Mikel Arteta Won’t Be Able To Poach Guardiola’s Coaching Staff From Manchester City

Mikel Arteta has finally been appointed as the next Arsenal manager but who is going to be in his support staff?

Reports suggested Rodolfo Borrell would follow the 37-year-old from Manchester City to the Emirates.

But Pep Guardiola extinguished all those claims about the former Barcelona and Liverpool manager. He said, “From now on (he will) stay with me. We don’t have any approach from Arsenal.”

Arteta is Guardiola’s second assistant coach to leave in search of a head coaching position. He was thought to be the brains behind City’s domestic treble-winning season along with Domenec Torrent of New York City FC.

When asked if Arteta could one day replace him, Guardiola replied, “If he was thinking it was an opportunity he would have stayed here. If he went to Arsenal it’s because he is thinking for a long term to make an impact in London.”

Guardiola himself is not certain to stay at the Etihad. He added, “We still have six months, plus 12 months, so a lot of time, so we have patience. We have an incredible relationship with the board, with the people who decide, and we will take the decision that is best for the club.

“I will answer once, twice or three times questions (about my future). But when every time it’s the same, I will stop to answer. I think in football one-and-a-half years is a long time for the managers, a lot, a lot of time, so we have to see all together how it works, how it’s going on.

“I said many times how incredible, what a good time I have here, and I would like to stay as long as possible. So that is my desire, but I will only be sure if it’s the best for the club that they want me to stay longer.

“So it will be five years with one club, in this competition, this league. It is many, many years, so that’s why it’s important to be sure the decision is perfect for both sides. That’s why there’s no rush, it’s not finishing in three or four months. The club is working perfectly in all departments, so it’s not a problem, honestly.”