Barcelona legend, Carles Puyol, has said his former boss, Pep Guardiola needs time to flourish and succeed at Manchester City. Puyol told Sports360.com, that it is only a matter of time until Pep Guardiola delivers the glowing and trophy-laden football the pair enjoyed together at Barcelona, despite a chastening exit from the Champions League.
As Barcelona captain, Puyol lifted two Champions League trophies, a pair of FIFA Club World Cups, three La Ligas and two Copa del Reys alongside Guardiola from 2008 – 2012.
This record was at the forefront of the iconic defender’s mind when quizzed about City ‘s situation on Saturday night.
He said: “I think he is doing a good job,
“It’s always tough arriving to a new league, with a new mentality and with a very different style of football. I am certain he will win titles with Man City in the future and that they will play brilliant football, the Pep style of play.
“You have to go step by step and have some patience.”
Guardiola, 46, whose side face Liverpool on Sunday, has come under criticism about his defensive approach after a 3-1 second-leg defeat to Monaco in the round of 16 saw him fail to make the competition’s last-four for the first time.
This follows a debut season at Etihad Stadium in which an expensively-assembled squad has been unable to mount a sustained push in the Premier League’s title race.
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