City chiefs get their man

Les Chapman.

The City roving reporter and former Latics star writes every week for Chron Sport

I DON’T think the appointment of Pep Guardiola as the man to replace Manuel Pellegrini was the best kept secret in the game, but it’s great news for Manchester City.

He iss one of the best managers in the world and his record speaks for itself. He has had unprecedented success domestically and in Europe for Barcelona, then Bayern Munich, and he has produced consistently top teams.

City’s owners have been after Guardiola for some time and now they’ve got their man. The appointment should certainly lift City to the next level, particularly in Europe.

Mr Pellegrini had known about this scenario for a while and will leave City a firm fans’ favourite.

City are capable of going on to win three trophies at least. They got a tough draw away at Chelsea in the FA Cup, though, after demolishing Villa in some style last weekend.

I don’t think the performance in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Sunderland was a vintage one, but it was a brilliant three points.

Sometimes you need to dig in for victories like that if you are to emerge as league champions – United have been doing it for years.

It sets everything up nicely for Saturday’s home game against Leicester. They’ve been terrific under Claudio Ranieri this season, so solid.

In Jamie Vardy and Riyadh Mahrez they’ve also got two of the best players of the season too. Vardy reminds me a bit of Steve Taylor, the former Latics striker I played with in the late 70s. He was quick and had an eye for goal.