MX23RW : Friday, April 19 08:15:41| >> :120:25954:25954:

Pablo Zabaleta confident Pep Guardiola will stay at Man City

Zabaleta confident Guardiola will stay at City
© Reuters
The former City full-back hopes to go into management himself one day.

Pablo Zabaleta has no doubt Pep Guardiola will stay at Manchester City and continue to lead the club to success.

Zabaleta, a modern-day City great, played under Guardiola during his first season at the Etihad before moving on to West Ham.

He watched on as City won last season's Premier League, while they are in the driving seat to retain their crown after beating Manchester United on Wednesday.

Guardiola and Zabaleta worked together for one year
Guardiola and Zabaleta worked together for one year (Martin Rickett/PA)

Guardiola, a serial winner with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now City, has been linked with a move to Juventus, but Zabaleta has no concerns.

"He's very good, he's one of the best managers for sure. I spent one season with him, the first season for Pep in England. We did some amazing stuff, but also we made a few mistakes that cost us winning the Premier League or the Champions League," said Zabaleta, speaking to The Offside Rule Exclusives.

"For a club like Manchester City finishing the season without trophies is something that, as a player, hurts. When you're there, you play to win trophies.

"Last season, the way City won the league, they have been playing some of the best football we have seen in the last few years in the Premier League.

"I'm sure that he will stay at Manchester City, he will keep improving the team and keep winning trophies."

Zabaleta has moved on to West Ham but wants to go into management
Zabaleta has moved on to West Ham but wants to go into management (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Zabaleta won the Premier League with City under both Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini and has designs on following them, and Guardiola, into management one day.

"I am doing my coaching badges, I've already finished my UEFA 'B' and have to go to the next level," he added.

"I want to carry on doing my coaching badges because I can see myself, after my playing career, doing something to stay in the game or going into coaching and then maybe sporting director.

"I love football so much, so I would love to give myself a chance to be a manager one day."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '519cdd0f-844d-4fda-8943-6ecd8ad4b22d');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Zabaleta backs Guardiola to lead Manchester City to more trophies'});

ID:357312: cacheID:357312:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7277:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Eric Bailly in action for Manchester United on August 19, 2018
Read Next:
Arsenal 'eye cut-price deal for Bailly'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!