Guardiola beams as he talks about the Dutch football legacy | OneFootball

Although it has been more than seven years since Pep Guardiola last faced a Dutch club with Manchester City, the Netherlands as a football country has never left a special place in his heart. City welcome Feyenoord to the Etihad Stadium this evening in the Champions League.

Manchester City were last paired with Feyenoord in the Champions League back in the 2017-18 season. Meeting in the group stage of the old-style elite tournament, City triumphed twice, with the match at the Etihad Stadium proving to be an especially narrow win (1-0).

For Guardiola, it always seems like a real pleasure to talk about Dutch football, as can be seen during an interview with Ziggo Sport.

“Of course I have to talk about Johan Cruyff, everyone knows what his influence is on me. Then came Louis van Gaal, who also had a lot of influence.”

Guardiola grew up with Dutch football. “Dutch football had a big influence on me. I was a young boy when Cruyff was there in Barcelona and I was a big fan of the 3-4-3 – of Rinus Michels, of Marco van Basten, of Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard. The legacy of Cruyff and Johan Neeskens from the ’70s…”

There was nothing but praise from Guardiola’s side, as he continued to preview the home clash with Feyenoord in the most gracious terms.

“‘I think the Dutch influence on modern football is enormous. We are all grateful for that.”

Guardiola himself currently works with one Dutchman in his squad: Nathan Aké. He left the Feyenoord youth academy in 2011 and will – if he plays – face the club of his youth for the first time in his senior career.

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield