He said: “No idea. You have, I’m pretty sure, more info than me.
“Why would I give you an update about an opinion that I don’t know about? It’s just a rumour. So, I’m sorry, I’m not going to answer that.
“You want to fire me? My salary is so high, so I have one more year. So…”
Talk has been rife that, despite having 18 months to go on his £19.5m-a-year deal, Guardiola could walk away from the Etihad after a trophy-laden decade in charge.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
And when asked directly if he still intends to be in the dug-out next season, he replied: “Oh my god. I have a contract, I’ve said it a thousand million times.
“I know you are bored of me, ten years here. You want [me to leave]? Yeah, I’m pretty sure of that.
“You know, I will leave one day. I promise. I promise. But I have a contract, I’m happy, I want to fight with my team.
“The hierarchy respect me. They proved it last season with what happened in this club that we didn’t win one game in two, three months. They support me. So what can I do?
“I want to try and do it, but maybe one day I don’t know. But I have one more year contract, I like to be here, so we will see. We will see.
“I’ve said it a thousand million times about that. So, but my credibility is zero, right?”
Guardiola, who takes his team to managerless Chelsea next, did confirm he would reach out to Marseca over the coming days.
And he claims he was not shocked at the news of his sacking even though his old protege led the Blues to Europa Conference League and World Club Cup success.
He added: “Football. Surprise. All I can confirm is how lucky I am. I was and I am in the club where I am. My club is extraordinary.
“Only I can say that Chelsea, I think from my point of view, lose an incredible, incredible manager. Incredible person, but it’s a decision from the hierarchy from Chelsea, so nothing to say.”
