No decision from Guardiola until next year

Published on 22/11/2012 00:00

LAST night’s announcement that Rafa Benitez is taking charge of Chelsea only on an interim basis appeared to strengthen the belief that former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is the man Roman Abramovich wants to take the reins at Stamford Bridge long term.

Yesterday, Guardiola’s agent, Josep Maria Orobitg, told a Brazilian website that his client will not make a decision on his future before 2013 at the earliest.

Guardiola is currently taking a one-year sabbatical from football in New York after leaving Barca in the summer following four hugely successful seasons at the Nou Camp.

Orobitg said: “Pep Guardiola will not decide anything before January. I was with him in New York 15 days ago and he told me he will not decide before January or February which team he will coach or if he will sit on any bench next season. It doesn’t matter what happens, before that period he will not take any decision with any club nor with any national team.”