MX23RW : Friday, November 29 08:03:44| >> :120:24683:24683:

Xavi: 'Pep Guardiola will change face of English football'

Former Barcelona ace Xavi claims that Pep Guardiola "changed world football" during his time in charge at Camp Nou, and believes that he will do similar at Man City.

Xavi has backed his former manager Pep Guardiola to revolutionise the face of English football during his time in charge of Manchester City.

The 45-year-old has won six domestic titles and two Champions League crowns during his nine years in management at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Guardiola faces his toughest test yet at the Etihad Stadium this season, however, taking over a side that scraped into the top four of the Premier League last time out by virtue of goal difference alone.

Xavi, who spent four campaigns working under his compatriot in Catalonia, believes that Guardiola will pass his latest test with flying colours.

"Joan Vila, who was my mentor at La Masia, told me: 'Boy, soak up everything you can from Pep. His first touch, how he turns his head before receiving the ball, when he is under pressure, when he has space, his changes of rhythm, how he uses both feet to control the ball'," Xavi told Sky Sports News. "The first thing I remember him saying as a coach was that he would not tolerate any player not working hard.

'This is the only thing that I require, that you work hard for the group.' This was a surprise for us. The high pressing was brilliant. It was a real football revolution, a modern kind of football. Within a few years, no one played long balls anymore, even Real Madrid changed their style.

"Pep's first year started this football revolution. We made history. Not just for the victories, but also for the way we played. He changed world football. He did not just change Barca, he changed world football. I think he is one of the few people who can change English football."

Guardiola's first official match in charge of City comes on Saturday evening when Sunderland visit the Etihad Stadium.

ID:278439: cacheID:278439:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2734:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Samir Nasri in action during the Premier League game between Chelsea and Manchester City on April 16, 2016
Read Next:
City 'willing to listen to Nasri offers'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Dolphins
17-30
Packers
8pm
Raiders
@
Chiefs
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!