Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens was desperate to spend more time with Pep Guardiola after his side’s FA Cup defeat against Manchester City. The 44-year-old, who has been engulfed in a spat with Ange Postecoglou this week, was wowed by Guardiola.
City came from behind to defeat League One Orient. They booked their place in the fifth round thanks to second-half goals by Abdukodir Khusanov and Kevin De Bruyne.
Wellens shared a 10-minute conversation with Guardiola after the game. He was left hugely impressed by the City boss.
“I have to say, the way he is, we’ve just had 10 minutes, what an unbelievable guy. I half didn’t want him to go home. Just stay for a bit longer,” Wellens said.
“The way he talks, I complimented his tan, he’s been to Abu Dhabi for a few days so he looks really well. What a man to speak to, he speaks with passion, not just coming for a drink and, ‘What time’s the bus leaving?’ He speaks in detail tactically, about his experiences. What an unbelievable guy.”
It comes just a week after Wellens was far less complimentary about a Premier League manager. Asked about injuries in his Orient squad after last weekend’s defeat against Stockport, he said: “I’m not Ange Postecoglou, keep using it as an excuse.”
Wellens has since issued an apology and attempted to contact Postecoglou personally. However, the Spurs boss has not returned the call and brutally said the former Leicester midfielder had already “had his five minutes”.
Asked if he was using injuries as an excuse, Postecoglou said: “I don’t know how it’s a narrative when you are just stating facts.
“If people don’t see a situation where you are missing something significant there is nothing I can say to that. If they say, ‘Well, that shouldn’t really make a difference’, I don’t know how to answer that.
“I get that people’s senses get dulled or people get bored – everyone wants a bit of drama. But that’s not drama, that’s just stating facts. We have been missing some really key players for a long time and have had to deal with that. Whether people see that as significant or not…
“If people think I’m trying to create a story out of nothing I don’t know what to say about that. And as for other managers, mate, he’s had his five minutes so let’s move on.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk