Already looking ahead to next season, Mesut Özil will have one eye on the big arrival in Manchester.
While the German was with Real Madrid, he consistently ended up on the losing side against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side. Now on international duty, Özil is once again with some of Guardiola’s current Bayern Munich teammates and you can imagine they speak highly of him.
Next season will also be Jürgen Klopp’s first full season in England while Manchester United and Chelsea will change managers too.
“It is interesting again to watch how much clubs invest in the summer and in whom. Plus, great coaches are coming to the Premier League,” Özil said to Welt am Sonntag (h/t @AFCPressWatch) as he looked towards the summer and beyond.
“Primarily Pep Guardiola. Wherever he’s been, he’s had success.”
After enormous success at Barcelona, Guardiola is cantering to a third consecutive Bundesliga title in Munich. At Arsenal, we have come up against his sides and seen how it’s almost impossible to win the ball or work through the pressure you’re under once you have won it.
All season there have been fans hyping up high-tempo counter-attacking football with the surprise success of Leicester City but Guardiola will implement his calm and creative possession philosophy when he arrives in the Premier League.
“He is a coach who puts great emphasis on possession and wants his teams to be feared. I wonder what he’ll do with Manchester City. He will dominate the football in England, the people will be surprised.”
Facing Guardiola this season Arsenal won at the Emirates Stadium before being humbled in Munich. Özil, meanwhile, is nearing the last two years of a contract – hopefully his praise of Guardiola isn’t a sign.