If Barcelona calls I will go because it is my club – Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has backed Mikel Arteta’s choice to leave his post as assistant coach at the Etihad and join Arsenal.

Guardiola stated that if he were in Arteta’s position, he would not have acted differently, especially if the call came from Barcelona.

The Spaniard stated that if he was an assistant someplace and was called up by Barcelona to coach them, he would have rushed back to Spain.

Guardiola addressed before of Manchester City’s FA Cup fourth round match against Arsenal on Friday night at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola’s former assistant at the Etihad, Arteta, left Manchester City in 2019 to take up a coaching post with Arsenal.

“When Arteta was my assistant at City, he screamed for every goal except the ones against Arsenal,” Guardiola explained.

“He was a huge Arsenal fan. It’s similar to my relationship with Barça. If I was an assistant coach and Barcelona called, I’d go because it’s my club,” he continued.

Guardiola left Barcelona in 2012 after winning 14 club titles. He took a vacation after which Bayern Munich confirmed his appointment as manager in 2013.

Guardiola won the Bundesliga in each of his three seasons as Bayern manager, including two domestic doubles before taking over as Manchester City manager.