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MADRID: Departing Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says England’s Premier League could be his next destination as manager, although it won’t come next season.
Guardiola, who will step down at the end of the season, said after Sunday’s 7-0 win at Rayo Vallecano that coaching in England is something of interest ''maybe in the future, but now I'm going to rest, I'm not going to coach next season.''
Guardiola says “I don't know if some of the England teams want me, but maybe in the future.”
The 41-year-old Catalan coach blamed burnout for his decision to leave after four seasons, the most successful in the club’s history.
However, Barcelona will probably now surrender its Spanish league crown to Real Madrid, after failing to reach the Champions League final.
PLAYERS URGE JOSEP TO STAY Barcelona captain Carles Puyol says players urged departing coach Pep Guardiola to stay at the club.
The Spanish international says “we all wanted Guardiola to stay on and we told him so. It’s a tough blow, but the best news that we could receive is that Tito Vilanova is continuing.”
Guardiola announced Friday that he is leaving the club after winning 13 titles in four seasons. Assistant coach Tito Vilanova will take over at the end of the season.
Vilanova, 42 was Guardiola's assistant during the club's remarkable spell. For Puyol, that makes Vilanova the perfect man to continue the 'Barcelona project'.
Guardiola has a chance to collect a 14th piece of silverware in his last game when Barcelona plays Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final on May 25.
Puyol says “there is still a title in play and now we will be even more motivated to win it” for Guardiola.
