Guardiola denies contact with Chelsea after announcing decision to leave Barcelona

Apr 27, 2012 1:17:00 PM

The 41-year-old has dismissed any links with the vacant managerial job at Stamford Bridge and denies ever meeting with the owner or any of his representatives

Pep Guardiola has distanced himself from the vacant Chelsea job after confirming that he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season.

The Spaniard’s decision to announce his resignation as Blaugrana boss has increased speculation that he will take over as manager of the Premier League club next season, but the 41-year-old insists that he wants to take a break from football.

"I never met with Roman Abramovich nor any Chelsea representative. I'm not interesting in coaching now," he told reporters.

"My desire is to make other things, maybe sometime in the future I will go back to a bench, but I don't know at the moment.

	BATTLE FOR THE BLUES?
16/5	Chelsea are 16/5 with PaddyPower to be drawing at half-time and leading at full-time against QPR

"I don't have anything to prove, I'm not interested in proving myself abroad and will go away from football at the moment."

Guardiola's apparent non-interest in the job at Stamford Bridge may strengthen current interim boss Roberto Di Matteo's own claim to the Chelsea hotseat.

The Italian has turned Chelsea’s season around since taking over from the sacked Andre Villas-Boas until the end of the season, overseeing the knocking-out of Barcelona to reach the Champions League final and also securing a spot in the FA Cup final.

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