Manchester City

Xabi Alonso backs Pep Guardiola to succeed in Premier League

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 22 July 2016

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is confident that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will be able to impose his style on the Premier League.

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has backed Pep Guardiola to succeed in the Premier League as manager of Manchester City.

Guardiola has enjoyed trophy-laden spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich during his short but illustrious managerial career so far, but questions have been raised as to whether his style of football will be as effective in the Premier League.

Alonso, who played under Guardiola at Bayern, admits that the new City boss will have to adapt at times, but is confident that he will be able to impose his philosophy on the English top flight.

"I have no doubt he will be able to impose how he sees football and how he wants his team to play. For sure it will take time but because he is so thorough and he is such a great worker and analytical and he will manage," Alonso told The Telegraph.

"The Premier League is very different from the Bundesliga and La Liga. The pace is different and physically it is very different, but maybe it has also changed a lot more since my time.

"He will need to adapt for certain games, that is for sure. From my time there I remember you have to think differently when you go to West Brom, to Stoke and to Sunderland."

Guardiola's first competitive match in charge of City comes at home to Sunderland on Saturday, August 13.