As he gears up his Arsenal team to face Chelsea, Mikel Arteta stated on Friday that “role model” Mauricio Pochettino told him not to enter coaching.
More than 20 years ago, when Arteta was just starting his career, the two men shared a Paris-Saint Germain team.
On Saturday, however, they will be in opposing dugouts at Stamford Bridge, with Arsenal vying for first place in the Premier League standings and Chelsea hoping to keep up their recent run of success.
In his pre-game press conference on Friday, Arteta praised his Argentine opponent.
“It was my first professional opportunity in Paris, and we arrived together at the same time,” the Spaniard, who was on loan from Barcelona to the club, added. “For three months, we shared a hotel room.
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He was judgmental. As a player first and foremost, he has been one of the most significant figures in my football career. He embraced me with his arm.
“He treated me like a little kid, like a little brother, and he was a huge factor in the success I had in Paris because he really looked after me, gave me a lot of confidence, and offered me a lot of advise.
He has served as an inspiration to me ever since, not just as a player but also as a manager since I had to decide whether to give up playing in order to pursue a coaching career.
“He had a lot of influence over that, and I’ll always appreciate what he’s done for me.”
However, Arteta, 41, also disclosed that Pochettino, who has previously managed PSG and Tottenham, advised him against becoming a coach.
Arteta, who is 10 years older than the Argentine, said the latter advised him to avoid tutoring. It’s too difficult.
“I knew he was going to be a coach,” he continued. “I closely followed him. He was already a leader when he was playing because of how well he understood the rules of the game. He used to be in my back and was always giving me advice.
