Pep Guardiola has said that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta would have been his ideal replacement, had he left Man City a couple of years ago.
Guardiola has said Arteta would have been his replacement at Man City
Considering both managers’ respective contracts expire in 2025, many have speculated whether the protégé will take over the helm from the master at the Etihad Stadium in two years’ time.
However, one would argue why the Gunners boss would even do so, considering he could build a dynasty at the club where he once played and captained.
As Man City prepare to face Arsenal in the 4th Round of the FA Cup in a much-awaited showdown, Pep Guardiola has said that Mikel Arteta would have been fit to be his replacement a couple of years back.
“I’m pretty sure if I leave [Man City] before, he would be here, he’d be the best absolutely. I extend the contract, sorry, and he went”, he told Manchester Evening News’ Joe Bray.
Ultimately, both clubs’ fanbases must be respectively delighted at where their tacticians currently are, as they are tailor-made for their jobs.
And funnily enough, both managers are going toe-to-toe for the Premier League title, with a reported lack of leadership at City a potential factor why the defending champions are chasing the North Londoners.
Hard to disagree with Guardiola
Considering Mikel Arteta has worked under Pep Guardiola for years and knowns the ins and outs of Man City, he would have been the perfect man to come in as his replacement.
Much like the 52-year-old, the Arsenal boss also utilises the juego de posición (positional play, in English) philosophy, which seems to have become the tactical zeitgeist.
As a result, Man City fans would have been delighted to see Mikel Arteta be appointed as the replacement for Pep Guardiola.
Perhaps the only question mark over the 40-year-old would have been whether he would be afforded the same amount of time as he was at Arsenal, as the Sky Blues are yet to go trophyless since 2017.
