Madrid: Pep Guardiola could be tempted to leave Barcelona after the Champions League final against Manchester United whether they win or lose, former club coach Johan Cruyff said on Friday.
Guardiola, 40, has won nine trophies in three seasons since he took the helm of the Catalan club's first team, including three consecutive La Liga titles, and could claim his second European Cup as coach on Saturday.
"Guardiola has worked very hard over the last few years and it wouldn't surprise me if he left independently of Saturday's result," Cruyff said.
"If he left, it would only be because it is very difficult to withstand certain pressures in the long term. For this reason I think he would take a year off."
When asked who he thought would be the ideal replacement should Guardiola step aside, Cruyff name former Dutch international striker Marco van Basten.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, May 27, 2011, 19:20