After seeing off Jose, Jamie is targeting Pep
Less than a year ago, Jamie McAllister was still cutting his coaching teeth.
Now Bristol City’s No. 2 is preparing to cap a stellar rise by taking a bite out of Pep Guardiola.
It’s just 18 months since former Aberdeen star McAllister called time on his playing career to take charge of former club City’s Under-23s.
After impressing, he was brought into the first-team fold in March of last year as assistant to head coach – and former team-mate – Lee Johnson.
Now, having dumped Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup, the high- flying Robins are preparing for the first leg of their semi- final tie with Manchester City.
And after watching Championship rivals Wolves take Pep Guardiola’s superstars to penalties in an earlier round, McAllister is hopeful will be the happier City on Tuesday night.
“It’s exciting, and everybody is looking forward to the challenge,” said the 39-year-old.
“I watched Manchester City against Watford on Tuesday and they’re a special team – probably one of the best teams in the world at the moment – with one of the best managers.
“Their philosophy and their style is something to be admired, but that’s why it’s something we’re looking forward to. We’ll be putting ourselves up against the best.
“But we’ve watched how Wolves went up against them, and that has been a worthwhile exercise.
“They are obviously a top side in the Championship, and they acquitted themselves well against City.
“But we’re also a team with a style of play and a philosophy that, hopefully, will enable us to defend against their many threats while also causing problems on the night.
“Being away from home first, we want to try to keep ourselves in the tie.
“But we’ll still be on the front foot, being aggressive with them and trying to press them when we can.”
McAllister has been on the front foot himself in terms of his coaching career.
Just nine months into his first- team adventure, he has already shared a touchline with Jose Mourinho.
Now Guar d i o l a o f f e r s another world- class challenge – and it’s an opportunity the one-time Scotland cap is determined to grasp.
“It has been a bit of a rollercoaster, really,” he continued.
“I only finished playing a year- and- ahalf ago, so basically things have been fast-tracked.
“In the last couple of weeks, we’ve been up against Manchester United and Jose Mourinho – another one of the best managers in the world – and now it’s Pep Guardiola.
“So it’s quite a challenge to go up against these guys tactically.
“But to have that chance is so valuable. Obviously, the game is the main thing, but when you speak to the manager and the staff in the office afterwards, it’s great to listen to them, to get a wee bit of their knowledge and experience.
“There are always a few words of wisdom, so I’m really looking forward to going in and meeting Pep and his staff.
“But it would be nice to do so, having got something out of the game.
“That way, we can take them back to Ashton Gate and have a go at them.”
The Robins’ shock 2- 1 win over Manchester United just before Christmas proved their home ground can be a weapon against the big guns.
The scenes of celebration after Korey Smith’s stoppage- time winner have already gone down in club folklore.
McAllister was at the heart of them, along with kit man – and fellow Scot – Scott Murray.
The chaos of the moment is perfectly captured by McAllister’s attempt to describe it.
But the focused young coach has already begun to put the best moment of his fledgling touchline career to the back of his mind so he can more purposefully set out in search of the next one.
“It’s hard to describe the feeling,” he said.
“To score a last-minute winner against anyone is unbelievable.
“But to do it against Manchester United is something else – and it wasn’t like they turned up with a young, inexperienced group.
“They had top players out there, and at times, we outplayed them.
“To get the job done in the last minute, well, everybody saw the celebrations – you just go mad!
“I had Scott on my back, and I was trying to catch the gaffer – and he was away down the touchline swinging a ball boy about! “Emotion just takes over. “It was a great feeling – but it’s a great memory now.”