Guardiola wants close friend Arteta to explain himself after cryptic comments about Man City
Associated PressMANCHESTER, England — The friendship between Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could come under strain with the rivalry between their title-chasing Premier League clubs intensifying in recent days. Those remarks were sufficiently vague for Guardiola to wonder whether Arteta may actually be alluding to the off-the-field issues at City, which is currently defending itself against 115 charges of breaching Premier League regulations following an investigation into the club’s financial affairs. He can answer exactly what does it mean when he said he was here and ‘I know what’s happening here.’” Guardiola was speaking Friday in a news conference that took place about the same time as Arteta was holding one at Arsenal’s training base. In sport it will never get in my way, a personal relationship, that’s for sure.” Guardiola said he feels Arsenal might be provoking his players into a rivalry, picking up especially on post-match comments by Arsenal defender Gabriel.