Pep Guardiola has shared his delight at Juanma Lillo’s return to Manchester City as part of his backroom staff.
City enjoyed a historic 2022/23 campaign, winning a treble that included the club’s first-ever Champions League triumph.
However, on a personal level, there was one thing missing for Guardiola: Juanma Lillo.
Lillo was Guardiola’s assistant coach at the Etihad Stadium between 2020 and 2022, a period during which City won two Premier League titles and one League Cup and reached the Champions League final for the first time.
The Spaniard’s influence on the City boss stretches back much further than that though. Lillo is one of Guardiola’s coaching inspirations, with many of the ideas forming Guardiola’s footballing philosophy passed onto him by his compatriot.
Lillo left City last summer to become the manager of Qatari side Al-Sadd, but on Friday the club confirmed that he has returned to the Etihad.
The 57-year-old will fill one of the vacant spots on Pep’s backroom team following the departures of Enzo Maresca and Rodolfo Borrell this summer.
Pep is delighted
Speaking to the club’s website, Guardiola explained why he was so keen to have Lillo return.
“Juanma sees things no one else in the game sees. He understands football on an incredible level, so he is the perfect person for me to work alongside,” the City boss said.
“I have always been inspired by him – his knowledge of football, his intelligence and his humanity mark him out as a very special person in my life – and we have a shared ideology.
“He is a friend, a colleague and an inspiration. I am so, so happy he is back here at Manchester City.
“His preparation for matches is absolutely amazing. I know he will raise standards because he works so hard every single day.”
Lillo’s return to the City dugout could come on Sunday when City take on Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley.
