Arsene Wenger criticises Pep Guardiola for early announcement on Bayern exit

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 23 December 2015

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hits out at Pep Guardiola for announcing that he will leave Bayern Munich next summer halfway through the season.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has criticised Bayern Munich counterpart Pep Guardiola for announcing halfway through the season that he will leave Bayern Munich next summer.

Guardiola said last week that he had made his mind up about his future and Bayern then announced on Sunday that the Spaniard would be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti for 2016-17.

Guardiola's decision to leave Bayern at the end of his third season in Germany has led to increased speculation that he will move to the Premier League, with Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs thought to be interested in the 44-year-old.

"I don't like that a manager has come out so early on what they will do. Not good for his own team or speculation for others," Wenger told reporters at this morning's press conference ahead of the Boxing Day trip to Southampton.

The Frenchman did, however, praise the former Barcelona boss for his "positive" style of football.

"He's a top quality manager, no-one would dispute that," Wenger added. "I think of his positive attitude, that he wants his sides to play in a positive way."

Wenger also said this morning that there was no rush to get star duo Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil tied down with new contracts.