Man Utd boss Michael Carrick was asked about Pep Guardiola’s exit from Manchester City at the end of the season.
Michael Carrick has praised Pep Guardiola for having a “massive impact on football”. Guardiola is set to leave Manchester City after their final game of the season, following the club’s official confirmation.
Guardiola has led City to 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles, the Champions League, three FA Cups and five Carabao Cups, and he has faced six different Manchester United managers in that time.
The Catalan has overseen 27 games against United during his time in charge of City, winning 13, drawing 4 and losing 10.
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Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, City have become the dominant force in Manchester, but 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules have cast a shadow over their success.
Guardiola is viewed alongside Ferguson as one of the game’s greatest-ever managers. When Carrick was asked about Guardiola’s exit on Thursday before the official announcement, he said: “I don’t know, it’s his last game for sure, so it’s difficult to elaborate too much on that.
“Because pure respect on Pep, his family in Manchester City is a football club, so he’s had a massive impact on football on these shores, and throughout Europe really in his time, in terms of what he’s achieved, really, is the standout, I think, the way he’s done it, and the teams and how he’s produced.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been on the other side of some of that, and I’ve had some good results against them as well, so whether that is the end or not, I’m just going to carry on, I’m not getting involved in that one at the moment.”
Guardiola lost what will be his final game against United as City boss, having been defeated 2-0 at Old Trafford in mid-January.
The Manchester derby was Carrick’s first game in charge following his appointment as interim coach, and he followed the victory with three points at the Emirates against Arsenal. Those results provided the platform for Carrick to guide the club back into the Champions League. The 44-year-old has now been rewarded with a two-year contract.
“To be honest, no. I feel good, you know,” he said when asked whether he needed a break after an intense period.
“I think you get in the rhythm of working really, of different ways, I’m sure you have different hours to what I do, some of you work more than others, I’m sure you do. You get used to it, you get into the flow of it, I’ve loved it, I’ve loved every minute of it, so I certainly don’t feel that I need a break.”
Enzo Maresca is expected to be named as Guardiola’s successor, meaning Carrick will go up against the former Chelsea boss in the Manchester derby next season.


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