November 26, 2024

Stuart Webber welcomes Daniel Farke to Norwich City. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY

Scotland’s Angus Gunn on Man City’s Pep Guardiola influence

Norwich City may never be able to tempt Pep Guardiola to Carrow Road as head coach, but there’s still benefiting from his management skills.

Norwich City forward Christos Tzolis to stay with Fortuna Dusseldorf - BBC  Sport

The 28-year-old, who is expected to be included in Scotland’s final squad for Euro 2024 when it’s announced today, has now spoken about the impact Guardiola’s coaching had on his career.

“When Pep did come in, it was in the pre-season,” he recalled. “He pulled me into the office and showed me clips of my games in the development squad, saying this was what he wanted from his goalkeepers.

“For me to know that he saw clips of me when he wasn’t even here yet was pretty cool. It was surreal really, it was crazy. He obviously came in and I was on the pre-season tour with them and it was actually before the first pre-season game.

Fortuna Dusseldorf To Keep Hold Norwich Loan Star Christos Tzolis

“It was over in China and we played Dortmund. I ended up playing the second half in that game and I saved three penalties in the shootout afterwards.

“I don’t know if that has anything to do with it but those kind of experiences for me were really cool and ones I look back on with really good memories.”

It’s now been six years since Gunn left The Etihad permanently, but he says his experience there still plays a part in his style.

“I think [Manchester City have] definitely [impacted the way I look at football],” he said, speaking to official Citizens channels.

Canary Cast on X: "Christos Tzolis is the first Norwich City player to  score two and assist two in a single game for the club this century😮 #ncfc  https://t.co/axLWAQnKVz" / X

“Growing up, part of my sort of youth career there definitely how, in terms of me and how I look at the gamed and liked the game to be played.

“At the same time, when you step into first-team, men’s football you’ve got to be adaptable as well because not every manager is the same and there’s different styles of play that people want.

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