Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola stated on Monday that the door to returning to Barcelona "is closed" because "we are already older" and admitted that the Barcelona bench is "one of the most complicated, without a doubt," as "scrutiny is instantaneous."

"It's more peaceful there, and here everything is more difficult," he said comparing his experience in Germany and England with his time at Camp Nou.

Guardiola spoke to the media at Golf Empordà, the venue for the Legends Trophy: a charity tournament sponsored by himself that raises funds for the Fundació Guardiola Sala and features former footballers such as Gabriel Batistuta, Txiki Begiristain, Ronald de Boer, Ruud Gullit, Michel Platini, or Bernd Schuster, among others.

He was also asked if comparisons between Xavi Hernández and himself could have harmed the coach from Terrassa and claimed that whatever may have happened is not his fault because he has been "outside" the Barcelona orbit for more than ten years. He said he is "not suspicious of anything in this regard."

Flick will need help

The City coach wished Xavi the best, who "will surely find his challenge," and Hansi Flick, "an extraordinary person" from their time together. "What he did with Bayern was extraordinary, especially the year he won everything, and he has international experience with the German national team," Guardiola said.

"Whenever you go to a new club, you need help. It doesn't matter where, and especially at Barça," he said before calling for "total support" for the German coach. He asked for patience and time to be given because "leagues are not won in September or October."

Good squad

Furthermore, he emphasized that "Barça has a very good squad, with very talented players, very young, but also very experienced in certain positions." Regarding youngsters like Lamine Yamal or Pau Cubarsí, "so young," he spoke of "a surprise" and "a demonstration once again that the youth system never fails" and argued that they have had "a very big impact."

"Before, young players accompanied the more established ones, and these do not accompany. These are decisive, and it's great luck. They need to be given time and patience, surrounded well, and protected. With the quality they have, they will do the rest," he assured.

Regarding the transfer market, Guardiola gave no hints about the future of Joao Cancelo, loaned this season to Barça from Manchester, and about Bernardo Silva, he pointed out that "there has been a lot of talk for years, but no one has called City, and it's a question for the Barcelona sporting director. Hopefully, he stays because he is a fundamental player, a jewel of a player, and as a person."