Juanma Lillo says Pep Guardiola’s drive improves ‘everyone that is around him’
Juanma Lillo has offered insight into Pep Guardiola’s insatiable appetite to keep improving himself and those around him. Lillo rejoined his fellow Spaniard’s backroom staff at treble winners Manchester City this summer after a year away. This weekend he will be filling in for the inspirational City manager as the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss takes time out to recuperate from back surgery. Guardiola is due to return to Manchester after the September international break and Lillo expects him to be as hungry as ever. “Pep is always very open, moment to moment, and he decides he always wants to improve and implement new things,” said Lillo, who will oversee the team at Sheffield United on Sunday and at home to Fulham next week. “That sense is very sharp. He’s very intelligent. He grasps not only what he’s going to do, but with whom he’s going to do it. “That helps to improve everyone that is around him. We all improve. “We all try and to pitch in for Pep to always be there, but he doesn’t need a lot of input because he’s constantly building and debating and generating ideas.” Lillo, 57, has had a long and varied coaching career with jobs in countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Japan and China as well as at home in Spain. He was actually Guardiola’s manager at Mexican side Dorados de Sinaloa almost two decades ago and knew even then his former charge would make a good coach. “We’ve been working hand in hand for many years,” said Lillo, who first joined Guardiola at City in 2020 before leaving for a job in Qatar two years later. “He was my player back in the day. We have a relationship that goes all the way back and we understand things in the same direction. “When he was a player it was the same. He already had a true vision. It’s very difficult to find someone such as him with such capacity and such willingness. “He was already a bit of a coach when he was a player.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Ben Pattison reveals life-saving heart surgery after stunning 800m performance Gregor Townsend expecting wing Darcy Graham to be fit for World Cup opener David Moyes delighted to end Brighton hoodoo as West Ham top table with win
2023-08-27 05:51
St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: SP wish list addition, another brutal injury, top prospect call-up?
The St. Louis Cardinal's offseason starting pitching wish list, a potential call-up for the rest of the season, and more.
2023-08-27 05:48
3 Bears who earned a roster spot in preseason Week 4, and 1 on verge of being cut
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2023-08-27 05:45
NFL Rumors: Lions whiff on Lance, rejected Taylor trade, surprise Browns cut
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2023-08-27 05:26
MLB Rumors: Mike Trout regret, Mets in on Japanese phenom, Red Sox bummer
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2023-08-27 05:23
What does magic number mean and where did the term originate?
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2023-08-27 04:50
Chelsea confirm signing of Djordje Petrovic from New England Revolution
Djordje Petrovic joins Chelsea.
2023-08-27 04:46
David Moyes delighted to end Brighton hoodoo as West Ham top table with win
David Moyes was delighted to see West Ham end their Brighton hoodoo with a convincing 3-1 win at the Amex Stadium which took them top of the table. Summer signing James Ward-Prowse scored his first Hammers goal in only his second start to set the visitors on course for a first ever Premier League win over the south coast side. Manager Moyes said: “I’m thrilled with the three points because usually we come here and struggle to get any points. “We haven’t won here for years. It’s been the same coming here and not getting the results. Today was a well-deserved three points. Brighton did a good job, but we also did a good job in other parts of the game. “Brighton have got an extremely good manager and his side are causing problems to plenty of teams, not just us. They are going to be hard for any manager to play against. They are very offensive, which is great, but that also means it can open up and give you chances on the counter. “We worked hard on not getting picked off easily and we defended really well. Our counter-attacks were really good. Two or three years ago we were really good on the counter and we showed that. All the forward players made a really good contribution today.” Moyes led West Ham to their first trophy in more than 40 years by winning last season’s Europa Conference League. On their surprise early-season surge to the Premier League summit, the Scot said: “I didn’t realise we had gone top. It has been a long time since any West Ham manager did that also.” Ward-Prowse got West Ham off to the perfect start when he opened the scoring after 19 minutes, following on from his two assists in last weekend’s debut win over Chelsea. Michail Antonio was too strong for Brighton defender Adam Webster and picked out England international Ward-Prowse to tap in from two yards. Jarrod Bowen added a second 13 minutes into the second half – expertly controlling Said Benrahma’s cross before firing into the bottom corner. Bowen then teed up Antonio to seal the points in the 63rd minute with a drilled shot into the corner. Brighton, who had 79 per cent of the possession, got a goal back with nine minutes to play when German midfielder Pascal Gross chopped back onto his right foot to rifle home through a crowded penalty area. West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola made two crucial saves in the dying stages to keep out Joel Veltman’s volley and Ferguson’s fierce drive. Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi said: “I’m disappointed with the result. It wasn’t the best performance in my time at the club, but we didn’t play badly. “We shot 27 times and created 11 chances to score. In the second half I’m disappointed because we lost the balance of the game. “I’m very proud of the performance, the attitude, the passion and the mentality to play well and get points. I can analyse how we conceded the goals and how we made a lot of mistakes in the last 20 metres and how we conceded so many counter-attacks, but it is not a problem. We will start on Monday working on the last week.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Andy Murray confident he has recovered from abdominal injury ahead of US Open Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: Conceding early is not playing on our minds Duhan van der Merwe helps Scotland overcome half-time deficit to beat Georgia
2023-08-27 04:18
76ers: Tyrese Maxey bluntly addresses James Harden trade saga
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey spoke candidly about James Harden's trade request and his approach to the new season.
2023-08-27 04:16
NFL Rumors: Josh Jacobs won’t follow the Jonathan Taylor trade route
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2023-08-27 03:57
NBA rumors: Giannis won’t extend with Bucks, Dillon Brooks’ delusions, Lillard silent on Blazers
The latest slate of NBA rumors involves Dillon Brooks' continued delusions, Giannis warning the Bucks, and Lillard avoiding the Blazers in conversation.
2023-08-27 03:52
Full list of Arizona Diamondback retired numbers -- and when they were retired
Every team has that player or players that have made a significant impact on the franchise or have been a massive piece of what they need to win it all. Arizona Diamondbacks are no different.
2023-08-27 03:20
