Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has responded to Rio Ferdinand’s claim that he has ‘created a monster’ in Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
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Arteta used to work as Guardiola’s assistant manager at Man City but departed the Etihad to take the job at Arsenal in 2019.
After guiding Arsenal to FA Cup glory, his title was changed to manager and he has now built a superb team of young stars who are top of the Premier League after a good start to the 2022-23 season, winning 11 of 13 matches.
They are even ahead of champions City – who are currently two points behind the Gunners in second and have won four of the last five top-flight titles.
That led to United defender Rio Ferdinand saying that Guardiola has ‘created a monster’ in Arteta, but the City manager does not see it that way.
‘No, absolutely not!’ Guardiola told BT Sport. ‘He was already! That drive… ‘It’s a perfect definition [of a club backing their manager], do you know why?
‘There was not good results [in the past] I remember [people said] he must be sacked and ‘Arteta out’.
‘I know Mikel, they see him, the sporting director Edu and the club, how he works, how he talks, we saw in the documentary [All or Nothing: Arsenal].
‘We know it. They said, ‘Okay, rely on him, rely on him, it’s a process’ – people believed Mikel would go there and in six months they win the Champions League. He needs time!’
Arsenal travel to Wolves on Saturday in their last Premier League game before the World Cup, as they attempt to be top of the table at Christmas.
City, meanwhile, play Brentford in their last top-flight match before the action gets underway in Qatar as the domestic season resumes on December 26.
