'Multi-tasking' Pep Guardiola has no problem balancing Man City and Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has shrugged off suggestions of a potential conflict of interest after signing with Premier League's Manchester City for next season, saying he was quite capable of mult-tasking. Guardiola, who won back-to-back German league titles with Bayern and is on course for a third after joining in 2013, agreed a three-year contract with City this week. Although he is chasing a treble with Bayern this season he will also need to plan for City's next campaign and the teams could face each other in the Champions League with both through to the last 16. "I am like a woman," Guardiola told reporters when asked specifically about the issue of conflict of interest on Friday. 

"I can do things simultaneously. I can control both situations." He said he would talk about the City deal once he was in England. "I cannot say something every week about it," said Guardiola, who rejected a contract extension with Bayern last year. "It is another four months and for me it is not a problem. Newspapers can continue attacking and I will continue doing my job," he said. Guardiola was referring to widespread reports alleging internal discontent in the squad about the way he handled his decision to leave Bayern. 

The club rejected such reports as well as allegations of weight and discipline problems with midfielder Arturo Vidal during their winter training camp in Qatar. "He is very strong and has trained very well. I fully trust him," Guardiola said in support of the Chilean. The Spaniard can still leave on a high and clinch a treble in his final season at Munich, matching the 2013 campaign under his predecessor Jupp Heynckes.
"Coaches get little respect these days," he said. "It is everywhere like that. In Madrid, Barcelona, Germany, England," he said ahead of Bayern's Bundesliga match against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. "It does not matter what we say." 

"There are respectable papers here that have not asked me a single question on football in these three years. "But that comes with the job. I do not understand it but I can live with it." Bayern are eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and on course for a record fourth successive league title.  Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has dismissed suggestions that Pep Guardiola was manoeuvred into the club behind his back. Pellegrini, whose side are set for a crucial showdown with Premier League leaders Leicester City on Saturday, said he was not kept in the dark as the Bayern Munich boss was ushered into the City hotseat. Guardiola, who won back-to-back German league titles with Bayern and is on course for a third after joining in 2013, agreed a three-year contract with City this week and will begin work ahead of next season.

"It's important for everyone to know that I knew what was happening and that no one was doing anything behind my back," Pellegrini told reporters on Friday. "It's important to talk about this season and not the next one." Pellegrini's immediate concern is Saturday's encounter at the Etihad Stadium where his side can overhaul surprise challengers Leicester at the Premier League summit.

A victory for City would see them draw level on 50 points with Claudio Ranieri's side, but ahead of them on goal difference with 13 matches of the campaign then remaining. Defeat, however, would not spell the end of City's hopes of winning a third title in the last five seasons, Pellegrini said. "It's not the biggest game of the season so far -- we can win or lose this game and the Premier League will not end here," added the Chilean, whose side are still in all four competitions they entered. "We have 39 more points to fight for. You cannot think you're champion if you win and if you lose, there are lots more points. It's a good game, a big game but not decisive."