Pep Guardiola has said he is ‘so disappointed’ and ‘so sorry’ to hear of the sacking of ‘friend’ Julen Lopetegui at Real Madrid.
The two were teammates at Barcelona between 1994 and 1997 while they have stayed close since, with the current Manchester City boss believing Lopetegui will bounce back.
“I would like to call him in the next days. I'm so disappointed, but I know what football is,” Guardiola told Skysports after Manchester City defeated Tottenham on Monday night.
“I'm so sorry for Julen because he's a friend of mine, he's an exceptional person. We played together at Barcelona and have an amazing relationship.
“But, it is what it is football. Nobody can escape that. When you have bad results you will not continue in places like Barcelona, Madrid.
“You win matches in a row, or you won't have the chance to continue.
“In football and life you will have another chance. And Julen will find another chance, another place and he will show again his value, like he did in Porto and the Spanish national team.
“I wish him all the best of course.”
