5 things we can expect when Pep Guardiola takes over at Manchester City

#2 Manchester City\'s academy will benefit

The City Football Academy is already one of England’s finest

“The buzz in Manchester is that it is City now who have the better academy programme.” Those were the words of Paul Scholes last year – a United legend praising their biggest rivals.

Manchester City’s academy is slowly but surely making its mark in England. The club’s owners have pumped money into the infrastructure and coaching at the academy and the results are there for all to see.

The academy has provided more players for teams between the U-16 and U-21 levels than their counterparts at Arsenal, Liverpool and United. In fact, last year, only Chelsea had provided more players for England. City’s younger teams are free-scoring sides who have dominated their rivals, enough for clubs to hold emergency meetings and discuss the ramifications.

Man City spent big to build their academy and bring in some of the best young talents in England

So imagine how much they can improve when Guardiola brings his expertise to England’s shores. Remember he coached the Barcelona reserves for a season, gaining promotion before he was asked to take Frank Rijkaard’s place as the senior team coach.

The infrastructure is already in place at City. It only needs a captain to steer the ship.

Guardiola’s philosophy of possession, playing out from the back, ball movement and a high line of defence is known to all, but inculcating them in players is not so easy. He will pass down his knowledge on strategic training regimes which were responsible for blooding youth players into senior players who understood his requirements.

Just ask Sergio Busquets and Pedro.