Manchester City's Right Decision To Recruit Hugo Viana As Begiristain's Substitute

Txiki Begiristain (left) supports Hugo Viana to become Director of Manchester City Football (doc. Manchester City).

JAKARTA - Manchester City made the right decision when signing Hugo Viana as Director of Football replacing Txiki Begiristain.

Begiristain has left the Etihad Stadium after 13 years, where he helped build the Manchester City squad that won the trebles in 2023 and four consecutive Premier League titles between 2021 and 2024.

The task of recruiting players is now up to Viana this summer after his arrival from Sporting CP.

Begiristain also supports the former Portugal international to continue his work smoothly.

"He's been the first choice. I could say he's pretty close to what I feel. He's very calm, but also very firm."

"In the winter transfer market, he can't be here, he's been in Sporting. However, I've seen him in recent months, the criteria he has and the way he views football."

"Decisions about players, I think, we are in the right hands," said Begiristain as quoted by ESPN.

Although Pep Guardiola has taken most of the praise for the era of Manchester City's dominance in the Premier League, it is actually Begiristain who helps unite every great team.

He arrived in 2012 when Roberto Mancini still coached and won his first title under Manuel Pellegrini in 2014.

Begiristain was key in pulling Guardiola to Manchester City in 2016 after working together during the successful period at Barcelona.

"We played together. We've shared a lot. We then started working together. It helps when I'm here and he's available and coming here."

"You have to understand your role and then you also have to understand that he is the one. He is the leader in this building and he has to look like this."

"You have to help him stay calm and show him that you are capable, with the club structure, to help him build the best team in the world."

"Once you have the best team in the world, he will make him play the best football in the world. With him, you can get both."

"With the others, you can have the best team in the world, but you don't play the best football."

"You have to have trust and of course, it helps because we are friends, and we play together," said Begiristain.