The coach of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta is not thinking of becoming the next coach of FC Barcelona which are currently without a permanent coach.
Mikel Arteta said he is happy and privileged to be the coach of Arsenal, adding that he is focused on his job at the Premier League club.
Recall that FC Barcelona sacked coach Ronald Koeman on Wednesday after leading the club to two successive defeats. The club has replaced him with an interim coach, Sergi Barjuan, pending when the club can get a permanent coach.
Though FC Barcelona have a series of coaches shortlisted to replace Koeman, the club’s major target is to appoint the club’s former midfielder Xavi Hernandez.
Xavi is currently the coach of Al Sadd. His existing contract with the Qatari club is making it difficult for FC Barcelona to bring him back to La Liga as a coach. Once the Spanish giants can strike a deal with Xavi and the Qatari club, he would become Barca’s permanent coach.
Despite that, some pressmen in Europe have been trying to bring Mikel Arteta to the picture since he is a product of the club’s youth system and a coach in a top European club.
Recall that Arteta played for FC Barcelona team A and B between 1999 and 2002 but was not able to gain promotion to the club’s senior team before he left for Rangers in 2002.
The Spanish tactician went on to make his name at Everton and Arsenal between 2005 and 2016. After retirement from football, he served as an assistant coach at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola between 2016 and 2019 before Arsenal appointed him to replace coach Unai Emery in 2019.
Due to this profile, Mikel Arteta is seen as a coach that could do well at FC Barcelona but the Spanish tactician is not interested.
“I’m extremely happy at Arsenal and privileged to be here. My focus is here,” Arteta said ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League game against Leicester City scheduled to kick off at 12:30 on Saturday, October 30.
“There’s been a lot going on there in the past few years. You have to overcome a situation like the departure of Lionel Messi, who’s been a key player for many years, and I know that takes time. I hope everything works out well.”
🗣️ "I'm extremely happy at Arsenal."
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 29, 2021
Mikel Arteta reacts to reports linking him with the vacant Barcelona job and insists his only focus is on his work at #AFC 🔊 pic.twitter.com/uHozdd9TGe
Mikel Arteta gives an update on Kieran Tierney
Arsenal are going to Leicester City on Saturday to play their 10th Premier League game of the season. Coach Mikel Arteta needs everyone on board to earn at least an away point.
Kieran Tierney was a doubt ahead of the game but the coach has confirmed that the 24-year-old Scottish left-back who suffered a bruised ankle on October 18 in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, would make the squad list for the match.
The Scotland international has missed two games since he sustained the injury. In his absence, Arsenal have recorded two victories, a 3-1 league win over Aston Villa on October 22, and a 2-0 EFL Cup win over Leeds United on October 26.
“He’s progressing, training. Let’s see how he is today. He felt a bit better in the last few days but wasn’t 100 percent to start the other day,” Arteta said.
“There have been a few of them that haven’t been able to train. We picked up some knocks during the game against Leeds. Hopefully today we’ll have better news.”
