Patrick Vieira said “We haven’t spoken for quite a long time but yes he was really helpful. When I was doing my badges and he was at Bayern Munich, he opened the doors for me to look in at the full setup and spent some time with me after training and in the evening and that just shows the kind of person he is. It was a privilege for me to spend that quality time with him.”
Guardiola was equally enamoured when asked about his time spent with Vieira on Friday, with the Spaniard praising the work he has done at Palace this season.
Patrick Vieira said “It will be an honour to see Patrick again here in Manchester. When a person like Patrick came to Munich, you cannot imagine what an honour it was for me. This type of player and person – what he has done for world football – not just on the pitch, it’s a privilege and an honour. He has changed the dynamics and the way Palace play. They’ve always had really good players and it will be a real test. I am looking forward to seeing him.”
Vieira began his coaching journey at City after retiring from playing in 2011 where he was appointed as head of the club’s Elite Development Squad. At the same time, Guardiola was managing Bayern Munich, where he would go on to win seven titles in three seasons, including a trio of Bundesliga crowns. During this spell, Vieira was invited by Guardiola to join him at the club’s Sabener Strasse training ground, where the Frenchman got the chance to see his work up close. The pair were then reunited in both New York and Manchester later on in their careers, with Vieira returning from his first managerial job in the USA to again observe Guardiola’s work as City boss. Now, ahead of their next reunion in the Premier League on Saturday, Vieira was asked how much those moments meant to him as he grew into becoming a manager.
Vieira and Guardiola will be reunited tomorrow when their teams lock horns at the Etihad at 3pm. Palace currently have no fresh injury concerns for the clash, with Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson (both Achilles injuries) still unavailable for selection.
