Pep Guardiola has plunged Barcelona into uncertainty ahead of Saturday night’s Champions League final by refusing to dismiss Johan Cruyff’s claims that he could walk away from the Nou Camp following the Wembley clash against Manchester United.
Guardiola, whose contract as Barcelona coach expires in June 2012, is known to have strong admirers within the Chelsea hierarchy. Guus Hiddink may have emerged as Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s first choice to replace the sacked Carlo Ancelotti, but Guardiola will command serious consideration at Stamford Bridge.
With former Barcelona player and coach, Cruyff, on Friday voicing his concerns that Guardiola had been worn down by the psychological strain of managing the Catalan giants, the 40-year-old coach did little to allay Cruyff’s fears when speaking at his pre-match press conference at Wembley on Friday night.
“Today is not the day to talk about that [future],” Guardiola said. “We have worked an enormous amount of time to get here and overcome many difficulties. It is a privilege to be here, so let’s not talk about anything else. Leaving? Let’s leave that for another time.”
Cruyff, who led Barcelona to the club’s first European Cup against Sampdoria at Wembley in 1992, believes the mental pressures are now taking their toll on Guardiola.
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