Manchester City F.C.
·1 December 2023
I have admired Postecoglou since Yokohama meeting, says Guardiola
I have admired Postecoglou since Yokohama meeting, says Guardiola | OneFootball
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Pep Guardiola says managers like Ange Postecoglou make football a better game.
Guardiola has only met Postecoglou once previously, in a pre-season friendly with the latter's Yokohama F. Marinos side in July 2019.
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This weekend the two will come up against each other again, when Tottenham Hotspur visit the Etihad Stadium in a 16:30 (UK) kick-off on Sunday in the Premier League.
City won that friendly 3-1 but Guardiola says Postecoglou’s ideas at our CFG sister club in Japan, at Celtic and during the early stages of his time at Spurs have impressed him.
“I met just once in three or four pre-seasons ago against Yokohama,” he said.
“Ange was the manager. It was the second pre-season game and I said wow, there are things I like.
“I said to the players I know you’re not ready but we will face a good team in challenges, intense in buildup and use the keeper in the process.
“We won, all respect to Yokohama but we had better players but I realised for the first time I met him and have followed him when he was at Celtic winning trophies and now in the short time he’s been [at Spurs].
“Every team plays to the desire of the manager.
“He’s done in the past in Japan and of course in Glasgow with Celtic and now. I think he makes football a better place, people like Ange.”
Spurs started the season excellently, topping the table in the early weeks.
However, they have lost each of their last three Premier League matches and suffered several injuries.
Despite that, Guardiola doesn’t expect Spurs to change their style of play when they visit the home of the Treble winners this weekend.
“Ask him, absolutely not. This Is not going to happen, I’d be surprised,” he said.
While the boss expects a tough challenge against the fifth-placed side, he says he’s allowed himself time to enjoy watching their matches so far in this campaign.
“I’ve said many times that I am a manager but also a spectator, I enjoy a lot the way they play,” said Guardiola.
“The approach they have, and all the Spurs and fans in England can see they’ve been really good.
“He’s already there in the short time, even the games they didn’t win lately.
“I’m impressed in many things they do and the chances they create, how aggressive they are in all departments. He came here and in a few months he recognises his team perfectly.”
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