Arrigo Sacchi reveals Pep Guardiola called him in November to solve his Manchester City issues and why Florentino Perez was unhappy with him before a Clasico clash in 2005.
The former coach turns 75 tomorrow and is not considering a return to football.
“I rejected an offer to become Monza’s technical director. Berlusconi offered me a villa with a household, but I said no,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Arrigo Sacchi reveals Pep Guardiola called him in November to solve his Manchester City issues and why Florentino Perez was unhappy with him before a Clasico clash in 2005.
The former coach turns 75 tomorrow and is not considering a return to football.
“I rejected an offer to become Monza’s technical director. Berlusconi offered me a villa with a household, but I said no,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Sacchi’s Italy lost the World Cup Final against Brazil in 1994, but he won two Champions League and one Scudetto as Milan coach.
He also served as Real Madrid’s technical director in 2004.
“I remember Rijkaard was smoking a cigarette in the stands of the Bernabeu before a Clasico clash. He was worried," Sacchi revealed.
“I calmed him down, saying: ‘No worries, you are going to win 3-0, we are not competitive.’ Florentino listened to it and asked me: ‘Are you with them or us?’, but Barcelona really won 3-0.”
Sacchi is also a close friend of Pep Guardiola.
“He called me back in November during the most challenging moment of the season. I told him they [Manchester City] weren’t pressing high up the pitch anymore. Now they are doing it again.
“Pep improves the player he is working with because he transmits courage and ideas. Like it happened with my Milan side.
“Now Milan and Atalanta are the teams that play the better football in Serie A.”