PAT: I MISS PLAYING BUT KNOW I CAN BE A VERY GOOD MANAGER

EXCLUSIVE FROM JOHN CROSS in New York PATRICK VIEIRA admits he misses his days as a midfield warrior – but is learning to be a good boss.

Vieira is in charge at New York City in the MLS, within Manchester City’s network, and showing the signs of becoming a successful manager having made a big impression.

The World Cup winner believes New York is the perfect grounding, but looks back on his nine years at Arsenal as one of football’s most fearsome warriors with affection.

He said: “I think it’s really good to go abroad, to adapt yourself to a different culture and a different way of seeing the game – it’s interesting to work with players you don’t know.

“This will help me to develop as a coach and have a better understanding of how you approach the game. When you manage abroad, you put yourself in a different situation. You learn about yourself.

“I’ll still be learning in the next 20 years. I think this is the beauty of the game and this is what I like.

“What I love about the Premier League is – for the type of player I was, that was the league for me to express the way I was as a player. I loved the atmosphere, the challenges, the tackling, the fans supporting players when they make a challenge – the enthusiasm of the Premier League. We don’t want to lose that.

“When you look at it, maybe we are starting to lose that. That’s why it is good that teams like Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp still show that intensity, passions, tackling. That is what the Premier League is all about. I hope the Premier League won’t lose that.”