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Guardiola: I want to make fans proud

3 Jul 2016
Man City present Pep Guardiola

New Man City head coach outlines vision as he speaks for first time to club supporters

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Pep Guardiola is relishing the challenge of getting his new Manchester City side to play football the way he believes it should be played when he starts in the Premier League.

The new Man City head coach was presented to the fans at the club's Cityzens Day and he set out his aims to bring players through from the academy.

"I have no preconceptions at all about coming to England or the football in the Premier League. I want to learn as much as possible," Guardiola told CityTV. "I have an idea of how we will play, but when I arrived in Germany with Bayern Munich, I had some ideas of how the team would play but changed them as I went along. 

"I know how hard the Premier League is and some people have said that I will find it hard to play the football I like to play in England so I said to myself 'Why not?' That's why I'm here' - because I want to try."

Guardiola said one of his objectives was to make a team that City fans, as well as those of football, can be proud of.

"The first target is team spirit and to play good as much as possible, and then after try to win one game and then a second one, then another," he said. "What I want is for our supporters and the people who love football to enjoy and be proud of what we did. Afterwards, we will see what is our level. Maybe we achieve titles, but if the people are not proud of us, it is nothing."

The Spaniard cited Man City's academy as a persuasive factor behind his decision to join the club. City's academy won the Under-18 Premier League, the Premier League Under-15 Floodlit Cup, the Under-13 International Tournament and the Under-11 National Tournament last season. 

"I grew up in one of the most important academies in the world in Barcelona, where the young players are so important to develop and could maybe one day play in the first team," he said. "One of the reasons I came here is because I know … how good they are working in the academy with the young players.

"For me it's good to see young players of 13, 14 and 15 playing, growing and imagining that one day they can play in the first team.

"But it's important for the fans too because they can feel special about that player.

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