Guardiola to stay in New York for now: Bayern Munich

BERLIN (AFP) –

Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola gives a press conference at the “Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper” near Barcelona on August 13, 2011. Guardiola’s move to Bayern Munich has stunned Spain’s partisan sporting press, which marvelled that he chose the German league over the English.

Bayern Munich expect their newly appointed coach for next season Pep Guardiola to adapt well to life in Germany, as players and managers alike hailed the former Barcelona manager’s return to top-flight football.

The Bavarian giants announced on Wednesday that Guardiola would take over from Jupp Heynckes at the end of the current campaign, ending months of speculation that linked him to managerial posts from South America to the English Premier League.

Bayern chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge denied that Guardiola would be in Munich on Friday, telling a news conference on Thursday: “He is going to stay in New York for the moment and work intensively on his German.

“He does not want to interfere in any way in the current season and the work of Jupp Heynckes.”

Rummenigge said he had no doubts about Guardiola’s ability to master German between now and when he is officially unveiled, which was likely to take place on July 1 when he takes up his new job.

“I think that when he arrives it (German) will not be a problem for him,” Rummenigge said, pointing out that the coach already spoke fluent English.

Even during his self-imposed sabbatical year in New York, the man who guided Barca to 14 trophies between 2008 and 2012 was well-informed about his future club, he added.

Rummenigge told reporters that Heynckes let it be known before Christmas that he did not wish to stay on beyond the second year of his contract at the club, prompting them to increase their contact with Guardiola.

Bayern players Manuel Neuer and Philipp Lahm were among the many who welcomed Guardiola’s appointment, with Germany captain Lahm saying his decision was a reflection of the quality of the team.

“He’s a young coach who still has his future ahead of him,” he added.

Guardiola had earlier on Wednesday sent a video message for the 150th anniversary celebrations of England’s Football Association, revealing his desire to one day take charge of a Premier League club.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Guardiola — who had been linked to coaching jobs at European champions Chelsea and Premier League champions Manchester City — had told him on several occasions that he wanted to come to England.

The Frenchman admitted that he was surprised that he instead opted for the Bundesliga.

But he added: “Bayern are an interesting club, Germany is an interesting league, well-managed, so it is defendable what he has done.”

Wenger has been a Premier League manager for 16 years and described the league as “the most interesting” in the world. But he insisted Guardiola had not taken a backward step because of the proliferation of young talent in Germany.

“In Germany, maybe along with Spain, they are a country with the best young players. If you look at the results of Germany in the under-17s, under-18s and under-19s, in the last three seasons, they beat everybody,” he added.

“It is the football of tomorrow. Tomorrow’s football will be played in Germany, certainly.”

Meanwhile, Wigan Athletic’s Spanish manager Roberto Martinez said he was excited about his compatriot’s impending return to management, describing it as “positive news”.

“It is a shame he has been away,” he said.

“I think he is going to bring incredible possessional concepts to the Bundesliga and German football, and that is going to be a great threat to Barcelona and any club in the Premier League competing in the Champions League.”