Pep Guardiola refuses to rule out link with England job in latest comments

He's not said no...

The City manager has been linked with the job ever since Gareth Southgate resigned last week following England’s defeat to Spain in the Euros final.

It has been reported that the FA may be willing to wait for Guardiola and could appoint Lee Carsley, the Under-21s coach, as interim boss until Guardiola is available.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday ahead of City’s pre-season tour of the States, Guardiola refused to rule out the possibility of managing England but said his focus currently was on City.

Guardiola said: “I’m really excited for this season that’s coming, I’m really happy here.

“Like every season I need the break, I need it definitely, but after that I charge my batteries and I have the same energy like usual and I know the competition is coming. I will be who we are, who I am. I’m completely focussed on that.”

The Spaniard was not giving anything away to reporters in his exchange ahead of tomorrow’s game against Celtic.

If the FA were to wait for Pep, it is likely Carsley would take charge for the upcoming Nations League fixtures and World Cup qualifying in March.

However, the bookmakers see this as an unlikely option. Newcastle’s Eddie Howe and former Chelsea and Brighton boss Graham Potter have been strongly linked with replacing Southgate and are favourites with the bookies.

Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp have also been mentioned as contenders for the job but Klopp has been insistent on having a break from football after leaving Liverpool at the end of last season.