Pep Guardiola has reiterated his love for England amid speculation the Spaniard could take over from Three Lions Thomas Tuchel.
German Tuchel, whose Chelsea side beat Guardiola’s Manchester City in the 2021 final, is under pressure following England’s semi-final exit in Argentina on Wednesday.
“I have friends there,” Guardiola said, explaining to OKX why he would “love” England to be champions. “I have a real connection with the UK.”
World Cup 2026: Guardiola’s advice for England
Tuchel agreed an 18-month contract to take over in January 2025 and signed an extension until EURO 2028 five months ago.
The 52-year-old player was chosen with the intention of speaking to England, which seems to be overly cautious in competitions and winning the World Cup.
Many fans and pundits have suggested the way England played against Argentina, when they gave up a 1-0 lead after 84 minutes, made Tuchel’s place unacceptable.
Tuchel’s substitution after England went ahead ensured his side finished with six full-backs on the pitch, with nothing available following their 55th-minute goal.
Guardiola, who is known to be a genius in controlling the ball, is the bookie’s favorite to become the next England manager.
“You don’t have time to train, you don’t have time to train,” Guardiola said, describing the team’s “vibe” and avoiding injuries as “important” and more important than tactics for World Cup success.
“A lot of media outlets are checking what you’re doing… lists and [wanting to] we know the plan we will use.”
In an encouraging sign for fans hoping for Guardiola to become England manager, he spoke of how “excited” he is to expect him and his team to be in the competition.
“[You must] live in the moment as if it’s the last chance,” he suggested.[It’s] like – ‘wow, how good we are [can be] every day, you know?
“In the bar, in training – but [it’s] not just before [we are] sleeping. [It’s about] gathering in the room and playing cards or chess or whatever.
“These types of things are very important in these types of tournaments.”
Pep Guardiola: I need to ‘feel right’ for the next team
Guardiola left City a year before his contract expired at the end of last season, having managed two seasons without a Premier League trophy.
The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona head coach has won the top flight six times and the 2022/23 Champions League amid a host of silverware with the Cityzens.
“People say ‘Ah – in three months you’ll be back, in six months you’ll be back,'” Guardiola said.
“Maybe, but I have to feel you and feel that I really miss you and need you.” Right now, in these three weeks [or] per month, I [have woken] in the morning and they say ‘oh, Pep – do you miss it?’
“I said ‘No.’ ‘Okay, good. Let’s go’. That’s what I’m feeling right now. Maybe one day I’ll wake up and say ‘OK, I want to come back – I want to show again that I’m a good coach.
‘I want to deal with the players and manage them, my sporting director and the management.’ Right now, I don’t feel that.
“A lot of players – young players, old players – say ‘I want to leave. I’m here, in cold Manchester, I’m not playing. I want to leave.’
“And you have to replace those guys, but it’s a big, big job [about] organization, sports director, manager, CEOs, management team, recruitment of the right players you need.
“Everyone makes mistakes with that. [It requires] to do [less costly] errors [and making] as few as possible. That is the important point.”
Lamine Yamal can ‘win’ the World Cup final
Spain face Argentina in Sunday’s final and Guardiola is backing his team-mate and 19-year-old Lamine Yamal against the hosts.
“He’s a guy who can handle pressure,” Guardiola said of Yamal, noting that the Barcelona midfielder came to the final having recovered from a hamstring injury.
“He can win the game by himself. You can talk about tactics but Spain… the players and Lamine can score a goal.
“That’s the biggest difference. If Rodri always puts his game between Pedri and Lamine Yamal, they can succeed.”
Brazilian striker Neymar joined Barcelona shortly after Guardiola left the club in 2012. “Always, always, I would have liked as a manager to coach Neymar,” Guardiola said, expressing “regret” not working with the Selecao’s record goalscorer.
“His grace – his beauty – is in his years. In his first season, with Leo Messi, Luis Suarez with him, Barcelona was unstoppable.”
A lack of “strength” and back problems contributed to Guardiola’s decision to “take a little care of himself” by taking time off, he explained.
“[I want to] look more my children,” he added: “My father is 95 years old and still alive; my sisters, my brothers.
“[Going more] little by little [partly] target. And after [that]we will see. If I remember [football and] someone wants me back, [I’ll consider my options].
Besides, I’ll continue, I’m not young anymore, I’m not 35, 36, 37, 40, 41. I always wondered why, during my whole life, [everything is] always related to football.
“[Is all] Can I play or handle football? Why don’t I try to find life or be happy or perfect as a person doing other things, not just related to football?
“This question, I don’t know, because I have been in my town since I was a child. [everything was] football, football, football until [I left City].
“Now I’m trying to maybe enjoy doing some things I’ve never done [and] now what do you want to do.”
