Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola dismissed suggestions of personal tension with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, insisting their relationship remains strong despite limited contact since Arteta left City.
At Friday’s presser, Guardiola addressed the evolving dynamic between the two former colleagues during a press conference.
“I don’t have time to go to London, and I don’t think he has time to come to Manchester,” he said. “When we were here [when Arteta was a coach at City] we saw each other five or six hours every day, so the relationship is completely different after his five or six years in London.”
The City boss directly called out attempts to manufacture conflict. “If you are trying to with that question create conflict between myself and Mikel, or Arsenal, I am old enough to notice that,” Guardiola added.
The pair worked closely together at City from 2016 to 2019, with Arteta serving as assistant before taking the Arsenal job.
Arsenal and Manchester City remain fierce title rivals, with the Gunners finishing second to City in recent Premier League campaigns. Guardiola’s comments come ahead of their next high-stakes meeting in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.