DAWN OF A NOU ERA
Brazil legend Ronaldinho insists Pep will turn City into the new Barcelona
PEP GUARDIOLA will do at Manchester City exactly what he did at Barcelona, according to Ronaldinho.
Nou Camp legend Ronaldinho delivered an ominous warning, not just to the Premier League’s chasing pack, but to the rest of Europe too, following City’s stunning start to the season.
Guardiola’s men are playing some of the best football in Europe and Saturday’s win at Leicester was their 16th in a row.
They are already eight points clear of their nearest challengers, Manchester United, in the league.
And they have won four out of four in Europe, to breeze through a tricky looking Champions League group, and qualify for the knockout stages with two games to spare.
After an underwhelming first year at the Etihad, Guardiola is now living up to the hype after revamping his squad during the summer, and bringing in players better-suited to his style.
That was first seen at Barcelona, where he transformed them into one of the greatest teams football has ever seen.
His all- conquering side won three Spanish titles in a row, two Champions s Leagues and two o Spanish Cups, among g the 14 trophies he e picked up in just four r years – a tally which h made him Barca’s most t successful-ever boss.
Asked if he will bring g similar success to the e Etihad, Ronaldinho said: : “I believe so.
“As a player, he was s already playing with a very technical mind, so o he was playing as a coach, thinking about t everything like a coach. . So he has a deep p knowledge of football.
“Wherever he goes, he e understands much more e than a normal coach. He understands the feeling on the field.”
Ronaldinho left Barca for AC Milan the same summer Guardiola took over as manager, after being promoted from the same role with the club’s B team.
But the Brazilian at his peak, one of football’s great entertainers, would have been tailor-made for a Guardiola team and, speaking ahead of the Football For Peace Ball, Ronaldinho said: “I had the opportunity to play with the biggest coach in my career – that was Frank Rijkaard. “But Guardiola’s style of arranging the team, passing the ball and the beautiful game that everybody likes to watch, means it would be a pleasure for anyone to have the honour to play for him.”
Ronaldinho, now 37, also praised fellow Samba star, Gabriel Jesus, who has been key to City’s flying start with 10 goals in 17 games.
He added: “I totally believe he will have a big part to play for City going forward. I love his style of playing. I truly believe that at City he will make a difference.”