Gary Lineker has said that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has had a hugely positive effect on how the game is played in England.
The former England international says he can’t think of anyone else who has had such an influence on English football:
I’ll say it for him. He’s had, arguably, the most positive influence of anyone, ever on our game. ???? https://t.co/PrjiTG6ZBx
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 4, 2020
When one journalist suggested that former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson may have had a greater effect on the sport in the UK, Lineker feels Guardiola has been more influential in terms of how people think about the game:
Total respect for Sir Alex’s achievements, and, of course, he’s the most successful, but that’s an entirely different thing. Guardiola has changed the way we play/think about the game. From our obsession with direct play to total football…and they said it couldn’t be done. https://t.co/J857HQe5dw
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) January 4, 2020
It is very hard to quantify how far one man can influence a whole nation’s attitude towards playing football but there can be no doubt that Guardiola has shown how attractive, attacking possession football combined with a high pressing defensive setup can get results.
Before his arrival at City, many felt that the physicality and the speed of English football may cause issues for Guardiola but he has proven the critics spectacularly wrong.