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Pep Guardiola remembers how he chose Mikel Arteta for Man City job

Pep Guardiola at Man City
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The Spaniard worked as Guardiola’s assistant for three years before taking charge at Emirates.

Pep Guardiola has praised Mikel Arteta for his “massive” influence on Manchester City as their assistant manager.

Arteta started his managerial career as Guardiola’s assistant in 2016. Three years later, the former midfielder was ready to start his job as Arsenal’s head coach.

Since 2019, Arteta has continued a long-running rebuild process that is finally coming to fruition this season. The Gunners sit five points above Guardiola’s Man City at the top of the Premier League table with a game at hand.

As City prepare to meet Arsenal for the first time this season, Guardiola elaborates on working with Arteta at Etihad.

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“He said he would like to work together and that he can help because he knows the Premier League perfectly, he knows all the managers,” Guardiola said ahead of the upcoming FA Cup match.

“I remember the first game, we played against Sunderland and against David Moyes. He said he knows him well from Everton, he does this, he does that, all the strategies and the pieces.

“After 15 minutes, half an hour, I knew he was the man, the guy to help me. If you can have someone who can anticipate and has the knowledge of what it is like to go to Stoke City away, to go to every stadium, a guy who has been there for many years.

“So, we started to work together. I don’t know what my part on him was, but his influence on me was great, it was massive and so important to be a better manager.”

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