MADRID, 30 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, former coach of FC Barcelona, assured this Tuesday that “the pressure felt” in the Barça team “is not comparable to that of any other club”, so he “understands perfectly” the Xavi Hernández's decision to leave the Catalan team's bench at the end of the season.
“You cannot compare the pressure we have in England and in Spain, from my experience. There it is a thousand times greater and harder than here. The pressure felt in Barcelona is not comparable to that of any club. Of course I understand perfectly to Xavi,” said the Sampedor coach in the preview of this Wednesday's Premier League match against Burnley.
This is how Guardiola assessed Xavi's decision, who announced this Saturday that “the best thing” for the entity is to leave “on June 30.” “The situation deserves a change of course and as a culé I cannot allow this situation. I had already decided but I think it is time,” he said at a press conference after losing 3-5 against Villarreal.
After his words, the trickle of candidates for Terrassa began, among them Guardiola, who would return to his first club. Although the Catalan does not think “now” about this possibility. “I have everything a coach could dream of. The board supports me and, although we have changed many players in seven years, they have all been incredible. There is a good atmosphere. I have everything, I feel good, although one day it will end, but I don't think about that now,” he explained.
Finally, Guardiola announced that the Norwegian Erling Haaland “apparently will be selectable” after two months out due to injury. “If we have the whole squad, we are stronger, and Erling is an important player for us,” he concluded.