Pep Guardiola: 'I feel sorry for Erik ten Hag'

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 29 Oct 2024 17:58 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that he feels “sorry” for Erik ten Hag following his sacking by Manchester United.

Ten Hag was fired after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United on Sunday, and Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim is now on the verge of being announced as his replacement at Old Trafford.

Sporting have confirmed that Man Utd are eager to trigger Amorim’s €10 million release clause, while Fabrizio Romano has revealed that an agreement has been reached between the Red Devils and the Portuguese tactician.

READ MORE: Man Utd reach agreement to appoint Ruben Amorim - Romano

Ten Hag signed a contract extension back in July after guiding Man Utd to FA Cup glory over Guardiola’s side, but he was sacked on 28 October following a woeful start to the new campaign.

Man Utd are currently 14th in the Premier League table and they have picked up just four wins in 14 matches across all competitions so far this season.

READ MORE: How Man Utd will line up under Ruben Amorim

What has Pep Guardiola said?

Ahead of Man City’s Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, Guardiola was asked for his thoughts on Ten Hag’s dismissal.

“Always I feel sorry for managers, you know? He’s lost his position, so I’m so sorry for him,” the Man City boss said.

“I have a good, I think incredible relationship [with him]. I think he represented Manchester United at the highest level in terms of behaviour, of course.

“Our job as managers is one of the few jobs - in all the jobs in the world - where people are expecting to be sacked. People are expecting you don’t have a job.

“I don’t see architects or doctors or teachers or anything... The people deciding [their futures don’t say]: ‘Get out.’ It’s only us. It’s our job, we have to accept it.”

Guardiola continued: “I wish him all the best, he and his family, and of course he’s going to come back stronger. He knows, I know, everybody knows: our job depends on the results. The results are not good enough.

“I’m saying that, and even myself, I’m not an exception. If the results are not good, there isn’t anything that can sustain it. Our job, unfortunately, is as simple as that: you have to get results.

“If you are [there] because you are handsome, or because you [speak well], or have good relationships with the hierarchies, forget about it.

“I have an incredible relationship with my hierarchy, but if I didn’t get results, I wouldn’t be here. This is a business, and when you become a manager, you have to know it.”