Ex-Man City keeper shares interesting theory for Pep Guardiola's replacement

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Costel Pantillimon has shared his interesting theory for Pep Guardiola's replacement should he leave the club at the end of the season.

• "Personally, I would really like to see Xabi Alonso take over from him [Guardiola]. I've heard so many good things about this guy. Especially when you remember he's worked with Pep Guardiola before, at Bayern, and so that relationship might play a part in things when it comes to Guardiola's replacement."
• "If I think back to my old teammates at City, and who Haaland reminds me of... and I'd probably say Carlos Tevez. Tevez was the hard worker, the one who was always involved, working more for the team than himself. That's who I'd compare Erling Haaland to."
• "Honestly, I thought in the summer that Kevin De Bruyne would leave. I don't know why, but I just thought he was going to go. Maye because he's been there a while, and if you look at Man City now, they don't really have many players over 30 in that squad."
• "You just have to think back to Riyad Mahrez, and how difficult it's been to replace him. You know, Jeremy Doku came in, and this season it's Savinho... there are still question marks around that position. To be honest, I think Mahrez could've played for at least another year. And you can see the difference with him not being around... his maturity is missed, for sure."
  

In this moment, I don't see Man City without Pep Guardiola. He's been there for so long now, the club is his world. Everything, from scratch, when you look at the way the club is run, is because of Guardiola. The people behind the scenes are fantastic, but Guardiola has played such a huge part in things, it's difficult to imagine him not managing the club. But, at the same time, I would have said the same thing about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, and that happened. Of course, there's going to come a day where it's not Guardiola who is in charge... I just hope it's not soon.  

When he does leave the club, I'm sure they will find the right solution. You know, Man City are one of the top three or four clubs in the world, so I'm sure the right manager will be approached, as soon as Guardiola decides he doesn't want to continue. 

Personally, I would really like to see Xabi Alonso take over from him. I've heard so many good things about this guy. So many good things. Honestly, I love Jurgen Klopp, so much, I just don't think that's going to happen. But maybe Xabi Alonso could be an option. 

Xabi knows the league, he's got some great experience now, having managed in Spain, and winning the title in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, without losing a game He's done a fantastic job over there - he could be an option, for sure. Especially when you remember he's worked with Pep Guardiola before, at Bayern Munich, and so that relationship might play a part in things when it comes to Guardiola's replacement. 

You can see Erling Haaland has been working on his finishing in the last few months. Even though he's already scored so many goals for Man City, you could see it was actually a bit of an issue for him, in previous seasons. He puts himself in so many great positions and has so many chances, but perhaps lacked the quality of some of those top, top finishers. But now, you can see he's finding different ways of scoring; he's not just picking the same spot, he's trying different things. I'm curious to see if he can reach 40 goals in the Premier League this season, because the way he's started this season has been so strong. Physically, he's always been there, and mentally, he's there now, too, so I'm curious to see whether he reaches that figure this season. 

If I think back to my old teammates at City, and who Haaland reminds me of... and I'd probably say Carlos Tevez. Not in terms of physicality, but he's that kind of hard-worker, for the team; he has that kind of mindset. When you compare him to someone like Sergio Aguero, Aguero was more finesse, you know, he was the kind of player who would always find different ways of scoring. But Tevez was the hard-worker, the one who was always involved, working more for the team than himself. That's who I'd compare Erling Haaland to. 

Honestly, I thought in the summer that Kevin De Bruyne would leave. I don't know why, but I just thought he was going to go. Maye because he's been there a while, and if you look at Man City now, they don't really have many players over 30 in that squad. You can see how important he is to the team though, as is Ederson. I think City should give them both at least another two years.

But you never know, with these players. How demanding is the competition, how demanding is a club like City in this moment? And then, of course, a lot might depend on whether or not Pep Guardiola remains at the club. You know, they're always going to be looking for fresh players who can compete at this level, but players like De Bruyne and Ederson... they're guys you want to keep around the place. They give the team so much. I don't think it's the time to let either of them move. 

You just have to think back to Riyad Mahrez, and how difficult it's been to replace him. You could see, last season, they were trying different things. You know, Jeremy Doku came in, and this season it's Savinho... there are still question marks around that position. To be honest, I think Mahrez could've played for at least another year. And you can see the difference with him not being around... his maturity is missed, for sure. 

The game was a good one to watch; everyone tends to talk about Arsenal as this bunch of talented kids, but yesterday they didn't look like that. It was a tough, tough team, and they did very well, to be fair to them. They prepared every single detail. I think that's the battle for the title; between these two teams, but I still think Manchester City are mature enough to step up again and win the league. 

Am I disappointed Man City didn't make more of their advantage in the game? Honestly, not really, because you could see how deep Arsenal were defending, and how happy they were in that 10-man situation, and they defended really well. It's not a situation, or a game, that we're used to seeing, really. What yesterday showed me was that, in this moment, Arsenal are a very mature team; a solid team. 

I feel sorry for Rodri, in a way, because I know he's mentioned about the amount of games they have to play throughout the season, and the injury risk that comes with that, and it's now happened to him, which is a real shame. I'm on the same side as the players, and the coaches, when it comes to the number of games in a season, though. You know, there's another competiton coming up this week... it's constant, it's not easy. 

It's a massive worry, his injury. It's a long season ahead, with City looking to challenge for every trophy. In the Premier League, they want to start strong, they want to be at the top, and he's a massive part of that. You need Rodri; he's the brain in the middle of the park. He's the balance. You can find very good players to replace him, and City have those, but with that system, and the way Pep Guardiola plays, he's one of the main guys, for sure. 

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