Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has sent a classy message to Pep Guardiola after the Manchester City manager said he wanted to ‘harm’ himself.
Guardiola was spotted with facial cuts after City threw away a 3-0 lead in the Champions League to Feyenoord on Tuesday night to draw 3-3.
‘Yeah, [it’s from] my finger… with my nail,’ Guardiola said in his post-match press conference. ‘I want to harm myself.’
The City manager, under pressure after six games without a win, faced a backlash and later insisted he did not ‘intend to make light’ of self-harm.
Arteta has always remained close with Guardiola, having worked as his No.2 at City before he took the Arsenal job in 2019.
The Arsenal manager was asked on Friday if he was concerned about Guardiola and said: ‘That’s something very personal.
‘But I feel a lot of sympathy for my colleagues, I know the job, I know how ruthless this industry is and I know how we get judged by just one thing which is results.
‘I know how difficult it is because personally I have been through that a lot and every defeat is super painful.
‘Just put some perspective on it like we always do and move on because there is always another game.’
City return to action on Sunday with a showdown against Premier League title rivals Liverpool at Anfield.
Ahead of that match, Guardiola posted on Instagram: ‘I was caught off guard with a question at the end of a press conference about a scratch which had appeared on my face and explained that a sharp fingernail had accidentally caused this.
‘My answer was in no way intended to make light of the very serious issue of self-harm.
‘I know that many people struggle with mental health issues every day and I would like to take this moment to highlight one of the ways in people can seek help, by calling the Samaritans hotline on 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.’
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