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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has dismissed suggestions of personal tension with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, insisting their relationship remains strong despite limited contact since Arteta left City.
At Friday’s press conference, Guardiola addressed the evolving dynamic between the two former colleagues.
“I don’t have time to go to London, and I don’t think he has time to come to Manchester,” he said. “When we were here [when Arteta was a coach at City], we saw each other five or six hours every day, so the relationship is completely different after his five or six years in London.”
Guardiola also called out attempts to manufacture conflict. “If you are trying with that question to create conflict between myself and Mikel, or Arsenal, I am old enough to notice that,” he added.
The pair worked closely together at City from 2016 to 2019, with Arteta serving as Guardiola’s assistant before taking the Arsenal job.
Arsenal and Manchester City remain fierce title rivals, with the Gunners finishing second to City in recent Premier League campaigns. Guardiola’s comments come ahead of their next high-stakes meeting in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
