Pep Guardiola has reiterated his affection for England amid speculation that the Spaniard could succeed Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.
German Tuchel, whose Chelsea side beat Guardiola’s Manchester City in the 2021 final, is under pressure following England’s semi-final exit to Argentina on Wednesday.
“I have friends there,” said Guardiola, explaining to OKX why he would “love” England to become champions. “I have a real connection with the UK.”
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World Cup 2026: Guardiola advice for England
Tuchel agreed an 18-month contract to take charge in January 2025 and signed an extension until EURO 2028 five months ago.
The 52-year-old was appointed with the aim of addressing England’s perceived over-cautiousness at tournaments and winning the World Cup.
Many fans and pundits have suggested the manner of England’s capitulation against Argentina, when they spurned a 1-0 lead after 84 minutes, makes Tuchel’s position untenable.
Tuchel’s substitutions after England went ahead ensured his team finished with six defenders on the pitch, barely keeping any possession following their 55th-minute goal.
Guardiola, who is known for masterminding a possession-dominating approach, is the bookmakers’ favourite to be England’s next permanent manager.
“You don’t have time to train, you don’t have time to practice,” said Guardiola, describing the “vibe” of the squad and avoiding injuries as “vital” and more important than tactics for World Cup success.
“A lot of media are spying on what you do… the line-ups and [wanting to] know the system we are going to use.”
In an encouraging sign for supporters hoping Guardiola becomes England boss, he spoke of “how happy” he would expect himself and his squad to be at a tournament.
“[You must] live the moment like it’s last opportunity,” he suggested. “[It’s] like – ‘wow, how good we [can be] daily, you know?
“In the canteen, in training – but [it’s] not just before [we are] asleep. [It’s about] gathering in the room and playing cards or chess or whatever.
“This kind of stuff is massively important at these types of tournaments.”
Pep Guardiola: I need to ‘feel right’ for next club
Guardiola left City a year before the end of his contract at the end of last season, having overseen two seasons without a Premier League trophy.
The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona head coach had won the top flight six times and the 2022/23 Champions League among an avalanche of silverware with the Cityzens.
“People say ‘Ah – in three months you will be back, in six months you will be back,'” reflected Guardiola.
“Maybe, but I have to feel it and experience that I really miss it and need it. Right now, for these three weeks [or] a month, I [have woken] up in the morning and they said ‘oh, Pep – do you miss it?’
“I said ‘No.’ ‘Okay, good. Let’s go’. That is what I feel right now. Maybe one day I will wake up and say ‘Okay, I want to be back – I want to prove again that I’m a good coach.
‘I want to deal with the players and handle them, my sporting director and hierarchy.’ Right now, I don’t feel that.
“A lot of players – the young players, old players – they said ‘I want to leave. I’m here, in cold Manchester, I’m not playing. I want to leave.’
“And you have to replace those guys. But the big, big task is [about] the organisation, sporting director, manager, CEOs, the hierarchy, the recruitment of the right players that you need.
“Everyone makes mistakes with that. [It requires] making [less costly] mistakes [and making] as few as possible. That is the key point.”
Lamine Yamal ‘can win’ World Cup final
Spain face Argentina in the final on Sunday and Guardiola is backing his compatriots and 19-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal against the holders.
“He is a guy who can handle the pressure,” Guardiola said of Yamal, noting that the Barcelona winger arrived at the finals recovering from a hamstring injury.
“He can win the game himself. You can talk about tactics but Spain have… the players and Lamine can score a goal.
“That is the biggest difference. If Rodri always can impose his game in the middle with Pedri and Lamine Yamal, they can make it.”
Brazil forward Neymar joined Barcelona shortly after Guardiola left the club in 2012. “Always, always, I would have loved as a manager to coach Neymar,” said Guardiola, voicing “regrets” over not working with the Selecao’s record scorer.
“His grace – his beauty – is in his movements. In his prime, with Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and him, Barcelona were unstoppable.”
Pep Guardiola: Football ‘life’ until Man City exit
A lack of “energy” and back problems contributed to Guardiola’s decision to his decision to “care for myself a little bit” by taking a break, he explained.
“[I want to] see much more my kids,” he added. “My father is 95 and still here; my sisters, my brothers.
“[Going more] slowly is [partly] the target. And after [that], we will see. If I miss [football and] someone wants me to be back, [I’ll consider my options].
“Otherwise, I will continue. I’m not young anymore. I’m not 35, 36, 37, 40, 41. I always thought about why, during all my life, [everything is] always related to football.
“[Is all] I can do playing or managing football? Why don’t I try to discover a life or be happy or be complete as a human being doing other things, not just related to football?
“It’s a question mark. I don’t know, because since I was a little boy in my little town, [everything was] football, football, football until [I left City].
“Now I try to maybe enjoy doing other things that I’ve never done [and] now want to do.”
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