Pep wants United

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola will resist any prospective long term strategy from Chelsea - since he wants to function alongside Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Guardiola's future is clouded doubtful as he is currently within the final year of his three-season deal at the Nou Camp and has but to choose new phrases to remain in Catalonia. However the man who ended Fergie's dream of a third European Cup by masterminding a last victory over him in Rome 18 months back has told pals he wants to get over once the Scot calls time on his Aged Trafford reign. The former Spain and Barcelona midfielder has been linked with a possible transfer to Chelsea to interchange Carlo Ancelotti if the Italian leaves his function at Stamford Bridge. That arrives in the wake of your looming departure of sporting director Frank Arnesen, with former Barca counterpart Txiki Begiristain, who left the Spanish champions in the start with the year, in the frame to replace the Dane. Guardiola's agent, Josep Maria Orobitg, has briefed in Spain that he has acquired approaches from quite a few agents, including 1 claiming to be representing Chelsea, to determine if the Nou Camp chief desires to move. Chelsea, who preserve, privately and publicly, that strategies of any curiosity in Guardiola are "total nonsense", dismissed the concept as totally without foundation or merit, insisting that Ancelotti retains the total and absolute backing from the Stamford Bridge hierarchy regardless of overseeing the club's worst run of league outcomes since 2000. Ancelotti has admitted he was opposed towards the sacking of assistant Ray Wilkins, replaced by the unqualified Michael Emenalo, whilst Sunday's draw at Newcastle cost the Blues leading spot to United for your very first time this season. But whilst Guardiola is keen to try his hand in England at some stage, it appears that his favored vacation spot could be Manchester, rather than London, together with the dream situation one in which he would have the ability to perform hand in glove with Fergie. Guardiola, who could nonetheless signal a new one-year deal but could decide to get a 12-month sabbatical in the end of the season, has advised buddies he isn't eager on Italy, exactly where Inter Milan would be an obvious choice if Rafa Benitez is dispensed with. The Barca boss, nevertheless, is said to get entertained the concept of taking about the United hotseat, although he would want Fergie to remain around the club as a mentor. A Barcelona supply mentioned last evening: "It appears that Pep really would be eager on operating with Sir Alex, if that was feasible. It could allow him to come back to phrases with England under the advice of the very best." Ancelotti may have a assembly with his squad in the next 48 hours in a very bid to kind out the problems that have brought just 4 points from their last five games, the worst league run with the Roman Abramovich era. Stand-in skipper Didier Drogba revealed: "We're heading to talk this week and attempt to alter this since it is not normal."

via Crossposterous