Chelsea and Man City on alert as Guardiola keen on return to management

By The Gaffer on January 7, 2013

Pep Guardiola has put a host of clubs on alert after admitting that he will return to management in the summer.

pep guardiola

Manchester City and Chelsea have been the suggested destinations for the former Barcelona manager, but Guardiola remains unsure of his next employer.

“Next year I will go back into coaching. I do not know where but I will go back, I don’t have a team [yet] and I don’t know where I will go but I will go back to coaching.”

With Bayern Munich’s ageing manager Jupp Heynckes set to retire at the end of the season, Guardiola was quizzed on that possibility: ”Bayern? They have Jupp Heynckes and it would be a lack of respect to talk to a club that has a coach.”

Chelsea have yet to appoint a permanent successor to Roberto Di Matteo with Rafa Benitez as the club’s interim manager. Reportedly, Guardiola has his reservations about taking over such an unstable club.

Roberto Mancini is still in charge at Manchester City but has been the subject of consistent speculation in recent months since the club’s failure in the Champions League. Big expectations at the Etihad following the club’s first Premier League title last season. The hierachy at City will be keen on a possible swoop for Guardiola with former Barcelona director Txiki Begiristain installed as director of football in late 2012.

Pep Guardiola – a hot property on the managerial transfer market but would be wise to choose his next club carefully.