Pep Guardiola has managed to outlast several managers at Manchester United over the past few years and Erik ten Hag is the latest casualty.
In October last year, it was reported Manchester City viewed Ten Hag as a potential successor to Guardiola as they felt the pair shared tactical similarities.
However, in 2022, Erik ten Hag was appointed as Manchester United’s manager, replacing interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
Manchester City fans gave a sarcastic reaction to Ten Hag’s sacking by expressing their disappointment at the fact that United gave him his marching orders.
Manchester United have been struggling in the Premier League as well as the Europa League, with their 2-1 loss to Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham United side considered the final nail in the coffin in his spell at the club.
After the Dutchman masterminded a 2-1 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final last season, the option to extend his contract at United to an addition year was exercised.
Pep Guardiola feels ‘so sorry’ for Erik ten Hag after Man United sack
The defeat prompted Pep Guardiola to guarantee Manchester City will win the FA Cup in the 2024/2025 season a day later.
However, Guardiola knows more than most about the pressure that comes with managing top clubs.
After Erik ten Hag was fired by Manchester United, Pep Guardiola sent him a classy message to him in his latest press conference.
Guardiola said via BeanymanSports: “Always, I feel sorry for the managers, you know. Lose his position, so I’m so sorry for him. I have a good, I think incredible relationship [with him]. He represented Man United at the highest level in terms of behaviour.”
“Of course, our job as managers is one of the few jobs in the world that the people are expecting you to be sacked, that the people are expecting you have no job.”
Pep Guardiola continued: “So, I don’t see architects or doctors or teachers, so anything the teachers desire, get out! So, only, it’s us. It’s our job, we have to accept it. I wish him all the best, his family and of course, he’s going to come back stronger.”
“And he knows, I know, everybody knows, our job depends on the results. And if the results are not good enough, always, we are on the verge of staying or being sacked. I’m saying that, even myself, I’m not an exception. If the results are not good, there isn’t anything that can sustain it.”
On Tuesday, it was reported that Manchester City are unconcerned by Manchester United targeting Ruben Amorim — a manager they have been heavily linked with as well due to worried about the Sporting CP tactician’s style of play.
However, it was also claimed that Amorim would rather wait for the Manchester City job and discover whether Guardiola is indeed leaving next year instead of heading to Old Trafford straightaway.
Ten Hag will regret bold Guardiola claim he made in 2020
In 2020, Erik ten Hag called Pep Guardiola out as he felt that the former Barcelona boss did not adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League during his first season; a claim that has aged poorly due to his success in England as well as the former’s subsequent struggles at Manchester United.
“Only once in his career has Pep [Guardiola] made a mistake, in his first year at Manchester City when he completely underestimated the power and speed of the Premier League.”
“He realised that you can’t play the kind of football he loves without having a couple of physically strong athletes and so he brought them in. So he’s not a stubborn coach. Yes, he is stubborn in his philosophy, but not in the execution. And that makes him the best.”
Erik ten Hag would perhaps be even more appreciative of Pep Guardiola’s graceful parting message towards him considering his bold statement a few years ago.
The pair worked together at Bayern Munich where the the former Ajax boss managed the club’s second team.
As Guardiola stated, he still has a strong relationship with Ten Hag.
Pep Guardiola has not let rivalries come in the way of admitting he feels sorry for another manager losing his job.
