Bristol’s Lee plots City KO
Q GIANT-KILLER Lee Johnson has thanked Manchester City – for teaching him how to beat them.
Bristol City boss Johnson is still on a high after knocking holders Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
Their shock 2-1 win has set up a semi-final clash with Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders in the new year.
No domestic manager has got the better of Guardiola so far this season.
But if Johnson manages the biggest upset of them all, it will be partly down to the City themselves.
“City have been fantastic for me ever
since I have been a manager,” said Johnson.
“People like Brian Marwood (the boss of City’s Football Services) have accepted me in behind the scenes and allowed me to visit various clubs within the group.
“Not only that, they have helped me with psychology and philosophy.
“When I was at Oldham, City were just around the corner and I used to see a personality profiler that was into psychology once or twice a week and that was all subsidised by City.
“That helped me grow as a young manager and I have been let in on a number of occasions to the philosophy.
“I went to visit New York City and did a case study.
“It is a beast of an organisation, but it is so fascinating the way they have done it.
“They have so many top people and now a top, top coach. The football they play is unbelievable.”
Johnson revealed United boss Jose Mourinho didn’t hang around long enough to sample the expensive bottle of Portuguese wine he had bought to share after the game.
Failed
But he promised to get another bottle for Guardiola.
Robins defender Hordur Magnusson revealed United superstar Paul Pogba failed to recognise him at first – even though they played together at Juventus.
“He didn’t recognise me at first in the warm-up,” said the Icelander.
“He saw a guy with blond hair but wasn’t sure if it was me or not. Then, in the tunnel before the game, he said, ‘Hi’.
“He asked me who we got in the semi-final (afterwards) and I told him City.
“And he just said, ‘Congratulations, keep it going. Try to beat them!’”
Joe Bryan, who scored the stunning first goal, said the win was met with mixed feelings in his family.
“Both my brothers and my dad are big Man United fans,” said Bristol-born Bryan.
“I hope they are proud – they should be. Unless I’m adopted!”
Johnson’s side will travel to the Etihad on January 9 with the return on January 23, while Chelsea entertain Arsenal on January 10 with the reverse fixture on January 24.