LA LIGA NEWS

Guardiola expected to stay long-term

By ESPNsoccernet staff

October 29, 2010

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Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta does not believe Pep Guardiola is likely to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

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Pep Guardiola has strong ties with Barcelona

Ferguson, 68, has said he will continue at Old Trafford as long as his health allows, but he has recently spoken about the need to appoint a strong and experienced replacement when he does step down and he is expected to have input into the eventual appointment.
Jose Mourinho has been widely tipped as the next United manager, but reports in England and Spain have claimed Ferguson believes Guardiola is the ideal candidate.
Guardiola has refused to commit to a long-term contract at Barca, yet Zubizarreta has reassured the club's supporters that the coach is unlikely to leave Camp Nou any time soon.
"If Ferguson is thinking that way, he has excellent taste, but everybody knows the ties Guardiola has with Barca, which go far beyond the contract he has," he told Ona FM. "We are working on a long-term project."