Pep Guardiola is a coach who knows how to handle these kinds of high-stakes situations, where psychological mind games often take on greater importance. This time, the Manchester City manager refused to offer even a simple piece of advice to Álvaro Arbeloa, unlike what he did last December when facing Xabi Alonso.
What did Pep Guardiola say to Arbeloa?
When asked if he felt like giving advice to Arbeloa, who faces the huge challenge of managingReal Madrid, he surprisingly replied with a refusal, explaining that he “doesn’t know him.”
“I give recommendations to people I’ve lived with; I give advice to people I know,” Guardiola said during the press conference when asked if he had a few words for him, as he had done previously with Xabi Alonso.
The Manchester City coach also made it clear that “Madrid is always Madrid”, adding that he only sees small tactical nuances between the version of the team led by Alonso and the one now guided by Arbeloa. Still, the real answer will come on the pitch when the two teams meet in the UEFA Champions League clash next Tuesday.
On the other hand, Guardiola didn’t miss the chance to joke about the current situation involving Kylian Mbappé, following recent reports linking him to Spanish actress Ester Expósito. The City manager asked whether his opinion on that topic really mattered, making it clear that his only focus right now is the upcoming Champions League match.
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