Danilo reflects on Guardiola's influential coaching at Manchester City

A former Manchester City player has praised coach Pep Guardiola for significantly improving his football skills. Danilo, a former defender for City, said he felt "brainwashed" in a positive way by Guardiola's coaching style. Guardiola is known for transforming football with his approach, especially at Barcelona, and continued to do so at Manchester City. Since joining City in 2016, Guardiola has led the team to numerous successes, including five Premier League titles. Danilo, who played under Guardiola for two seasons, emphasized how the coach taught players to think critically about the game. He mentioned key aspects like time, space, and possession, saying Guardiola’s methods changed his perspective on football. Now 33, Danilo believes he would have been an even better player had he learned from Guardiola earlier in his career. He described his time at City as educational and said he realized he had played football “in completely the wrong way” before meeting Guardiola. This season has not been as successful for Manchester City, as they currently sit fifth in the league. They are significantly trailing behind Liverpool, who lead the table. Danilo noted that this decline in performance is normal, given that many players are getting older and have been under high pressure for several years. As City prepares for their upcoming FA Cup match against Bournemouth, Danilo reflected on the challenges of maintaining top performance levels and the mental pressures of consistent winning.