Pep Guardiola invites Erik Ten Hag to Manchester City
October 31, 2024
Pep Guardiola announced that Erik ten Hag has an open invitation to come to Manchester City’s training facility following the Dutch manager’s dismissal by Manchester United on Monday.
During their two years in England, Guardiola and Ten Hag faced each other in seven Manchester derbies, with the City manager coming out on top five times, including a disappointing 6-3 defeat in their first encounter, but lost in the FA Cup final in May.
That victory at Wembley helped Ten Hag maintain his fragile position at Old Trafford. However, a poor start to the current season led INEOS to eventually make the decision to part ways with him.
When addressing the media before a midweek Carabao Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur, Guardiola was questioned about whether Ten Hag would be welcomed at City’s training ground.
“Any time!” the Catalan coach replied.”No, seriously. Many people come and always we are open, but I think he knows exactly what we do, and I think it’s not going to happen but of course, I know his agent a little bit, so the relation is there so there’s no problem for me, for us.”
Ten Hag managed Bayern Munich’s reserve team for two seasons while Guardiola led the first team, earning him the moniker ‘Mini Pep’ due to their similar coaching styles. Additionally, Guardiola is represented by Sports Entertainment Group (SEG), an agency created by Kees Vos, who is also Ten Hag’s agent.
“I’m so sorry for him,” Guardiola added when reflecting on Ten Hag’s departure. “I have an incredible relationship with him. He represented United in the highest level in terms of behaviour.”[A Football] manager is one of the only professions where people expect you to be sacked. I don’t see it with architects, doctors or teachers. It’s only in our job. We have to accept it.
“I wish him all the best – he’s going to come back stronger. He knows that our jobs depend on the results. If the results are not good enough, you will be sacked. I’m saying that about myself – I’m not an exception.”