Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists he would rather retire to the golf course than coach Manchester United or Madrid in the future.
The City manager faces Ole Gunnar’s Solskjaer’s side in a Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday aiming to win the trophy for a third consecutive year.
He could have been in the opposing dugout had Sir Alex Ferguson convinced the former Barcelona boss to take over at Old Trafford, but Guardiola says there is no longer any chance of him joining United.
“After training City I won’t train United,” he said ahead of the first leg at Old Trafford. “It is like I would never train Madrid. Definitely not.”
Asked if he would reconsider if they were the only jobs available to him, he added: “I’d be in the Maldives if I don’t have any offers! Maybe not the Maldives because it doesn’t have any golf courses!”
The United position remains filled despite Solskjaer’s side languishing five points outside the top four in the Premier League.
The Dane has come in for a fair share of criticism from pundits, though, including former United forward Robin van Persie, who accused Solskjaer of being too nice.
The Norwegian swatted away the attack, saying Van Persie doesn’t know anything about his style and Guardiola praised him for being his own man.
“Ole is who he is,” he said. “If he wants to smile, it’s perfect, if he wants to conduct the team in that way, why should he change? Everyone is everyone.
“Some are more expressive, others are calm, others shout more on the touchline, others sit. Who is better? The guy who wins the last weekend. That is the best manager.
“If you react in that way it’s perfect, that’s the way he is. That’s all. That is not debatable. I’m pretty sure when he doesn’t win he’s sad and if wins he is happy. It’s normal. If he wants smile, what’s the problem? If he wants to shout what’s the problem?”
