PEP GUARDIOLA HAS added “Barcelona DNA” to Manchester City, says Xavi, with Kevin De Bruyne playing the Lionel Messi role.
Despite boasting a trophy-laden CV from spells at Camp Nou and with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, Guardiola ended his first season in England without silverware.
He has, however, overseen a remarkable transformation in 2017-18, with City currently on an 18-game winning run which has carried them 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Belgian midfielder De Bruyne has played a leading role in a period of domination at the Etihad Stadium, with Xavi comparing his value to the cause to that of Argentine talisman Messi at Barca.
“Pep’s teams win as teams, but even the most special sides need that player to look to when they need something special,” the World Cup winner said in The Mirror.
“At Barcelona we had it with Messi and this team Manchester City have it with De Bruyne.
Every time he has the ball, you get the feeling that he is going to do something special with it.
“Not every game you can win 3-0 or 4-0, especially in the Champions League and that is when you need one moment of brilliance from a special player.
“David Silva is playing the best football of his career. I can see just from watching him he is learning off Pep.
“He is not a young player anymore, but when you have a player of such intelligence and such vision, it does not matter.”
Bringing the best out of those at his disposal is a skill Guardiola honed during his time in charge of Barcelona, and Xavi says the Catalan is now overseeing a similar project in Manchester.
The legendary midfielder added: “City are playing with The DNA of Barcelona, but that is no surprise. Pep has Barcelona DNA and transmits that to Manchester City.
“The football they are playing is mesmerising. They are the in-form team in Europe and as good as their players are, Pep has to take credit for the football they are playing and the form they are in.
Pep teams do not just happen, these record runs do not just happen, treble-winning seasons do not just happen – they happen because Pep is obsessive about winning.
“He is focused, he hates to lose and that becomes infectious with the players.”
Xavi added: “Last season, people were saying he had to adjust his style for the Premier League.
He refused and now people are saying Manchester City are playing the best football the Premier League has ever seen.
“I knew he would not compromise on his beliefs. Many coaches have the same beliefs as Pep on how the game should be played, but only Pep can communicate it at the most pure level.”
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Even the great Sexton left Leinster to play for a better club!!
The analysis isn’t worth squat without application of a strategy that all the players buy into. Something is not right in Munster badly need to rebuild with 2-3 quality signings, Henshaw would be nice, and a top quality management team needs to be given 3 years minimum.
Why would Henshaw want to move to munster. When he has the best coach of all the provinces and the best youth development. A few big signings would be nice for connacht maybe cj stander and dave foley ?
Well said Harvey. He’d be mad to leave a great learning environment with Mils, Bundi, Pat and great players his own age around him. Time to put the idea of Connacht as a feeder club to bed. Munster should come up to Connacht and see how things are done with a small budget because that is where they are now. They could learn how to develop players like Leader, Marmion and Henshaw. Sort your mess out, especially your board, and leave Connacht grow.
Exactly they wont even invest in there own youth ie jj hanrahan he has the potential to be one of the best outhalfs in the country and he was let go. Problem with leinster and munster is they are looking for the quick fix to get them back winning trophies there two different teams than what they were a few years ago with different coaches . Things arent going to be built overnight for them .
Good things are happening at connacht and if the other provinces and the irfu come in and unsettle things they will have shown alot of disrespect for the people out west.
At the moment the irfu need pat lam more than he needs them. They would want to keep on his good side he is doing great things for irish rugby at the moment.
@theheathen you can also add Buckley to that list of home grown big hitters; also just look at the difference Connacht has been to Quinn Roux, he’s a new player since he moved!
Munster did all that developing years ago that’s how they got to the top so did Leinster the problem is now they have to try stay there which is not easy sucess leads to expectation!Connacht are just starting to build something now hopefully they succeed with the players they have but have bit to go yet don’t get carried away with yourselves!
A load of bull Harvey
Leinster get back the wining trophies? I think Leinster have been winning trophies season after season for a long time now.
Your problem is you know and I know that good young players want to do the best for themselves and play for the best teams. Munster and Leinster are the two biggest and best teams in all the Celtic nation’s history.
If a young player didn’t want to play for either of them he simply doesn’t have enough ambition
Henshaw to Munster and Marmion to Leinster is the way it will work out.
@Harvey Kinkel The Leinster development set up is the best in the country, yes the coach is sh*t but there are plenty of young guys coming through. They don’t need a “quick fix”, but it is always nice to augment a team with quality players such as Elsom and Thorn.
Munster on the other hand can’t develop a centre if their lives depended on it. JJ is a massive loss! Personally I think if they want to buy a centre they should try to get a bench warmer in Leinster or Ulster or go after Chris Farrell in Grenoble
@ Chris McDonnell it is ridiculous to say a player wanting to play for Connacht has no ambition. They’re not too far off the other Irish Provinces in the Pro12 and their coach is certainly better than the others. I’m hoping coaches like McCall Jackman and O’Shea feel homesick soon!
Yer all full of crap
@harvey great rugby jargon there harv,perhaps you could keep the replies a bit shorter with less big words for the ordinary supporter!!
I said henshaw would be nice. Well done Harvey you miss the point completely and then respond subsequently saying the management in Connaught and potential is better than munster. Ya haven’t a clue
Lay of the hash lad.