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Guardiola jokes he is “so disappointed” English football hasn’t named a Wembley stand after him
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Man City boss says Wembley has been “a special place, definitely” across his decade in England
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Catalan will lead his side against Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday evening
Pep Guardiola has joked that English football has let him down by failing to name a stand in his honour at Wembley.
Speaking on Friday ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea, Guardiola reflected on what has been a remarkable personal relationship with the home of English football across his decade at Manchester City.
Guardiola will visit Wembley for the 24th time as Manchester City manager this weekend, having won the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal at the national stadium in March – though his side have lost their last two FA Cup finals in the English capital, making this a trip with plenty of unfinished business.
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Guardiola: At least a lounge or a box!
Asked about returning to Wembley in a press conference ahead of the final, Guardiola could not resist a touch of characteristic sarcasm as he joked about the frequency with which he has led City at Wembley.
“I’m so disappointed in English football for not making a stand for Pep,” he said. “Many times I’ve been there so at least a lounge, or a box – or something like that! Maybe I’ll go 24 more times. It’s been a special place, definitely!”
The line drew a predictable laugh in the press room at the City Football Academy and the suggestion that he might visit “24 more times” will be seized upon by those reading into the Catalan’s future plans.
Whether that represents a hint at his intentions beyond this season or simply a throw-away joke is impossible to say, but Guardiola’s relationship with Wembley has been one of the defining features of his time in English football.
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Guardiola’s record at Wembley and the sheer number of times the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has led his side out in London reflects the domestic dominance City have enjoyed during the Catalan’s tenure in Manchester.
The Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal in March was the most recent, with Nico O’Reilly‘s brace securing a first trophy in two seasons for City and setting the stage for what has become one of the most dramatic run-ins in recent Premier League history.
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Saturday’s final against Chelsea is an opportunity to add another chapter to that story and should Guardiola’s joke prove prophetic, plenty more visits to the national stadium still to come.
