Abdulhafiz TeslimEngland should appoint an Englishman as their next manager instead of Pep Guardiola.
That is the view of talkSPORT co-host Rory Jennings, who insisted he would choose Frank Lampard over Guardiola if he were responsible for selecting the next England boss.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has faced criticism and calls for his dismissal following the Three Lions’ 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
The Three Lions took the lead but were unable to hold on, with several of Tuchel’s tactical decisions coming under scrutiny after England’s collapse in Atlanta.
Guardiola, who has left Manchester City after delivering six Premier League titles in ten seasons, has been suggested by some as a possible replacement.
According to reports, Guardiola had agreed personal terms to become England manager in 2024 following Gareth Southgate’s departure. However, he later changed his mind and instead signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City.
Despite being widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history, Jennings believes Guardiola should not be handed the England job.
> “How patriotic can you be when you’ve got a German manager?” Jennings said on World Cup GameDay Live. “How much patriotism can a German manager instil in an English team?
> “That’s why I’m so keen on the next England manager, which hopefully comes along very soon, being English.
> “I had an argument with your old mucker, Mr Jason Cundy, because I was saying it has to be English for various reasons.
> “He went to the extreme to try and make me look foolish, which is what he does. We were talking about who should be the next England manager and I said it has to be English.
> “And he went, ‘So, you’d say not to Guardiola?’ I was like, ‘Well, kind of, yes, I would say no to Guardiola, because the point is it has to be an Englishman.’
> “In my opinion, it has to be English.
> “We have 100 years of World Cups, 100 years of data to learn from. Nobody has ever won it with a foreign manager.
> “Brazil have tried this tournament with Carlo Ancelotti and went out with a whimper.
> “We’ve tried, and went out with a whimper. Why are we ignoring 100 years’ worth of history that teaches you to go with it?”
Pep or Frank?
Jamie O’Hara also weighed in, pointing to Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni, who earned seven caps for his country as a player.
> “I have to say, when I watched Argentina, in terms of their mentality to win… Scaloni on the side, when they scored the second goal against England, it’s like he wanted to cry his eyes out. The passion was filling up in him.
> “The players as well, the way they react, it’s like winning at all costs. Defeat is not acceptable.
> “I feel like maybe we are a bit soft. Maybe we’ve got a bit of a soft underbelly.”
O’Hara then challenged Jennings by asking whether he would genuinely choose Coventry City manager Frank Lampard over Guardiola.
> “In this circumstance, it would be Lampard, because it has to be an English manager,” Jennings responded.
> “I know you’re looking despairingly at me. I’m not for one second saying that, at the moment, I believe Frank Lampard is a greater manager than Pep Guardiola. I obviously don’t think that.
> “I think Guardiola is the second-best manager in world football. Luis Enrique is the best manager in world football. I don’t want Luis Enrique either.
> “If you asked an Argentinian who the best manager in world football is, he’d say Luis Enrique. He wouldn’t want him to be the Argentina manager because there is a very particular set of skills that is needed, and I just don’t think you can have them unless you understand the nation.
> “Thomas Tuchel, ultimately, would have been more upset when Paraguay dumped Germany out than when Argentina beat England.”
The debate over England’s managerial future is likely to continue, but Jennings remains convinced that, regardless of Guardiola’s remarkable achievements, the Three Lions’ next head coach should be an Englishman.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim
