Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney hopes Pep Guardiola will stay at Manchester City beyond this season because he has set “a benchmark” for all other managers.
The 55-year-old has been in charge of City since 2016 and led them to six Premier League titles, while they are in with a chance of a seventh this season.
Advertisement
However, there is uncertainty over whether Guardiola will still be manager next season, with the expectation that a decision on his future will be made towards – or after – the end of this campaign.
“Some players will want him to leave, some will want him to stay, it depends whether you are in the team or not and that is the same for any manager,” said Rooney on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show.
“I hope he stays because he is brilliant for the Premier League and you want the best managers in the Premier League.
“He has set a benchmark over the past 10 years for everyone else.”
Advertisement
In December, former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was heavily linked with a return to City, where he previously worked as a coach under Guardiola.
However, Rooney believes a club legend who previously played under Guardiola would be better suited to take charge.
“If Pep does go, they have to go and get [current Bayern Munich boss] Vincent Kompany,” he added.
“He knows the club, he has been successful with Bayern in a similar way. It looks like he has learned from Pep.
“Pep will probably choose the next manager. If he is going, he will probably be part of the process to choose the next one.
Advertisement
“I just think in terms of Pep, he looks at himself as a bit of a teacher and he has been at the club for 10 years, he will want to leave the club in a good place.”
‘I think Arsenal will just win Premier League’
Leaders Arsenal suffered a blow in their bid to win the Premier League on Wednesday when they let slip a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That put them five points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Should they win that, it will set up a pivotal meeting at Etihad Stadium on 18 April when City host Arsenal.
The two rivals also face each other in the Carabao Cup final on 22 March, and could potentially face each other in the Champions League knockouts.
Advertisement
“I think a big factor will be if Manchester City and Arsenal meet in the Champions League,” added Rooney, who was speaking before Arsenal’s draw at Wolves.
“The emotions around the League Cup final, the Champions League games, if that is the case, and then the game at the Etihad. The emotion around those games and what that will bring, whoever comes out on top in those I think will win the league.
“I would prefer Arsenal to win it. I played for Manchester United for 13 years! For me, Liverpool are the ones I wouldn’t want to win it and then it would be City. I think Arsenal will just win it.”
Listen to all the episodes of The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds.
Read the full article here
