Mikel Arteta has blasted suggestions that he was prepared to leave Arsenal to take a managerial position at Barcelona. Arteta reportedly informed teammates that he would be leaving the Emirates Stadium to return to Barcelona at the end of the current campaign, according to reports published in Spain on Sunday.
Arteta has emerged as a favorite to succeed outgoing Barca manager Xavi, who announced on Saturday that he would stand down in the summer following a run of underwhelming performances. Arteta has a lengthy history with the Camp Nou, having graduated from Barcelona’s legendary academy.
The 41-year-old, though, stated on Monday that he is eager to remain where he is in order to help Arsenal win their first Premier League championship since 2004. “This is where I belong. Reporters were informed by Arteta, “I am with the proper people.”
“I’m incredibly pleased with it. I am also committed to a wonderful path with this football team, these players, our staff, and our people, as I have stated numerous times. Here, there is still plenty to be done. Everyone at the club has the same goal, and you can see that we all want more, that we’re not content, and that the club wants to push ourselves farther in whatever we do. Here we are at this point. To succeed, we must have everyone on board, and I am definitely on board.
As he gets ready for today’s Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest, Arteta acknowledges that the Barca reports have angered him, dismissing them as wholly untrue. That is entirely false information. I’m not sure where it’s coming from, but it’s completely false. That truly bothers me,” he declared.
“I found it hard to believe.” It has no source; therefore, I’m not sure where it’s coming from. I know this is our industry, but I don’t think that kind of news is appropriate for anyone to hear. I’ve always been rather straight and have always said the exact opposite—how content and grateful I am with my current situation.
On Sunday, Arsenal will play a pivotal match against Premier League leaders Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will face off for the final time while they are still employed, as the German unexpectedly revealed on Friday that he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the current campaign.
Having worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, Arteta did not exclude managing another English team in the future, despite Klopp’s declaration that he could never manage another one.
When asked whether he could envision himself leading another Premier League team, he said, “Not right now. But I’m not sure. I was a player for two of the best teams in our nation, Arsenal and Everton. I moved in various configurations. I’m quite young, and I have no idea what the future holds. Klopp improved this league significantly, in my opinion. Initially, the individual. His ideas, his charm, his character, and his love of the game are all unique. He has, in my opinion, significantly aided in this league’s expansion.
Bayern contests Tuchel mentioned his work in Barcelona.
The statement made by Bayern Munich’s coach Thomas Tuchel on Monday was a forced denial of any discussion on Xavi Hernandez’s departure from Barcelona at the end of the season. Later on Sunday, at a Bayern fan club gathering, former Chelsea manager Tuchel stated that he would eventually find employment and that “abroad will appeal to me again.”
After that, Tuchel reportedly discussed the prospect of working at Barcelona in addition to discussing the Spanish La Liga in general. The sporting director Christoph Freund and CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen of Bayern, however, fired back, claiming that Tuchel “never spoke about Xavi Hernandez and his successor, as was falsely claimed afterwards.” Bayern also said, “We will no longer accept such non-factual statements directed against our coach.”
