Jerome Boateng tips Manchester City to get even better after Pep Guardiola exit | OneFootball

Bayern Munich icon and former Manchester City defender Jerome Boateng has tipped the Etihad Stadium club to get even better without Pep Guardiola.

The 56-year-old vacated his position as head coach at the Etihad Stadium after a legendary 10 year stay, winning 20 trophies in that period including a staggering six Premier League titles and a first-ever UEFA Champions League honour.

City are expected to appoint former Leicester City and Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca as their next manager, with the Italian tasked with not only maintaining the elite winning standards established within the club, but also winning major trophies.

Some have questioned whether there is going to be an inevitable drop-off from Manchester City, similar to the way local rivals Manchester United have never managed to recover from the legendary era of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Boateng says Manchester City can get even better

Speaking during a new interview with Flashscore, former Manchester City and Germany international centre-back Jerome Boateng has reflected on his time at the Etihad Stadium, and specifically his relationship with his then-manager Roberto Mancini.

“I always had a great relationship with him; after all, he was the man who wanted me at Manchester City. He taught me a lot tactically at a time when I was still a young player developing,” said Boateng.

“He gave me the basics and secrets of how to defend in England by applying the principles of the Italian defensive school, and I’m deeply grateful to him for that. My first steps in the Premier League under his guidance weren’t easy, also because I got injured as soon as I arrived at the club, but he always supported me,” he continued.

“I left Manchester after just one season, but not because of problems with him or the environment – simply, when Bayern Munich call you and you’re a key player for the German national team, you want to return home to be more in the spotlight.

“I recently met him in Doha, Qatar; we were sorry not to see each other for longer, but the mutual respect remains unchanged. I really consider him a great coach.”

Boateng added when discussing the feeling around Manchester City at the time of his arrival, “As far as English football is concerned, yes, I clearly sensed their huge ambition and the presence of professionals who were doing an extraordinary job.

“Then the arrival of Pep Guardiola was the final piece of the puzzle, it was a kind of ‘destiny already written.’ In Europe, they did very well in the season when they won the Champions League.”

In a significant take on the future of Manchester City beyond the legendary Catalan tactician, Jerome Boateng closed by stating, “I think they can improve even more in a few years, recently they’ve missed a few opportunities [in European football].

“In any case, today they’ve firmly established themselves among the top four or five teams in Europe.”

How do Manchester City go about their future?

The objective for Manchester City beyond Pep Guardiola is no longer about establishing an identity, but rather optimising an already elite group anchored by a new club captain after Bernardo Silva’s exit.

As sporting director Hugo Viana works on a summer squad re-balance, including navigating heavy interest from Real Madrid for Ruben Dias and Tottenham’s pursuit of winger Savinho, Boateng’s reflections offer vital context to City’s latest project.

With the club’s financial muscles currently fixed on adding much-needed quality back in central midfield, the tactical stage is perfectly set for Enzo Maresca and his new set of backroom staff to prove that Manchester City’s era of dominance is far from over.