‘Arrogant’ Guardiola discusses relationship with press

Matt Stead

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has admitted he is “arrogant” but defended his relationship with the German media on Friday.

The Spaniard will leave Bayern in the summer and take over at Manchester City next season.

His press conference at the club’s Sabener Strasse headquarters on Friday concluded with him shaking hands with all of the reporters present, and admitting it had been hard work for all of them over his three years in charge.

“I know that it’s difficult with me,” he said.

“I don’t give any interviews, I don’t have a relationship with the reporters, but I think that it’s better this way.

“I didn’t come here to change German football. I may be arrogant, but not that much.”

Guardiola added that he will “miss almost all of my players” when he moves to City this summer, saying that he has “learnt a lot from them”.

The former Barcelona coach will get his hands on a third straight Bundesliga title on Saturday following his side’s final league fixture at home to Hannover.

He can expect a shower of beer, as is tradition after winning the title, even though he admits he would prefer not to be part of such a ritual.

His relationship with the German media has largely been regarded as quite cold, with repeated reports of a mole within his side leaking out details to the press also influencing his decision to keep a safe distance from journalists and only fulfil the minimum of his obligations towards them, with pre- and post-match press conferences and television interviews.

He will have to meet the media again before bidding farewell to Bayern, however, but that will take place in Berlin ahead of the DFB-Pokal final with Borussia Dortmund next weekend.