Former Liverpool player Danny Murphy believes neither Arsenal's Mikel Arteta nor Chelsea's Enzo Maresca will replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
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Guardiola in last year of contractSpaniard linked with Man City exitMaresca & Arteta told they won't replace himFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Guardiola is into the last year of his City contract and is yet to confirm his next move. Now, ex-England midfielder Murphy believes Arteta and Maresca – both of whom worked under the Spaniard at the Manchester outfit – will be at their current jobs next summer and that City will go for a manager who has a more proven track record of winning trophies if Guardiola does move on.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT DANNY MURPHY SAID
In a Daily Mail column, he said: "It’s a massive compliment to Pep Guardiola that two of the brightest Premier League managers worked for him at Manchester City and have greatly improved Chelsea and Arsenal on what they learned. Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta will be in the conversation to succeed their mentor when Pep leaves because they already know the club so well. But I don’t think it’s going to happen. First, I suspect City will want a manager with experience of winning a major league or European competition. With Hugo Viana due to begin as a new sporting director, they’ll need someone in the hot seat who can attract the stars. Just as importantly, I don’t believe even if they are courted by City either Maresca or Arteta would be prepared at this stage to sacrifice the projects they are building for the awkward challenge of following a legend. The only manager to compare with Guardiola in terms of success, Sir Alex Ferguson, has been impossible to match at Manchester United for more than a decade."
Murphy added: "Whatever Guardiola decides in the summer, I expect this London derby to have the same figures in the technical area next season."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Guardiola has brought City unprecedented success over the past eight or so years, winning a Champions League and a host of Premier League titles. But this may be his last season at the Etihad and whoever eventually replaces the ex-Barcelona boss will have a heck of a task on their hands to get anywhere near the success he brought the club.
AFPWHAT NEXT?
Maresca's Chelsea and Arteta's Arsenal lock horns at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, while Guardiola's City are next in action at home to Tottenham in another Premier League encounter on November 23.