Pep Guardiola has revealed that it took just one phone call to convince one of Manchester City’s newest additions to move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
After an underwhelming 2024/25 campaign, the Spaniard was keen to make changes at the Manchester club over the summer, with Guardiola looking for at least four to five new faces to arrive in his squad before the current market opened.
Hugo Viana delivered for the Man City boss, with six new players being signed over the summer, while Pepijn Lijnders and James French also joined Guardiola’s coaching staff.
Speaking ahead of the new Premier League season, the legendary coach has now revealed that it took just one day to convince one of these new additions to make the move to Manchester, and his arrival is already making a difference.
Pep Guardiola, head coach of Manchester City, speaks with Pep Lijnders, assistant coach of Manchester City, during a training session open to the public advertised as the 'City are Back' event at Joie Stadium.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Pep Lijnders was convinced to join Man City after one phone call
After deciding to change his coaching staff, Guardiola wanted his set-piece coach, Carlos Vicens, to be his assistant manager; however, he left to become the manager of Portuguese side SC Braga.
The Man City coach’s attention soon turned to Pepijn Lijnders, and the Spaniard has now revealed that it took just one phone call to convince the former Liverpool man to become part of the Manchester club.
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“I know he was with Jurgen [Klopp] for many, many years – and I thought if he was with Jurgen for many years, this guy must be good! He has been at Salzburg and has experience as a manager,” Guardiola told Sky Sports’ One on One Podcast.
“We talked for just one day… sometimes decisions come from the feelings. I knew Liverpool played outstanding the decade we have been together. I think it can give us something we didn’t have in the last season in terms of rhythm, intensity, in terms of another vision of football.
“Since day one, I think we were incredibly connected. I would say it’s so easy to work with me, sorry to tell you, because I give incredible space to do what they believe they have to do. I think I needed one phone call.”
Jamie Carragher has been praising the work of Lijnders already at Man City, as the weekend’s game against Wolves showed Guardiola’s men playing with a very high line, which had a big effect on the result at Molineux.
The Dutch coach is exactly what the Manchester club needed, and his arrival may determine how their season goes.
Pepijn Lijnders may be Man City’s best summer signing
Guardiola heaped praise on Lijnders at the FIFA Club World Cup, as the legendary coach could already see the impact the 42-year-old would have on his team compared to last season.
Man City were accused of playing slow football throughout the 2024/25 campaign, and that resulted in the Premier League giants struggling to break down teams who would set up with a low block.
Wolves highlighted that this is no longer the case, as City played with energy and intensity, the two core elements of Lijnders’ football.
The Dutch coach may prove to be the best signing the Manchester club made this summer, as not only has his arrival at the Etihad Stadium improved the energy of the playing squad, but he seems to have also reenergized Guardiola.