Spaniard Pep Guardiola has unflinchingly poured cold water over rumors linking him with a return to Barcelona, describing his connection to the club as a thing of the past.<\/p>\n
Barcelona presidential frontrunner and reputed favorite, Victor Font – aspiring to replace Josep Maria Bartomeu following the latter\u2019s resignation – is desirous of bringing the Manchester City\u00a0manager back to the Nou Camp should his presidential hopes come to fruition.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is our intention to build a very strong and competitive project and we are very lucky at Bar\u00e7a that we inherited a style of play that Johan Cruff instilled throughout the organisation,\u201d Font said, as per Sky Sports News.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd most of the best professionals who know about this style are also fans who love the club \u2013 like Pep Guardiola, Xavi, (Andres) Iniesta, (Carles) Puyol. They are all legends that love Barcelona but do not work for Bar\u00e7a today – we need to bring them back to ensure we will have a very competitive project.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guardiola, who left Barcelona in 2012, won 14 major trophies\u00a0over a hugely successful spell in partnership with his world-renowned protege Lionel Messi at the Catalan club.<\/p>\n
Following his side\u2019s latest win over Sheffield United\u00a0in the Premier League, Guardiola put paid to Font\u2019s latest comments and detailed his support for the current Barcelona manager, former Southampton and Everton\u00a0boss, Ronald Koeman, who happens to be a personal friend of the ex Barcelona legend.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs manager of Barcelona my time is over,\u201d said Guardiola in quotes carried by BBC Sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cI lived my period there. Ronald Koeman\u00a0is there [now]. I respect him; he is an incredible friend of mine. It belongs to other people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Well, hopefully this affirmation of support from Guardiola puts the new Barcelona boss in a better light as the Dutchman is already under pressure in his new role. Having lost last Saturday\u2019s Clasico to Real Madrid, Barcelona found themselves in the bottom half of the La Liga\u00a0table. Koeman\u2019s side bounced back with a win against Juventus in the Champions League in their last match despite going through what seems to be a dry spell for the Blaugrana giants in their current La Liga campaign.<\/p>\n
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