Barcelona legend, Xavi, has listed ways Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has helped England in the ongoing World Cup in Russia. Xavi also tipped Gareth Southgate’s side to have an impressive outing at the tournament.
Xavi played alongside Guardiola at Barcelona before the latter then went on to manage the team with Xavi overseeing the midfield.
Guardiola has since gone on to manage Bayern Munich and now Manchester City.
Xavi told the Mirror, last season, Manchester City were exceptional. Like Barcelona, they play possession football, so I am sure the England team will benefit from that.
“You look at a player like Sterling. He has always had raw talent – but under Pep he has become more clinical and taken his game to a different level.
“After the way he has played the last two or three seasons – and all the goals he has scored – there will be a lot of expectation on Kane who we know can cause any team in the world problems.
“Also with Dele Alli and Sterling, they have attacking players who can cause problems against the best opposition.”
He added, “For so long, Spain had the players to win but there was a mental barrier that we couldn’t get past quarter-finals. England, for me, they have had that issue.
“The England teams I was used to playing against had Beckham, Scholes, Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney– they were expected to win.
“This time I don’t think England has that same pressure, but they have very talented young players – and without that expectation on them it could help.”
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