No Way Man City Are This Successful Without Pep!

0:02I think this is the first time we've done this. Can we call this an emergency podcast? That's what it is, isn't it, Wayne? Because there's some big potential breaking news concerning Pep Guardiola potentially leaving Man City at the end of the season. No, I wouldn't say an emergency podcast, but I say it's certain situations where I think you've got to speak about them. when someone like Pep, who's had the influence on Man City and English football, which he's had, then I think it's right that we speak about it as soon as we can. So, yeah, I think obviously the news is that he's leaving City at the end of the season.

0:39It's not confirmed, is it, at the moment? Oh, there's Wayne's doorbell. Might be my sunglasses. Yeah, so it isn't confirmed, is it, at this point, Wayne, but all sources or lots of sources, including BBC sources, are saying that he will lead the club after the game against Aston Villa. They've got a game tonight against Bournemouth, so it's quite unusual timing. In fact, I think that's quite a big part of it, isn't it? The timing is weird. Yeah, no, I think they've waited probably as long as they could and probably with all the questions. He's got, especially on the FA Cup final the other day, I think he got asked a lot of questions and I felt for him a little bit.

1:18To be honest, we didn't ask. I think we knew that, you know, he said he was staying, didn't he? And sometimes you've got to take that as that's what it is. But he's obviously tried to deflect it from the final and put his players in the best place they can for the game. But yeah, for them to leave, he's done 10 years, incredible. What's his sixth league title he's won? 20 trophies. What, are we counting Community Shields? He counts it, so I'm not one to argue with him. It's a trophy, isn't it? you've got to win trophies to go and play in it and he's won them and then he's won the Childish Shield so it's a trophy of course but now listen he's been absolutely incredible and the biggest thing I can say for Pep is he's completely changed the face of English football and that's not easy the managers who've managed in England obviously throughout the history of football and then it has changed over the last 10-15 years more foreign players more foreign managers coming in but he's the one who's come in and actually changed the whole pyramid and not just that even Sunday League football at times as well so it's incredible really what he's done and the trophies he'll go down as one of the greatest to ever do it I think Yeah he's influenced every sort of aspect of English football people playing out from the back kids playing out from the back now kids teams playing out from the back Well they have to because they can't kick it over the halfway land because he can't head the ball soon.

2:49Until they're 12 of a sudden. When did you get so afraid with the rules? You've got to know them, haven't you? I've got young kids playing. Yeah, true. Fair, fair. Okay, I think it says it all that we've got a Manchester United fan, a Manchester United legend sitting here saying it. It feels like Pep Guardiola, yes, maybe we haven't, not everyone supports Manchester City, but the fact that we all talk about him in the way that we do says that his influence does transcend who you support. we can all appreciate everything he's brought over here. No, of course. Even if you're not a fan of Manchester City, I think it's always sad when a big character like that is going to leave the league because I think you want to be going up against the best in some respects.

3:31But in another respect, I'm actually quite delighted because it means that, you know, they've lost their sort of X factor, if you like, or they've lost that sort of psychological advantage that they have when people rock up to the Etihad. had. But he's been absolutely fantastic. I mean, you can't take that away from him, what he's achieved in his career. And I think, yeah, to achieve all of that in 10 years says it all. But I don't think I'll miss him too much. Are you saying that because you hope there's going to be a similar kind of situation to what happened at Manchester United, where it took them a while to rebuild?

4:04I don't think there will be a similar situation. I think Pep's left them in a much better situation than perhaps other teams have when big managers have left. There's no way they'll be as successful. Of course not. No, no. But I think they're in a much better position. They've got some real stars coming through. I think the issue Man City will have is, obviously, when you see how difficult it was to replace Alex Ferguson, how difficult it was, even Unai Emery went in at Arsenal, how difficult he found it to replace Arsene Wenger. and I don't think it'll be the replacing him. I think it's the respect which he commands and the influence and the pull in signing players and the talk is Mureska is going to go in and I just don't think he'll have the same impact from that point of view.

5:00So I really do think it opens it up and the Premier League next season is going to be so exciting. You're obviously going to have City with a new manager, Chelsea with a new manager, Man United, Liverpool potentially with a new manager. So the Premier League next year will be wide open to see who wins that title. If you're Arsenal, are you quite happy seeing this happening at all the other clubs? Because Arsenal are now going to be further ahead. All these clubs are like starting a new era almost, aren't they? Yeah, but I think it's different for Arsenal when you win the Premier League, if they do.

5:31I was pretty sure. And even after watching last night, I'm thinking, I'm not sure. they looked nervous last night they made hard work of it didn't they yeah they did and I'm taking you know Palace away it could be a tricky game so I'm not as as confident as I was a few weeks ago with us to win the title after seeing last night but again Man City have got a tricky game tonight but I just think going back to Pep I think the legacy he leaves is incredible and I've seen a lot comparisons to to alex ferguson um and what i can't say alex ferguson for me is the greatest manager of all time um but what you can say is pepin his generation is certainly the best by a long way i think um you know you go from bill shankley matt busby alex ferguson pep guardiola um in in english football and then obviously the likes of ancelotti uh marino um as well put him in that bracket some of the great managers throughout the history of the game.

6:40Pep Guardiola is certainly a big part of that. So it was a joy and very difficult to play against him. I agree with Kay. You want to be playing against the best and I think it's the right time for him to leave and let someone else win. Especially them cup trophies as well. He's dominated them, having the city and being in finals as well. Do you understand why he'd leave? at this point? Because a lot of people were speculating, oh, he won't want to leave on a season where they've not won the Premier League. Do you think the FA Cup win has changed or anything or do you think he decided quite a while ago?

7:15Yeah, I think... Still a successful season. Yeah, they've won two trophies, haven't they? And so it's a successful season. But for his standards, you know, people say, oh, they haven't won the Premier League or Champions League. But I think there's... This isn't a... This will... Certainly won't be an overnight decision. And if they win a trophy or two trophies, he'll leave. If they don't, he'll stay. There'll be a lot of talk, obviously, with his family, with the club, whatever. So I think this decision was made a long time ago. It certainly makes Maresca's exit at Chelsea make a lot more sense right now.

7:48And there's talk about Vincent Kompany as well coming out, saying he wants to replace the successor of Pep, which makes sense. It is a tough job, isn't it? You only have to look back to what happened to Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson. I don't want to say it's a poison chalice, but they're the biggest boots pretty much in football right now to fill. But I think the context is very different. I think when Sir Alex Ferguson left the club, Sir Alex Ferguson was everything to that club. He was academy director. He was sporting director. He was everything to Manchester United. Whereas I think City, and I hate saying it, but are a lot better run in the modern day.

8:27They've been able to, like when Chicky Baragastain was announcing he was leaving, They were quick to identify Hugo Viana and bring him in as well to be an understudy to him before they did a complete transfer of power. And I think they've obviously identified Maresca very early on and gone, he's our man. Well, you look at what before Pep came in. Pep knew he was coming in the year before. Yeah, correct. And all the work was done to make it right for Pep from the minute he walked in. So that takes you back to when Maresca left Chelsea. I think he probably would have known and City and Pep would have known Pep was leaving so I think there'll be work done to get from Maresca to try and walk into the same situation I think it's very different in terms of the success Pep's had before he come into Man City and the trust I don't think Maresca will have the full power which Pep's been able to have at Man City so I think the next two or three years for City would be really interesting and if it's not right, are they going to change it swiftly as we've seen with other clubs?

9:37Are they going to give them the time? A player is going to be, is it going to be that attractable to players now that Pep Guardiola's not been there? So the dynamics of Man City of how it's going to work over the next couple of years is going to be really interesting. There's some big players leaving as well, isn't there? Like the likes of John Stones, Bernardo Silva. It really isn't just a case of like, we saw it a bit with when Slott came in at Liverpool. I know Klopp was incredibly influential, but Slott just took Klopp's team. Maresco, whoever comes in, is not quite going to have that, is he?

10:06They're going to need to replace those big characters, big players. Yeah, but then they've had Gaye sign for them, Semenu sign for them as well. So I personally think it's probably the right time for Bernardo and John Stones, if I'm being honest. Bernardo as well? Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think because the way Pep plays and he puts a lot of trust, He has a lot of trust in them players. And you don't know if Muresko comes in and plays a completely different style and whether that's being communicated to them as well. But I just think when a manager leaves, what you get is, if they leave the team behind, what you get is a group of players who are there saying, well, we didn't do this under Pep.

10:51And that's why it becomes so difficult. So I think probably a few players leaving is probably not the worst thing for Manchester City. Hasn't Maresca worked at City before as well? Yeah, he worked under Pep, so he'll know how it works then.

11:09One of the quotes that Pep said, he said, one of the best managers in the world, Enzo Maresca, I know him quite well, but the job he's done at Chelsea does not get enough credit. At Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson recommended David Moyes, didn't he? I wonder if there's been a bit of a similar situation there, Wayne, where City have asked Pep who he thinks should come in? Yeah, you don't know. And sometimes that's not a good thing as well because I think the club have to move on and they have to make the decisions, in my opinion, whether that's Alex or Pep Guardiola. I think the club have to go in their direction.

11:47And we're seeing Manchester United doing that now. So yeah, but you don't know. there's a huge respect there for Pep Guardiola obviously at Man City so they might have had that communication but I'm not sure Obviously Pep Guardiola wasn't Manchester City boss when Sir Alex Ferguson was Manchester United manager but how do you think their styles would have kind of compared if they had gone up against each other in the Premier League Yeah it's different styles, different generations if you like, football has changed and Pep's obviously been you know the major part in that why it's changed in England It was interesting because this morning I've been looking of people saying how loyal he's been 10 years, which is incredible.

12:29Alex Ferguson, 26 years. So do you think the longevity obviously... No, no, I just think when you actually think of that amount of time, 26 years at one football club, it's absolutely astonishing and you know, how difficult that is to do and maintain your hunger and that mentality and whatever. So for me, Fergie's the best but Pep in my opinion in this generation in his era is is definitely the best to him and I have a huge I said it on BBC on Match of the Day at the final the other day I said that I would have loved to have played for him at Barcelona or Bayern Munich and certainly not at Man City yeah as Mika was saying but I would have loved to have played under him and you know just see how he works and, you know, tactically how he's thinking about the game and stuff and really tap into his mind that way.

13:29Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. But, yeah, I think he's been a breath of fresh air. I think he's an amazing manager, but City did have success before he came in. And I think they'll have success after. But what he did provide was, because he had that level of, I hate using this word, But that level of aura and respect from players and professionals and especially people at City when he came in, he was able to change a lot of things and do a lot of things and be able to revolutionise the way they played and the way people play in England completely. I think when Sir Alex took over United, it was a completely different situation.

14:11He almost had to build the club up from the ground to get them to become a successful force in English football again. Whereas I think Pep didn't necessarily have to do that. But what he has done in terms of complete and utter dominance, it's like, yeah, it's nothing to sniff your nose at. Reports as well that they're going to rename their newly expanded North Stand after him. He deserves something like that, doesn't he? We've seen the Vincent Kompany statue and things like that. Without him, Manchester City wouldn't be anywhere near where they were. Do you think anyone else would have been able to go in and do what he's done at City, Wayne?

14:44Well, Pellig really got a league title. Yeah, it's difficult to do what he's done. And he won four in a row as well. And the treble. Yeah, and so I'm struggling to think of one name who will be able to do that. And listen, there's some exciting... With Moresca, I agree with Pep. I think he's done well at Chelsea. He won, obviously, the Club World Cup, the Conference League it was winning, in his first year. So I think he actually done all right at Chelsea. He's done well. Alonso coming into the league. Michael Carrick now as well, as I said before. So I think it's exciting. There's some good, exciting young managers in the Premier League next season trying to prove themselves.

15:24Yeah, it does feel like it makes the league more competitive with Pep going. I guess it's more of a question to you, Wayne. Does it feel like this is Pep leaving is like one of those seismic moments in the Premier League, a bit like when Sir Alex left? It's not just a case of when Andoni early left Bournemouth, obviously smaller club, but this just feels like it could change the whole shape of football in this country again. I think we've started to see that anyway this season. I mean, with the long throws, come back in and set pieces. So I think it has gradually been changing again. But yeah, no, I think what we have to do as football fans is completely respect what Pep Guardiola has done.

16:02And, you know, he's changed his assistant coaches in that time as well. So to be able to do that and continue the success is incredible. So I think with Klopp as well, maybe not to the level of Pep, but when Klopp left, you have managers who come into the Premier League and when they do leave, I think you've got to appreciate what they've brought to the English football. Do you think the City will change style under Mureska? What kind of football are they going to play? It'll be a similar type of football, but then I'm sure Mureska will have his own ideas as well. so time will tell on that we've seen what he's done at Chelsea wasn't quite the same as what Man City were doing under Pep so he might try and mix that together you don't know I think what works in Enzo Maresco's favour is that City have vast resources to draw from so if there is a particular style of play that he wants or he has a particular way of playing that he wants they'll be able to get him the players that he needs and they're pretty good at offloading players when they don't need them more so than a lot of other clubs.

17:09And they're the only club in world football that I know that can spend 50 million on a position. And if it doesn't work out within six months, they can spend another 50 million on the same position. So I think Enzo Moresca's got all the resources at hand to be able to be a success there. It's just down to him, whether he can actually implement that style there. Yeah, that'll be interesting when you write about resources. And you do wonder if, like as Wayne said, he had a, if he knew he was coming in when they'd been making those signings, he's probably kind of not been involved, but I mean, someone might have just said.

17:40You could see at the FAQ final that he was leaving. Could you? Why? What made you think that? Just how long he stayed out there and how engaging he was with everyone, not just his players, but all his staff. And even with the media as well. I think he went around and done all, I'd seen him do TNT next to us and then he'd come over to us and then he was doing a lot and then he was there taking pictures with all his staff, which I've been there before when he's won and I haven't seen that. So I think we spoke to him off air for a short while and you could see, I said this off air to the lads when he left.

18:21So I think he's going to leave because there was just something a bit different about him. Seemed to be enjoying it a little bit more. Okay. What is he like? Because obviously we see him in the media. You spoke to him in the media on Saturday, but you'll have come across him having played against him, having kind of been in and around it as a former player. What have your dealings with him been like? Obsessed. Even in conversations you have with him? He's obsessed. I remember I went to the Etihad with Everton when I went back with Everton. I scored. We threw the game 1-1. Raheem scored. Sterling scored late on.

18:58And I was speaking to him after the game and he had me for about 45 minutes. we were talking about football and talking about Aguero and he's just obsessed with football. He talked to you all day about it. And that's the reason he's so good at what he does. I reckon that can become quite draining at times as well, as a person himself. He doesn't normally stay that long, does he? This is way longer than he normally stays. Yeah, but then you think of what he's done at Barstow and Bayern Munich as well. You're looking at 20 years or so. coaching at the highest level with that intensity. So I think he deserves a little break.

19:38What do you think he'll do next? Do you think he'll go to another big club? Surely he needs a break. I don't think he'll go into management, as in international management, sorry. You don't know, do you? And that's worth saying, he wants to win everything. So it wouldn't surprise me if he wants to go inside and win the World Cup or the Euros. So whether how he works is suited to that, you don't know. I think he just deserves to go and have a little rest and go and spend time with his family and enjoy your family. And then if you want to get back into him, sure, there'll be a lot of people waiting for him.

20:10This makes you feel better as Man United fans, doesn't it, Kaya? I can tell from the smile on both your faces. Well, Caddack's already beat him this season, so I think United would have won the league anyway next season. Does this make you title favourites now then? We were favourites anyway. Oh, okay. I must have missed that. Like I said at the beginning, Pep Guardiola even takes away the gloss from Manchester City, when you go there, they seem beatable now as opposed to, you know, when they did with Pep Guardiola. I think as well, Michael Carrick, yeah, you know, like Wayne said, he beat him twice already.

20:42So as an interviewer, gosh, I can tell you, keeps you on your toes as well. You always have to be prepared. I mean, he didn't do it to you on Saturday, Wayne. He was very good with you, probably the respect of a fellow pro, but he does love a one word answer and then you have to wait and see if he's going to carry on and then you have to, yeah, he keeps you on your toes. So I've, as a kind of young journalist, I've learned a lot from him as well. Okay, that's where we'll leave it. We can go back to our, what day is it? Oh, it's Tuesday, isn't it? We don't normally record today. We can go back to our Tuesdays now.

21:06But thanks, guys, for joining on. When I joined, Wayne was listening to a mixtape. It sounded like he was going clubbing. So you can go back to that.

21:15This is what was on when I joined the call. That's where we'll leave it then, guys. A reminder, you can listen to the Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds, or you can watch us on the BBC Sport YouTube or iPlayer. We'll see you next time.

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