Man City reject talk of Guardiola replacing Mancini
Manchester City have dismissed speculation that former Barcelona Coach Pep Guardiola could be set to replace Roberto Mancini at the helm of the Premier League champions, ESPN has reported.
City last week confirmed the appointment of Txiki Begiristain as the club’s director of football, with Begiristain a former Barcelona executive and the man largely responsible for the decision to appoint Guardiola at Barcelona after the end of Frank Rijkaard’s tenure at the club. Begiristain joins Ferran Soriano at City, who was also formerly of Barcelona and also involved in making Guardiola the Coach of the first team.
Guardiola left his position at Barcelona at the end of last season and is currently on a sabbatical away from football. It had been suggested that the appointment of two Barcelona stalwarts to decision-making positions at City would lead to the end of both Mancini and Brian Marwood, City’s football administration officer, but ESPN adds Marwood is supportive of Begiristain’s arrival and that the board are still behind Mancini.
An ESPN source said: “Roberto has won three trophies in two-and-a-half years and was given a new five-year contract in the summer, and that would not have happened if the powers that be thought they had the wrong manager.
“Brian met up with Txiki on Thursday and Friday and Brian has the respect of the chairman and has been a constant in all that has been going on with some big changes and the creation of a philosophy and everyone is working together toward that end.”
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