Pep Guardiola has distanced himself from recent reports suggesting he informed Brighton’s players that Roberto De Zerbi would be the next manager of Manchester City.
Roberto De Zerbi has made a significant impact since taking over as Brighton’s manager just over a year ago, leading the team into European competition for the first time in the club’s history with an attack-minded and free-flowing style.
As Brighton prepares to face Manchester City at the Etihad this Saturday, there have been speculations about De Zerbi potentially being considered as a future replacement for Guardiola, possibly even with the Spaniard’s endorsement.
According to The Telegraph, during City’s match at the Amex Stadium in May, Guardiola was seen conversing with several Brighton players in the tunnel.
Allegedly, he gestured towards De Zerbi and remarked, ‘That’s the next Manchester City manager.’ However, Guardiola has since stated that he cannot recall making such a statement, despite his admiration for the Brighton manager.
Asked about the reports, the city manager replied, ‘I don’t remember that. Maybe I have a bad memory but I’m sure Roberto can train with any team around the world. I don’t have any doubt.
‘I don’t remember saying that to the players. I remember saying before he arrived, one or two games in, about sustaining the manager, but I don’t remember saying that honestly.
‘It’s none of my business. If the chairman asks for my opinion, I will give my opinion, but it’s none of my business.
‘I’m not the sporting director. It’s not my responsibility to say what’s going right or wrong.’
Although Roberto De Zerbi made a name for himself with impressive stints at Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk, he was relatively unknown in England before joining Brighton.
Guardiola believes that De Zerbi’s impact demonstrates that managers don’t necessarily need to be widely recognised names to achieve success.
‘It doesn’t mean you have to be at the top clubs to be manager of the top clubs. I was appointed Barcelona first-team player, coming from the fourth division with no experience at the top level,’ he continued.
‘You have the idea of the club; the sporting director follows the idea; they hire the manager for this idea; they hire players to follow the idea. When that happens, it’s going well. Man City have done this, Liverpool with Jurgen Klopp, for many years—winning titles with the same process and same ideas.’