Pep Guardiola “changed my mentality about football” says former Man City defender | OneFootball

Former Manchester City defender Danilo has opened up on the opportunity to work with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, as well as life at the English giants overall.

The veteran full-back, who clinched back-to-back Premier League titles under Guardiola between 2017 and 2019 including the historic 100-point campaign, remains a deeply respected figure within the club.

The timing of the Brazilian’s interview aligns with a significant transition for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup winners, who are remodelling their coaching infrastructure under incoming manager Enzo Maresca.

As Maresca draws up his initial plans ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window, the tactical legacy left behind by his predecessor continues to dictate the club’s broader footballing philosophy.

With some of the current first-team squad scheduled to report back to the City Football Academy (CFA) for pre-season in July, Danilo’s reflections underline the adaptability Maresca will likely require from players to claim the Premier League crown back from Arsenal.

Danilo reflects on life with Pep Guardiola and Man City

Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with The Athletic’s Andy Mitten, Danilo was asked for a reflection on his time in English football, the Premier League, and working with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

“England was amazing. I’d always watched the Premier League on TV and enjoyed the intensity. The games were brilliant, the way they compete,” the Brazilian said.

“Pep Guardiola changed my mentality about football, the way that I think about it. I’m still playing at this age — and for Brazil too — because of the time I was with him,” he continued.

“If I just depended on my physicality, it’s impossible at 35, but Pep helped me to think differently, to think about space and timing and opponents. Two years ago, I was at Juventus and we played Manchester City. I took the opportunity to tell Pep this.”

“I was good in England and Manchester, which isn’t the most beautiful city, but it was really good. You could walk the streets, no problem at all. I lived in the centre of Manchester, and there was no problem going for a coffee, shopping,” he added.

“It was a simple life, a good one. Of course, the weather was not the best, but when you are happy with your work and the people you can make a deal with the weather.”

Who impressed Danilo most at City and in the Premier League?

Looking back on the players that impressed him most both within Manchester City’s team at the time, and opponents elsewhere in the Premier League, Danilo said, “Manchester City had a lot of amazing players, everyone knows that. Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, amazing player. Fernandinho.

“But one of them, he surprised me. I knew that he was strong, but I didn’t know he was too strong. It was Yaya Toure. He was amazing. Even at 33 or 34, he had so much quality, reading the game. Yet he had feet like a Brazilian. I loved Yaya as a player. I loved Yaya as a person. He was so funny, but he was so strong.

“And to play against… Liverpool’s front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah made me struggle the most.”

The lasting impact of Pep Guardiola on players

The fact that the 34-year-old veteran is still starring in top-tier matches for Flamengo – having transitioned across major leagues after parting ways with Juventus in early 2025 – serves as proof of the footballing principles learned at the CFA.

The ongoing pursuit of truly elite profiles at Manchester City this summer is perhaps why the club is comfortable sanctioning big-money exits of existing names – such as a reported £60 million exit with Tottenham for winger Savinho – to maintain a high-level standard.

Ultimately, as Manchester City charts its brand new path under Enzo Maresca, the blueprint highlighted by Danilo will remain the standard required to maintain domestic and European supremacy beyond Pep Guardiola’s tenure.