Soccer

Guardiola says his Bayern Munich team were spied on

Manchester City boss says his respect for Bielsa remains despite Leeds spying row

Pep Guardiola: “In other countries everyone [spies but] it’s more difficult here.” Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
Pep Guardiola: “In other countries everyone [spies but] it’s more difficult here.” Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
Jamie Jackson
Fri Jan 18 2019 - 20:53

Pep Guardiola has said his Bayern Munich team were spied on but that he would never resort to such tactics in England, as the fallout from the Marcelo Bielsa affair continued.

Bielsa has admitted to spying on every team Leeds have played this season. Guardiola said it had done nothing to damage his respect for the Argentinian and that spying was common in Spain, where he managed Barcelona.

"In other countries everyone does it [but] it's more difficult here," the Manchester City manager said. "In other countries [training grounds] are open – at Munich there were people with cameras watching what we do. But I'm not going to do it here – with Huddersfield [tomorrow's opponents].

“Everyone wants to know everything – that’s not just football, it’s society. Everyone is spying on everyone, on the personal lives of this man or woman.”

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Guardiola has previously highly praised Bielsa. “My respect remains the same; he was clear in his statement,” he said of Bielsa’s admission regarding spying. “He’s done it in the past – why should I change my opinion?”

New left-back

Guardiola is considering buying a new left-back in the summer to give Benjamin Mendy specialist competition. Mendy is in full training following a knee injury suffered in early November, having missed nearly all of last term with another knee problem.

“We survived well last season, this season too,” Guardiola said of having to use makeshift cover for the position. “But we are thinking about that [a new left-back].”

Mendy has suffered six injuries in 18 months at City, but Guardiola said there was nothing different the player needed to do: “He trains incredibly well – sometimes it happens.”

Meanwhile, Huddersfield Town have identified Borussia Dortmund's second team manager, Jan Siewert, as their preferred choice to replace David Wagner. Talks have taken place between the clubs with Dortmund looking for a €300,000 compensation package before releasing the 36-year-old. – Guardian