As part of the transfer of Uzbekistan national team center-back Abdukodir Khusanov from "Lance" to "Manchester City," the attention of many was drawn to the former sports director of the team, Chiki Begiristain. Because he is mentioned as one of the people who initiated Josep Guardiola's journey in England.
When the Spanish manager took charge of Manchester City in 2016, many didn't expect him to perform well in England. There were various opinions that Pep Guardiola, who had previously achieved great success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, was unsuitable for English football. But, according to Chiki Begiristain, these fears turned out to be unfounded.
- There were opinions that Guardiola's style won't work in England, because it's not Spain, the conflicts and struggles there are different. But when Pep arrived, he took control of the Premier League and, with his results, dispelled all doubts," said Begiristain.
Indeed, under Guardiola, the Citizens won 18 major trophies. Six of them were English league titles, making the team the only club to win the Premier League four times in a row. At the same time, Manchester City's first ever Champions League trophy was won during Guardiola's tenure.
Riyad Mahrez, who previously played for Manchester City and is currently playing for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, also shared his thoughts on the Spanish manager.
- I consider Guardiola the strongest coach in the world. He showed me the new peaks. Even when I was upset by his decisions, I didn't lose my respect. "He's a tactical master," said the Algerian star.
Guardiola's current contract with Manchester City runs until June 30, 2027. Therefore, fans are still waiting for his new victories for at least several seasons.
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