Pep Guardiola: Manchester City will not distract me from Bayern Munich job as I can multitask like a woman

Pep Guardiola has assured Bayern Munich fans he will not be distracted for the rest of the season despite his upcoming move to Manchester City in the summer. The Spanish boss admitted he started negotiations with the Premier League side in May last year, but played down concerns his new job would impact his work at the Bundesliga side as he is "like a woman who can multi-task".

City confirmed the appointment of the former Barcelona manager on a three-year contract on Monday (1 February), just minutes after Manuel Pellegrini broke the news that he will leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the campaign. The Citizens stated they decided to announce the deal mid-season to put an end to speculations linking the Spaniard with Manchcester United and Chelsea.

Some have questioned the timing of the revelation as Bayern are still in contention to win the treble of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League, with a potential tie against Manchester City in the European competition also on the table.

But speaking on Friday ahead the game against Bayer Leverkusen, the 45-year-old manager said, as quoted by FourFourTwo: "Why would it be difficult? I am like a woman, I can multi-task and control both situations. I have a big talent for this."

Guardiola already revealed in December that he expected to move to the Premier League next season, with Bayern having announced the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as his replacement after the Spaniard decided against renewing his deal.

City claimed on Monday that they had already tried to sign the Spaniard in 2012, while Guardiola now reveals talks about the new job started "in May or June" last year.

"I held talks with the club for the first time in May or June," he revealed now. "I will say more about it when I'm in Manchester."

"I told of my intentions [moving to the Premier League] a few weeks ago. I have no problem with that, if I am attacked daily by the newspapers because I'm going to do everything for Bayern until my last day here.

"I know it has never happened before, a manager leaving Bayern – normally Bayern leaves the manager. But we have four months."

Guardiola was critical of the way the media has treated him, saying he only attended the press conference before Saturday's game because he had to, as the press only want to ask him about the Manchester City job.

"Coaches don't get any respect any more. It doesn't matter what we say," he said. "Why don't you write about the wonderful words I say to my players before games.

"I don't know why coaches even give press conferences any more. There are important papers here that have not even asked me questions about the sport. It was the right decision not to give [individual] interviews. Journalists must know why they are here. I love to talk about tactics – back three, back four and so on."