Pep Guardiola is furious with Mikel Arteta following comments the Arsenal manager made after last Sunday’s heated draw against Manchester City.
Guardiola, who feels let down by his former assistant, expected more from Arteta given their past working relationship.
These sentiments are believed to be shared across Manchester City, where Arteta served as Guardiola’s assistant from 2016 to 2019.
Arteta had claimed on Tuesday that he had “all the information” about City, prompting Guardiola to fire back on Friday.
In a press conference, the City boss urged Arteta to stop being cryptic and clarify his remarks, saying he should “leave the clouds” and be straightforward.
Although Guardiola was diplomatic in public, sources suggest he is privately seething, feeling that the comments crossed a line.
Guardiola is particularly disappointed given the mentorship he provided Arteta during their time together at City.
He also reportedly went out of his way to support Arteta’s move to Arsenal, advocating for the club to allow him to take the job despite it being mid-season and with Arsenal a direct Premier League rival.
Arteta, for his part, spoke highly of Guardiola, expressing his “love, respect, and admiration” for the City manager, and insisted their relationship had not been damaged.
However, Guardiola does not appear to share this sentiment.
The tension arose after Arteta responded to a question about Manchester City’s complaints over Arsenal’s perceived use of “dark arts” tactics during the match, a response that seems to have deepened the rift.
“I have been there before, I was there for four years,” he said.
“I have all the information.
“So I know. Believe me.”
Pep Guardiola was asked if he considered the remarks a betrayal. He said: “Next time, Mikel has to be more clear.
“He has to be more clear exactly: what does it mean?
“He said he was here for four years and: ‘We know exactly what happened here.’
“Because it can be related in all the process now with 155 [130] charges; maybe it’s about that.
“He knows information about that maybe …
“I don’t know, because really, next time, I have to see more clearly exactly what happened.”
“Hopefully this question has been asked,” he added.
“He can answer exactly what does it mean when he said he was here and: ‘I know what’s happening here.’
“And instead of being in the clouds there, to be more precise.”
Guardiola does not plan to contact his Arsenal counterpart for clarification.
“No, because we spoke by text after the game and that’s all,” he said.
Guardiola continued: “Gabriel said it perfectly in the press conference, after the match: ‘So, this is a war, we have here to provoke the opponent, to push them.’
“And at the end, what can you do? … You provoke me, OK, I’m there. You want a war? Now we war.
“So, what do I have to do?
“I’m pretty sure he [Haaland] is not proud, but listen, the type of challenge that Arsenal challenges [present], I understand it.”
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