Pep Guardiola Reacts to Thomas Tuchel Appointment but Dodges Questions over England Talks
Pep Guardiola has refrained from confirming whether he was approached for the England managerial position before Thomas Tuchel’s appointment. Guardiola extended his best wishes to Tuchel as the new manager of the national team.
Reports from The Independent indicated that Guardiola was a front-runner for the England job after Gareth Southgate’s departure, with the FA willing to wait for the Manchester City boss in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. However, negotiations between the FA and Tuchel progressed swiftly this month, leading to Tuchel taking over in January while Lee Carsley will manage next month’s camp.
At Tuchel’s unveiling, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham disclosed that around “approximately 10 candidates” were interviewed, with some from England, although Newcastle manager Eddie Howe mentioned he was not contacted.
Guardiola, currently in the final year of his contract with Manchester City, opted not to delve into discussions regarding his future. He did not confirm if there had been any contact from the FA or address talks about extending his stay at the club.
Ahead of Manchester City’s upcoming match against Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday, Guardiola emphasised that his focus remained on the current season. He acknowledged Tuchel’s appointment and conveyed his congratulations to both the FA and Tuchel for the significant new role.
Guardiola stated, “Thomas Tuchel is the manager. I congratulate them, the FA and Thomas, for a big job. I wish England – for the fact I am nine years here – the very best for both of them.”
When quizzed about any potential contact from the FA, Guardiola reiterated, “Thomas Tuchel is the manager. So forget about it. I am the manager of Man City. The conversations I have is with Man City. This is what it is. Tuchel is the manager already. Thomas is there. This is the most important thing. The rest is not important.”
This story is developing, and more updates are anticipated regarding Pep Guardiola, the England football team, and Thomas Tuchel’s new role.