City chief hails Pep

MANCHESTER City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has spoken of his excitement at the appointment of Pep Guardiola as manager and backed the Spaniard to be "an incredible asset" who will "transform" the team.

Guardiola, having departed Bayern Munich, begins a three-year contract as City boss this summer.

The 45-year-old has amassed a vast haul of trophies over spells with Bayern and Barcelona, who he guided to two Champions League triumphs.

And Khaldoon told City TV: "I'm absolutely excited about Pep joining our team. I consider Pep to be one of the best, if not the best, managers today in football.

PASSION

"We are getting a manager that epitomises, in my view, passion and commitment. He's a winner, he's a proven winner, he has won professionally in every team he has coached, his record at Bayern Munich, his record at Barcelona, I think speaks for itself.

"The trophies he's won...every single club competition out there, from the Champions League to La Liga to the Bundesliga, to the respective cups.

"We are getting a proven winner, we are getting a passionate man, we are getting someone who I think will be an incredible asset to Manchester City.

"And I have no doubt that he will transform our team to a whole new level."

Guardiola does not officially start work at City until next month, but he met Khaldoon in Abu Dhabi earlier this week and has also made two visits over the last few days to see the club's facilities in Manchester - their training ground and their Etihad Stadium home.