According to an update from Sports Journalist Pol Ballus, Man City are set to make an ‘official‘ announcement as Pep Guardiola looks to appoint Juanma Lillo as his new assistant coach in the coming days.
Lillo, who recently guided Chinese outfit Qingdao Huanghai to Super League promotion, now looks likely to sign with the Sky Blues until 2021 as Mikel Arteta’s replacement in the assistant managerial role.
Arteta left for Arsenal back in late December to succeed previous Gunners boss Unai Emery, with Lillo now stepping in as Guardiola’s assistant in time for the remainder of the 2019/2020 season.
The Spaniard, who has been regarded as a real inspiration to Guardiola having ‘pioneered‘ the 4-2-3-1 set up, previously worked with our boss at Mexican side Dorados de Sinaloa during the twilight stages of his career.
Even though Guardiola’s time in North America was dampened by injuries, the six-month spell would go on to serve as a real learning curve working under Lillo – with our boss describing him as ‘the maestro‘.
Now, the pair look set to be reunited at Eastlands following the club’s decision to appoint Lillo as Guardiola’s number two – which could potentially boost the Sky Blues in our bid to challenge for both the FA Cup and Champions League.
According to the Daily Mail, back when the duo worked together in Mexico, they would sit and discuss tactics, training structures and man management in depth – with Guardiola going on to become, arguably, the most successful coach of the last decade.
Whether or not this move pays off is a different matter, but judging by their history, it looks like a Sky Blue match made in heaven.