adminLONDON. — Arsene Wenger has criticised Pep Guardiola for his mid-season decision to announce his departure from Bayern Munich. Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini — whose side were beaten at Arsenal on Monday night — is the favourite to lose his job to the Spaniard.
Chelsea are also involved in the battle for Guardiola’s services after his confirmation that he will quit German football at the end of the current campaign.
But Wenger believes Guardiola’s announcement has contributed to the uncertainty around Louis van Gaal’s position and could even affect Bayern.
The Gunners boss said: “Personally I don’t like the fact that the managers come out so early for what they will do.
“It’s not necessarily good for their own team, nor for the speculation about the managers who are going through a little bit of a difficult patch.”
Wenger claims it is disrespectful to van Gaal that his job at Manchester United is on the line.
Van Gaal is without a win in six matches at United and needs to beat Stoke on Boxing Day to save his job.
Ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is also keen on the Old Trafford position and the United hierarchy are said to be interested.
But Wenger said: “I personally have a huge respect for Louis van Gaal and I think what is going on there is disrespectful.
“This guy has worked for 30 years in football and has delivered unbelievable quality of work. I think it is a bit disrespectful what is going on there.”
Asked whether he would encourage Guardiola to come to the Premier League, Wenger added: “Of course. We want this league to be the best league in the world. We want as well to find the right balance.
“The Premier League wants to be the best in the world but you need 40 to 50 percent of foreign managers but as well give some chances to local managers, like Howe from Bournemouth who now comes out.
“You do not want to kill that. You do not want the Premier League to become exclusively for foreign managers, even if I am one! It’s important to have the balance right. They bring different ideas but you want as well a local culture.”
Wenger also said he was “sad” to see notorious rival Mourinho lose his job at Chelsea.
Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea last week after a disastrous start to their English Premier League soccer title defence.
The Portuguese left the club with nine defeats from their opening 16 league games.
He and Wenger have played out their share of spats, both on the touchline and in the media, since Mourinho rejoined Chelsea in 2013.
But when asked on his thoughts on Mourinho’s departure, Wenger insisted he wished the 52-year-old had stayed on at Stamford Bridge.
“There’s no need to add anything,” Wenger said.
“I don’t want anyone to lose their job.
“I think it’s always sad when people lose their job.”
Mourinho is a candidate to replace van Gaal at Manchester United — if the Dutchman is sacked before the New Year.
Van Gaal reportedly has just two games to save his job.
United travel to Stoke on Boxing Day before a home game against Chelsea, under the interim management of Guus Hiddink, two days later.
And van Gaal will refuse to quit Manchester United.
The Dutchman is determined not to resign and will force United bosses to sack him if results don’t improve.
Van Gaal is battling to save his job following a woeful run of six games without a win that has seen United drop down the Premier League table and crash out of the Champions League. — The Daily Express.
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