Pat has a lot of admirers at Etihad

NINE years ago, the belief at the Etihad was that Patrick Vieira would eventually become manager at Manchester City.

Tomorrow night, the Frenchman, 45, has the chance to do the double over Pep Guardiola and show his former club their confidence that he had all the ingredients to one day be their boss was not unfounded.

Vieira (above) was appointed manager of City’s elite development squad in 2013 after spending the previous two years learning all about the inner workings of the club from boardroom to dressing room after calling time on a glittering playing career.

Roberto Mancini had just been sacked after losing the FA Cup Final to Wigan – and the plan was for Vieira to be groomed for the most senior coaching position at the club.

A two-and-a-half year stint in charge of sister club New York City in the MLS followed.

And even when Vieira left the City Football Group to take up an offer from Nice in

June 2018, there were still high-level sources inside the club who felt he could one day return.

He did last October – as manager of Crystal Palace – and the Eagles duly sentenced the Premier League champions to their first home defeat of the season by winning 2-0 thanks to goals by Wilfried Zaha and Conor Gallagher.

“Good strong defence, three midfielders defending and winning duels, winning the ball, blocks and then using the counter with Zaha up front and with fast players,” said Guardiola.

“But Palace have very good players. When they get the ball, they keep it and want to play. I knew perfectly how difficult they are.”

Privately, the City boss was even more fulsome in his praise for the way Vieira’s side went about their business that day.

And he gave Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Joao Cancelo the night off with Selhurst Park in mind when City confirmed their progress into the Champions League quarter-finals with a goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.