Regarding Roberto De Zerbi’s status as the “next Man City manager,” Pep Guardiola has already made his decision.
This weekend, the manager of Brighton and Hove Albion visits the Etihad because there are rumors that he might be the next manager of Manchester City.
In an effort to once again outsmart one of the best coaches in the world, Roberto De Zerbi will take his Brighton & Hove Albion team to Manchester on Saturday.
While playing in England for the first time, the Italian was able to defeat Mikel Arteta, Jurgen Klopp, and Erik ten Hag, but he has yet to defeat Pep Guardiola. De Zerbi is regarded as one of the top young coaches in Europe, and the biggest Premier League teams have taken notice of his innovative tactical moves.
The Telegraph even claims that after Manchester City drew at the Amex last season, Guardiola confidently told his players, “That’s the next Man City manager.”.
That is some high praise coming from a man who has done so much to make the Blues the dominant team in both England and Europe.
But it is undeniable that Guardiola respects De Zerbi, and in May, the former Barcelona manager compared his style of play to a Michelin-Star restaurant.
Guardiola declared in May that Roberto “is one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years.”.
There is no other team playing the way they do; it is distinctive. I believe they will have a significant impact when they join the Premier League.
“In this little time, I couldn’t have anticipated.
They have earned the praise and success they have received. I make a lot of efforts to learn; it’s distinctive, like a Michelin-Star restaurant.
“.
Not the only Premier League champion manager to have praised De Zerbi, Klopp was also effusive in his praise of the Brighton manager prior to the most recent international break.
The German said, “I could not have more respect for what he is doing.
Sincerity be damned, I’m a big fan.
It is important to recognize his influence on football.
“.
Klopp might one day compete with De Zerbi for the Premier League championship if Guardiola’s prediction comes true.
Even though Brighton travels to the Etihad Stadium on a run of four games without a victory and has given up 10 goals in its last three games, a first victory over Guardiola is the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk manager’s primary objective at the moment.
Despite De Zerbi’s breathtaking play, Brighton has allowed more goals than any other team in 2023–24, including the three teams currently in the relegation zone.
Brighton’s 21 goals are the most, though.
Even though De Zerbi is unlikely to settle for anything less than three points on Saturday, trying to outscore City may prove challenging.
As a result, a tactical change may be in store.
In contrast, this City team is possibly Guardiola’s best defensive unit after 15 years in top-level management, and the Catalan cited the defense’s improvement as the primary factor in their June victory over rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Guardiola will also be looking to snap his two-match losing streak against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal, which has him tied for the longest losing streak in the Premier League.
It would be ironic if the person who is expected to replace him one day broke the record for consecutive league losses by doing so.
He has never lost three league games in a row in England.
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