Ahead of the Carabao cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has revealed that he wanted to work with Arsene Wenger during his playing days, only to be told there was no space in the squad. Wenger had earlier revealed that Guardiola once visited him at his home to facilitate his move to Arsenal. Confirming the development, Guardiola in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports said;
"I would have liked to have played for him. I called him to make an interview and he invited me to his home, he was so kind. I said my dream is to play in the Premier League and I would like to play with you and I feel I can help you. Maybe it was a little bit arrogant but he had his squad and he said there was no space.
"I understand completely but I would have liked to have played with him. It was not possible, so no problem at all." Asked how important it was to get off the mark at City, Guardiola said: "For the club. For me of course, and for the players and the fans, but for the club, for everybody. I am not alone here, I am not playing tennis when they are alone and doing absolutely everything.
"For Manchester City it is important but after that you wake up and Thursday you have another one [in the Premier League against Arsenal]. Of course it's a final and you have to play it like a final."
On whether he would be nervous on the day he said "Never. I am more nervous when we are in quarter-finals or semi-finals or something but normally I enjoy a final. Of course we can lose because the opponent is good, but there is also optimism we can do it."
On whether he was nervous as a player, the City manager said;
"In the beginning, I was more nervous because I thought it's the end of the world if you lose the final. Then after I realised that is not going to happen, the sun still rises. But when you get old you realise that. We are so happy just being there and we are going to try to win."
Speaking on his side's dramatic exit from FA Cup he added
The hours after the game were sad, but two days later we focused on the next one. Professionals know it's part of the game when people talk about how many titles you are going to win, to be unbeatable, those kinds of things…that is unrealistic to think about. Focus on the next one and try to win the game.
"I am not so dramatic in the good moments when there are nice words about us, and I am also not so dramatic when you lose a game. It's part of the game. It's always sad because we did absolutely everything to go through but Wigan did a good job and congratulations."
