When Pep Guardiola was at Barcelona his team once put eight goals past Almeria - and got Juanma Lillo the sack. Yet when Mikel Arteta walked out on Manchester City to become Arsenal boss last year it was to Lillo that Guardiola turned to become his assistant.
It should worry Arteta when the Premier League leaders travel to the Etihad, that Guardiola believes he's now an even better manager.
And Lillo, a 55-year-old Spaniard who took his first coaching role on leaving High School, has been the key to unlocking more of his genius. “Juanma is a friend of mine from a long time ago and finally we can work together,” said Guardiola. “It was a dream – and now the dream has come true.
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