BERLIN, Nov. 4 (STATS Perform/dpa/EP) –
The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, described this Friday as “an honor” to have trained the Spanish defender Gerard Piqué, who has decided to retire from football after the next two FC Barcelona games before the break, a goodbye that his old coach go “amazing”.
“It was amazing news. After having an amazing race in Barcelona, I personally wish him all the best for him and his family.
It was an honor for me to be his manager, we had four incredible years together,” Guardiola told a news conference ahead of the Premier League clash with Fulham.
The Catalan coach considered the center-back “a player for the big games” and warned that “he never disrespected or misbehaved or had a performance that was not of the highest level.” “That’s what all the big clubs need, these types of players,” he added.
The one from Santpedor, however, did not want to make comparisons between Piqué and any of his players at Man City. “It’s not about comparing because when you compare these things, someone gets hurt. If you ask me which is my best side as a coach, it would be unfair because everyone is everyone,” he remarked.
“All I will say is that Gerard is a happy man in his life and he said it perfectly in the video: ‘I don’t want to be a soccer player, I want to be a Barcelona player.’ It was his dream and his dream came true,” Guardiola said. .