Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has revealed that he has already learned two big lessons from Pep Guardiola since joining the club.
Tijjani Reijnders is one of several high-profile signings made by Manchester City this summer, along with Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and James Trafford.
With Kevin De Bruyne leaving on a free transfer, it was imperative for Pep Guardiola to bring in a high-quality replacement, and Reijnders certainly seems to fit the bill.
Ahead of City’s return to Premier League action, Reijnders shared what Guardiola has taught him in training that will be crucial for the season ahead.
Nathan Ake of Manchester City reacts wth team mate Tijjani Reijnders during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Manchester City FC and Wydad AC at Lincoln Financial Field on June 18, 2025
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
Tijjani Reijnders learning all about on-the-ball positioning and off-the-ball pressing
Reijnders spoke to Stadium Astro about his career so far, his time at City so far, and his formative days as a footballer.
When asked about the biggest lesson he had learned from Guardiola so far, he replied: “The position you have to take when you have the ball.
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“But also the how we want to press the opponent, like giving them no time to think when they have the ball.
“I see now from up close how it works and everything. It’s nice to have that feeling when you are in a match, like everything is in the right place.”
When asked whether it helps that Guardiola himself was a midfielder, Reijnders said: “Yeah, of course.
He has his experience as well and he will always help us in his way. So yeah, that can help for sure.”
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What Pep Guardiola has said about Tijjani Reijnders ahead of new season
Reijnders was in fine form against Palermo, bagging a brace after Erling Haaland opened the scoring in Sicily.
Guardiola, speaking after the game, said Man City always knew Reijnders’ movement was ‘special’.
“Yeah, we knew that he is a special player arriving into the box,” said Guardiola. “He loves to do that.
TIJJANI REIJNDERS STATS VS PALERMO
GOALS 2
PASSES COMPLETED 16/20 (80%)
INTERCEPTIONS 2
TOUCHES IN THE OPPOSITION BOX 7
DUELS WON 4/4
“People in Italy know him perfectly. He scored two goals and he made a fantastic performance like the rest of his teammates.”
Guardiola added: “He can play as a holding midfielder but he loves to arrive to the box to help our strikers like Erling and Omar [Marmoush] and anyone who plays there.
“We are really pleased.”