Gary Neville admits this is his favorite Man City team under Pep Guardiola because it is ‘imperfect’, as Jamie Redknapp claims it would be a ‘big disappointment’ if they fail to win the Treble this season.
Gary Neville has revealed that Manchester City’s current squad has been his favorite to watch since Pep Guardiola took charge of the club in 2016.
Arsenal’s defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday gave City their third successive title, and Guardiola’s men have dominated English football in recent years, winning the Premier League five times in six seasons.
During that time, the Spanish coach has regularly changed his tactics, initially relying on speedy wingers like Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane before switching to a “false nine” system to allow his side to dominate in midfield .
This year he has made further adjustments, signing Erling Haaland to lead, often playing four centre-backs and asking John Stones to move into midfield when the team has the ball. It has seen City blow their opponents away in recent months, and Marcel has admitted he enjoys watching this team play more than others Guardiola has put together in the past.
“I actually like this Pep Guardiola team more than any other Pep Guardiola team this season. It’s imperfect,” Gary Neville told Sky Sports.
Pep Guardiola won the Premier League five times in the past six seasons at Man City
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has admitted this is his favorite Pep Guardiola team to watch
Neville thinks City are ‘imperfect’ but have enjoyed the evolution of players like John Stones
“We’ve seen great technical teams that have been produced, but the fact that Ake or Akanji played at left-back or Stones and Walker played at right-back.
“Haaland up front is imperfect, he’s not technically perfect. This is probably not Pep Guardiola’s best team, but it is my favorite and the team I would least want to play against.
City will lift the Premier League trophy today following their final home game of the season against Chelsea, and will also receive a guard of honor from the Blues before kick-off.
Guardiola’s side have lifted their first trophy of the season and are still in the hunt for two more as they prepare for the FA Cup final against Manchester United on June 3, before facing Inter Milan next week meet in the Champions League final.
Jamie Redknapp has seen City push Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid aside in recent weeks. Jamie Redknapp therefore fully expects them to complete the Treble. -99 season.
Jamie Redknapp thinks City will be disappointed if they don’t go through and win the Treble this year
“It would be a big disappointment if that didn’t lead to the Treble,” said Redknapp.
“They’re playing against their biggest rivals in Manchester United and then Inter Milan… I can’t see anything but them winning the treble.
They have completely outclassed Real Madrid. There was such a gap in the class and the way City are playing now… Pep is doing things we haven’t seen before, bringing central defenders into midfield.
“People said that was impossible. But he always seems to evolve to challenge his players.’