Pep Guardiola has already made thoughts on Xabi Alonso perfectly clear amid Man City plan

Pep Guardiola thinks Manchester City would be in safe hands with Xabi Alonso, if his previous thoughts are anything to go by.

Guardiola, 53, is currently set to depart the Etihad Stadium next season when his contract expires. He is yet to make a decision on his future at the club, having already spent nine years in charge of the Premier League champions.

Nevertheless, it appears City are eyeing up potential successors to the ex-Barcelona boss, with the Bayer Leverkusen chief Alonso rumoured to be a potential target. If Alonso is to replace Guardiola in the future – ten years after playing under him at Bayern Munich – the current City would likely be a happy man.

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When Alonso was being ushered as a potential replacement to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, Guardiola was asked about his thoughts on the Spaniard potentially succeeding the German. At the time, the Catalan said: "That’s a question for Liverpool and of course I’m not going to answer because I don’t know the ideas that I have.

"But if you ask me about the job he’s doing…honestly…wow! The only team that’s unbeaten in all competitions, fighting in the way with Bayern Munich there.

"Now they are in the position that they cannot win the Bundesliga, they can lose the Bundesliga but everybody thinks it’s done. Now is the most difficult thing because it’s not done until it’s done.

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"But, wow! Not just the way they play, they didn’t lose one game in the Europa League, the Pokal in Germany, the Bundesliga.”

Guardiola also managed Alonso for two seasons when the classy midfielder was in the final years of his career. Despite the fact Alonso was still turning out on the pitch, Guardiola knew he would become a manager.

Guardiola added: "I was incredibly fortunate to have him one and a half years or two seasons. He’s such an intelligent player.

"Holding midfielders ask you questions and how curious they are about the game, you realise that if this guy retires he will be at home, he will be annoyed, nothing to do. Normally holding midfielders like him, [Javier] Mascherano, [Sergio] Busquets, Rodri, [Ilkay] Gundogan, they will be involved in football for sure because they have a vision, their perspective is different.

"He was a top class player otherwise you cannot play Liverpool, Madrid and Bayern Munich. He took good decisions and I’m so happy for him, he deserves it, he’s a lovely, lovely guy.”

Leverkusen are currently fourth in the Bundesliga after seven matches, just three points adrift of early table toppers Bayern Munich.

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