Former Manchester City defender reckons Pep Guardiola has already picked his successor at Etihad Stadium after nine incredible years

Former Manchester City defender reckons Pep Guardiola has already picked his successor at Etihad Stadium after nine incredible years

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha reckons Pep Guardiola will help pick his successor when he leaves the Etihad Stadium after nine incredible years

 

Pep Guardiola is yet to commit his future to Man City beyond this season

Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, Nedum Onuoha has claimed.

 

 

But the former Manchester City defender said the Catalan will help pick his successor in a bid to continue the success at the club Guardiola has won 18 trophies since joining in 2016 but is now entering the final year of his contract while his friend and sporting director Txiki Begiristain is leaving.

 

There is also the shadow of the 115 Premier League charges for breaking financial fair play rules between 2009-18 hanging over the club. The City boss, 53, did not show interest in the England job over the summer and reports have claimed he is negotiating to sign a one-year extension until 2026.

 

But ESPN pundit Onuoha, who came through the City Academy, said: “I don’t expect him to stay, I’d love for him to stay though. He’s been remarkable but he can’t do the job forever.

 

“He’ll want to leave the club in a good place for the long term where he’ll be helping pick the successor. He’ll know who he thinks is best to work in the environment that is needed at City to be successful going forward.

 

 

“He knows it better than anybody else. So I wouldn’t necessarily think that he’s going to go out in a way where it’s just about him getting what he wants.

 

“He’s selfless enough given the fact that his identity is all over the football club, to know what it needs to continue to be successful, because for as much as he’s a man from Catalonia you know he’s a Barca boy through and through, he’s also half blue Mancunian now. So I think he’ll try and find the best way to exit while also allowing the club to continue to strive.

 

Nedum Onuoha played with Joey Barton at Manchester City and QPR

Nedum Onuoha has forged a successful off-field career since his retirement from playing

Speaking exclusively on Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Onuoha added: “When he first came in people said ‘you can’t play tiki-taka football here, it’s not going to work’, and in the years that he’s been there he hasn’t played that type of football. He’s evolved himself and the Premier League’s evolved, and you can even make a case that English football has evolved due to his presence.

 

 

“If he does decide to leave to go and do something else, myself and probably hundreds of thousands of others would carry him on our shoulders because he’s been amazing, he’s given us some of the best times of our lives you could say supporting Manchester City.”

 

Sporting CP director of football Hugo Viana will replace Begiristain next year and his coach Ruben Amorin is on a list of potential successors to Guardiola along with Xabi Alonso of Bayer Leverkusen.

 

Pep Guardiola has won 18 trophies since joining Manchester City in 2016

Pep Guardiola has won 18 trophies since joining Manchester City in 2016

Onuoha, who made 95 City appearances between 2004-12, also praised one of Guardiola’s first signings in 2016 – England defender John Stones.

 

 

“He’s been incredible, but interestingly he went through a spell where he wasn’t doing as well around 2020 where maybe he was going to be leaving, but then in came Ruben Dias, and out came the very best of John Stones,” said the former Sunderland and QPR defender.

 

“There have been times when he’s had fitness issues but then he ends up being a revelation in the most significant season in the club’s history when they win the treble, stepping into midfield, and not just being a defender in midfield, but being an excellent midfielder out of nowhere. He’s been an incredible buy and he’s one of many that City have had.”

 

The English Premier League is set to continue again and the teams in the competition are set to feature in the weekend games. The matches is set to kickoff across various stadiums in England.

 

 

 

Let’s take a lot look at the Premier League table, topscorers, top assists, and top clean-sheet lists ahead match-day nine.

 

 

 

MANCHESTER CITY VS SOUTHAMPTON

 

The Citizens would be hoping to avoid an home defeat when they face Southampton at Etihad Stadium.

 

CHELSEA VS NEWCASTLE UNITED

 

The English Premier League giants Chelsea would be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they face Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge.

 

CRYSTAL PALACE VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

 

The North London based club Tottenham Hotspur would be hoping to continue their mini-resurgence when they travel away to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

 

WEST HAM UNITED VS MANCHESTER UNITED

 

The Manchester based club would also be in action this weekend when they travel away to face West Ham United at London Stadium.

 

ARSENAL VS LIVERPOOL

 

The Gunners would be hoping to get the much-needed victory when they face log-leaders Liverpool at Emirates Stadium.

 

Top Scorers List;

 

 

 

The Manchester City striker Erling Haaland currently sit 1st position on the EPL Top-Scorer Chart above Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer

 

Top Assists List;

 

 

 

The Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka still sit 1st position on the EPL Assist Chart ahead of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

 

Top Clean-Sheets;

 

 

 

The Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana sit 1st position on the EPL Top Golden glove chart ahead of Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and Arsenal’s David Raya.

 

EPL Table;

 

 

 

Ahead of Match-day 9, The English Premier League giants Liverpool still sit on top of the log standings above Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa.