Pep Guardiola says he can multi-task 'like a woman' after taking Manchester City job

The Spaniard says he will plan for his new job while seeing out his contract at Bayern Munich

Pep Guardiola (GETTY IMAGES)

Pep Guardiola has said he can multi-task "like a woman" as he balances the pursuit of trophies in his final months at Bayern Munich and planning for his next job at Manchester City.

The Spaniard made the comment as he spoke to the media for the first time since it was confirmed he would be coming to the Premier League next season.

Since the appointment was made public there have been concerns in Germany that Guardiola will be distracted from Bayern Munich's campaign. There is even the possibility of a conflict of interest if Guardiola comes up against his future side in the Champions League.

Asked how he would cope with that, he told reporters at a press conference: "I am like a woman, I can control both situations. I can think of both situations, so it's no problem for me."

The dream scenario of rounding off his three-year Bayern reign with a Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal treble is still achievable, and Guardiola insisted his focus is still very much on his work in Germany.

"I had my first talks with (Manchester City) in May or June," he said. "When I am in England, I will say more about it.

"If people don't trust me, then I can't change that. I know this is new for Bayern Munich - a coach has never left them before, it has always been them getting rid of their coach.

"But I will be focusing on the team until my final day here, giving my best to the very last minute."

As well as the inevitable questions about his move to City, Guardiola was also asked about his relationship with his players amid reports of dressing-room tensions at Bayern.

He called for more respect, insisting at the same time that he will not let anything interfere with his bid to win three more trophies before leaving Bayern in the summer.

"I've experienced it already at Barcelona," he said. "We coaches don't earn respect any more in the world, no matter what we say.

"There are important newspapers here who have yet to ask me any questions about football.

"Why don't you write about all the many nice words I say to my players? Whenever I talk about my players, nobody is interested; I'm always being asked about other things.

"Journalists need to know what they are here for. I love to talk about tactics - three at the back, four at the back and so on.

"But I know how to handle it and I will do that for the next four months."

Bayern's director of sport Matthias Sammer had weighed in on some of the recent criticism by protecting Guardiola at a press conference earlier this week.

The Bayern coach shrugged that off on Friday, though, saying: "Matthias was not defending me, he was defending the club.

"I can defend myself," added the 45-year-old.

Additional reporting by PA