Pep keen on Arteta’s continuation at Man City
>> MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants Mikel Arteta to remain a member of his backroom staff amid reports the former Arsenal midfielder could succeed Arsene Wenger at the Gunners.
Arteta has been mentioned as one of the main contenders to take over from Wenger when the veteran French manager leaves London club Arsenal at the end of the season.
Arteta, 36, has been one Guardiola’s assistants at the Etihad Stadium since July 2016.
Guardiola was keen to talk up former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, currently on a break from football, for the impending vacancy at the Gunners but wanted Arteta to stay at City.
“Luis is an excellent and amazing manager,” Guardiola, himself a former Barcelona player and manager, told a news conference on Friday.
“He can go wherever he wants. Of course Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
Guardiola, whose City side have already secured the Premier League title, added: “My opinion about Mikel is overwhelming. One of the reasons for our success this season is because Mikel is here.
“We are so comfortable, not just me, working with him.
“I know there a lot of names of the next manager after Wenger but the same with Luis Enrique, I don’t know the plan for Arsenal. Of course, Luis Enrique I know well.”
City travel to West Ham United tonight still eyeing a number of Premier League season records including most points, goals scored and the winning margin between themselves and second place.
Guardiola believes aiming for such targets will help motivate his players in their remaining four games, even though the title is already won. “I said before, records will be broken. Sooner or later they will be broken. It always happens,” Guardiola said.
“The records are not forever. If you have 95, 96 or 97 points one team will come in the future and break it.”
The Catalan boss added: “It may help us keep focus in what we have to do against West Ham, Huddersfield and Brighton.
“They are fighting relegation. We have to do what we have to do.
“To play football without nothing. with no intention, sometimes you play lazy and without what you need. That’s maybe why going for records can help.”