ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta has dismissed claims that he is a “mini Pep” with his mentor Guardiola also calling the comparison “bulls**t” in an X-rated rant.
The Gunners are currently sat top of the Premier League after 19 games played, and five points above Guardiola’s Manchester City, while also holding a game in hand.
The two Spanish coaches have had a close relationship for some time, even dating back to the 90s when Arteta was in Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
At that time, Guardiola was one of Barca’s star players.
After his playing days, Arteta would cut his teeth in coaching, working as Guardiola’s assistant at Man City.
During his time at the Etihad, City won the Prem twice, an FA Cup and two League Cups.
But with Arteta now in charge of his own team in Arsenal, and directly going head-to-head with Guardiola’s City for supremacy in England’s top division, the Gunners boss has dismissed claims that he has based his managerial style on his mentor.
Ahead of Arsenal’s FA Cup clash with the Citizens this weekend, Arteta said: “We are very different as a person and we are very different as a manager.
“That’s probably why we understand each other so well and have the relationship that we have.
“I had this when I was a player as well because we grew in the same position.
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“‘I have never tried to copy paste anything because I feel this club deserves much better than that and it wouldn’t work that way.
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“Every character and person dictates how they are as a manager and I think we are very different.
“I feel gratitude because he inspired me as a player and he has inspired me and gave me the opportunity as a coach.
“I accept peoples views because I probably wouldn’t have had the career that I had as a player or the understanding of the game if I didn’t have that time with him at Barcelona, and I wouldn’t be sitting here with that love for the game if he hadn’t crossed into my life and given me the opportunities that he has given me.”
Guardiola has also refused to take credit for Arteta’s meteoric rise in an X-rated rant.
The serial winner says Arsenal’s success belongs to the North London club and Arteta.
Guardiola said: “I’d like to say, ‘Yes. What they do is because I taught him’. Bulls**t.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
