Michail Antonio has backed Vincent Kompany to replace Pep Guardiola as the manager of Manchester City.
The Spaniard’s current contract at the Etihad Stadium is set to expire at the end of next season.
Having been at the club since 2016, the subject of Guardiola’s potential replacement has been the topic of conversation recently, with one current Premier League footballer having his say on who could be the one to take the reins once the 52-year-old leaves.
Antonio backs Kompany to replace Guardiola
Speaking in a recent episode of The Footballer’s Football Podcast, Antonio had this to say on who he thinks will replace Guardiola at City.
He said: “Honestly. I believe [Kompany] that he will be the next Man City manager. That’s what I think anyway, if Pep ever steps down and he keeps doing well at Burnley. I feel like that is the next step.
“The difference between David Moyes at Man United and Vincent Kompany at Man City is that he has good stead himself there, so when he is going in, he should be able to speak to them and go ‘I’m not Pep, I’m coming in and want to bring a new philosophy. I want to bring in my own philosophy right now, Pep’s philosophy is still instilled in the club, so for me to change it there is going to be some difficult times.’
“As long as he can have the conversation which I feel he should be able to as he has been there so long, he is an actual Man City legend himself, I feel he could go in there and give himself a good opportunity – maybe two or three years – before they feel they have to get rid, unless he goes in and has an absolute stinker, which I don’t think he will.”
Having made 360 appearances for City as a player over the span of almost 11 years, the 37-year-old certainly has the knowledge and connections to be a good fit at the club internally.
In terms of his managerial credentials, the Belgian’s first job saw him win 41 of the 90 games he overlooked with Anderlecht, drawing 30 and losing 19 before being appointed as Burnley’s manager back in July last year.
After having a rather successful campaign in the Championship last season, getting the Clarets back into the top flight, the Lancashire club have lost six of their eight Premier League games so far this year, drawing one and winning the other.
Assuming Guardiola were to leave City once his current contract runs out, we feel that the people behind the scenes at the club should find a candidate that they feel is the most suited professionally to take over from the Spaniard, rather than take a potential risk based on sentimentality by hiring Kompany.
