'It's Over', Guardiola Rules Out Return As Barca Boss
Zeeshan Mehtab Published October 31, 2020 | 09:21 PM
Pep Guardiola ruled out ever taking charge of Barcelona for a second spell as the Manchester City boss insisted he retains the "desire" to succeed in England
Sheffield, United Kingdom, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st Oct, 2020 ) :Pep Guardiola ruled out ever taking charge of Barcelona for a second spell as the Manchester City boss insisted he retains the "desire" to succeed in England.
Guardiola is the most decorated coach in Barca's glorious history after winning 14 trophies in four years in charge between 2008 and 2012.
Josep Maria Bartomeu finally bowed to pressure to resign as president of the Catalan giants this week, with one of the leading candidates to take over, Victor Font, saying he wants to bring legends like Guardiola and his former players Xavi and Carles Puyol back to work for the club.
"I said many times, my period as a manager in Barcelona is over. I think in life there is once you have to do things," Guardiola said after City's 1-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday.
"There are incredible people who can be in charge, now for example (Barcelona coach) Ronald Koeman is an excellent manager. It is over." A boyhood Barca fan, Guardiola also enjoyed an illustrious playing career at the Camp Nou and still holds season tickets as a supporter.
"I will come back to my seats to see my club to watch a game. I am incredibly happy here, still I have the desire to do well and this is the most important thing.
"Now there will be elections in Barcelona. Hopefully they can choose the right board to maintain this incredible club Barcelona in the highest level." Guardiola is already into the longest managerial spell of his career with this his fifth season at City.
His side still look a long way off the heights they reached in winning back-to-back Premier League titles between 2017 and 2019, but they are slowly getting up to speed after a start to the campaign disrupted by injuries, coronavirus cases and just a two-week long pre-season.
Kyle Walker's long-range effort against his former club was enough to secure City's fourth win in five games in all competitions as they move up to seventh in the Premier League, just two points off the top.
Without a natural striker due to injuries to Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, City struggled to turn their dominance into goals at Bramall Lane.
"We played really well," added Guardiola. "We struggled to score goals for the chances we created, 16 shots, eight on target, is a lot against this team." Aaron Ramsdale was busy in the Blades' goal as he twice denied Ferran Torres from close range, while he unconvincingly parried Rodrigo's long-range effort behind.
Walker finally broke the deadlock from similar range on 28 minutes as his shot arrowed low past Ramsdale's right-hand, but there was a muted celebration from the England international against his boyhood club.
"My mum and dad live here, so if I'd celebrated I'd have got a lot of stick," said Walker. "I'm a Sheffield United fan, so I couldn't celebrate." Kevin De Bruyne flashed a shot wide following another attacking burst from Walker early in the second-half before Ramsdale produced his best save of the game from Riyad Mahrez's free-kick.
However, City's failure to kill off the game gave Chris Wilder's men chances to snatch an unlikely point.
John Lundstram had the best chance for the hosts when he side-footed Sander Berge's low cross over.
But Sheffield United have still scored just three goals in seven games to start the season and remain second bottom on just one point.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
SC orders end of encroachments in Karachi
Nazish Jahangir denies viral screenshots, calls them fake
Govt likely to hike electricity price once again
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
More Stories From Sports
-
IOC Refugees Olympic Team to be announced on May 2
26 minutes ago -
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
2 hours ago -
Norman sees Adelaide success as blueprint for all LIV Golf events
2 hours ago -
Mohsin Naqvi reconstitutes women’s selection committee
3 hours ago -
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performance
4 hours ago -
Paris holds its breath for Olympic swimming events in murky Seine
6 hours ago
-
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
16 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
16 hours ago -
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
16 hours ago -
Watford hire Cleverley as permanent boss
17 hours ago -
Karachi, Lahore, Multan win matches of National Women’s Cricket Tournament
17 hours ago -
No communication gap among players, asserts Babar Azam
17 hours ago