Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his sympathy for Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked by Manchester United on Monday.
Ten Hag was dismissed as United manager with his side 14th in the Premier League table, having finished eighth last season.
Guardiola’s City faced off against United seven times during Ten Hag’s 29-month reign at Old Trafford.
City won four of those games – including a 6-3 victory in October 2022 – but United famously beat their neighbours 2-1 in the final of last season’s FA Cup.
Speaking on Tuesday, Guardiola had some kind words for his former rival.
Erik ten Hag was sacked as Manchester United manager on Monday – less than 24 hours after his side’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday
Pep Guardiola spoke about Ten Hag at a press conference on Tuesday and showed sympathy
‘Always I feel sorry for managers [when they are sacked], you know?’ Guardiola said at a press conference. ‘He’s lost his position, so I’m so sorry for him.
‘I have a good, I think incredible relationship [with him]. I think he represented Manchester United at the highest level in terms of behaviours, 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 went on to predict that Ten Hag will ‘come back stronger’.
Guardiola (left) and Ten Hag (right) pictured at Wembley during last season’s FA Cup final
Ten Hag won the EFL Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024 but United did not come close to City in the league, finishing 14 points behind them in his first season and 31 behind in his second
The Spaniard added: ‘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.’
Guardiola has been in charge at Man City since July 2016. His current contract is due to expire in June next year.
