Pep Guardiola tells Brighton players Roberto De Zerbi is 'the next Manchester City manager'

Pep Guardiola says he learned from Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi (left) Photo: Getty Images/Oli Scarff

There was a carnival atmosphere at Amex Stadium at the end of May. Manchester City fans, having just seen their team win a third consecutive Premier League title a few days earlier, were busy dreaming of the historic treble that would soon follow.

Brighton, meanwhile, had just secured European football for the first time in their 122-year history, and three of their players were chatting in the tunnel after the game, still digesting the scale of what they had achieved, when Pep Guardiola approached them.

< p>“This is the next Manchester City manager,” the former Barcelona and Bayern coach told his small audience, leaning over and nodding towards Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi, just out of earshot further down the tunnel.

The Catalan, arguably the greatest coach of his generation, has not been shy about voicing his opinion of De Zerbi throughout the campaign, and ahead of the meeting with the south coast club even went so far as to suggest the Italian was one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years.< /p>

Now the Brighton players, who have learned so much in such a short space of time under De Zerbi, have discovered that Guardiola's remarks were definitely not for show.

A deserved 1-1 draw against Guardiola's serial champions was a victory. It's just a way to end a remarkable season in which they overcame the departure of manager Graham Potter to Chelsea and reached new heights under the energetic Italian coach from Brescia in Lombardy.

Whether the day comes when De Zerbi actually takes over from Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium remains to be seen, but as he prepares to take his Brighton side to the home of the champions on Saturday, it's hard to believe he won't be delighted. list of candidates, provided that one of the other big players in Europe has not lured him away first.

De Zerbi distinguished himself has since succeeded Graham Potter. Photo: Getty Images/GLYN KIRK

Guardiola's contract at City runs until the end of next season and the club may yet be able to convince the 52-year-old to sign a fourth extension. But De Zerbi is much admired and appears to have the backing of Guardiola, who has compared the Italian's influence on football to that of respected Catalan chef Ferran Adrià on the culinary world.

It should not be forgotten that the former No. Guardiola's number at City Mikel Arteta made his name at Arsenal and, unlike De Zerbi, has the experience of managing a big club with big expectations, an important factor that should not be downplayed. .

Guardiola praised De Zerbi's tactics.

There will undoubtedly be others who will chime in, but Brighton's evolution over the 13 months under De Zerbi has been astounding and has attracted the attention of all the top clubs, including City. included.

To put this influence into some context, Brighton have had the most shots (662) and the most shots on target (254) of any Premier League team since De Zerbi took charge, and have scored the third most goals (82) during this period. During that time, only three teams have had more touches in the opposition penalty area than Brighton's 1,289, and their average possession of 61.9% is second only to City. And all this despite the fact that relatively little money was spent on the team composition, of course by Premier League standards.

Guardiola, for one, hopes Brighton are less successful on Saturday than they were on their previous visit to Manchester last month as City try to avoid a third successive league defeat for the first time under the Catalan. At least City will have midfield key Rodri back, but defeats to Wolves and Arteta's Arsenal put extra pressure on Brighton, who are already causing enough headaches.

Ability De Zerbi's response in the game was perfectly demonstrated at Old Trafford when, after initially struggling with the Manchester United midfield diamond, the Brighton manager instructed his two centre-backs, Lewis Dunk and Jan Paul van Hecke, to play wider with goalkeeper Jason. Steele almost became the third central defender.

A tactical change changed the game and Brighton ran out 3-1 winners, their fourth league win over United. This was despite the fact that their team was worth just £17 million and had only one De Zerbi, signing that day midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud, who turned out to be one of five free transfers in the team.

Brighton's season has not been cloudless. The 6-1 thrashing of Aston Villa three weeks ago showed they have vulnerabilities, even if De Zerbi will be pleased with the subsequent response in the 2-2 draw away to Marseille and at home to Liverpool, and they also lost 3-1 to West Ham earlier in the campaign.

Guardiola particularly admires the way Brighton build from the back, something he says they are best at in the world.

< p>But he also praised De Zerbi's use of the concept of a «free man» and, in particular, the time they allow themselves to make the right decisions at the right pace, and not least their ability to engage opponents before than to take them away.

Coaches around the world call watching Guardiola's teams play a football education, but the man himself is willing to admit that he learned a lot from watching De Zerbi's team in action.

Guardiola's heir apparent at City? Time will tell, but Guardiola will be hoping De Zerbi doesn't push the case this weekend.