The man who will take Guardiola's spot within the City dugout, Lillo, rejoined Guardiola's backroom workers this summer season. Enzo Maresca was Guardiola's No 2 final season earlier than he left to take over at Leicester City.

Lillo had left City in 2022 after working with Guardiola for 2 years to take up a job in Qatar's high flight. But Guardiola was delighted to have Lillo again working by his facet when his return was confirmed this summer season.

Guardiola mentioned: "Juanma sees things no one else in the game sees. He understands football on an incredible level, so he is the perfect person for me to work alongside. I have always been inspired by him – his knowledge of football, his intelligence and his humanity mark him out as a very special person in my life – and we have a shared ideology."