Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has insisted that Manchester City have a great chance of winning the Champions League next season.
The Frenchman was discussing the club’s ambitions after it was revealed that Pep Guardiola would be replacing Manuel Pellegrini in the summer.
Henry played under the Spanish tactician during his time with Barcelona, and he is confident that the 45-year-old will bring that same level of success to the Etihad as of next year and believes that means City will be a force both domestically and in Europe.
“People always said it was an easy job at Barcelona, it wasn’t an easy job at Barcelona, trust me,” Henry told Sky Sports News HQ.
“After my first season [the season before Guardiola took charge], it was very difficult, the fans were really unhappy because we did not win everything.
“But he was from there and people were patient with him. But I can assure you that what he brought was outstanding. Now to compare the two teams – he is going to come to a team that can play already with players that have won stuff with experience.
“So it’s pretty similar. The thing that I hope he can do if Man City does not win the Champions League this year, I think in the three years they will be very close to winning it.”
Meanwhile, Henry also expects his former boss not to solely focus on buying the best players available with the significant resources at his disposal. As he has shown during in his spells with Barca and Bayern Munich, Guardiola is keen to promote from within, and coupled with City’s impressive youth development scheme and academy, he will arguably relish the chance to bring players through.
On the other side of the Manchester divide, Henry is unsure as to how Manchester United will react to the news and whether or not they will keep their faith in Louis van Gaal.
The Frenchman suggested that the likes of Ryan Giggs, Jose Mourinho and Laurent Blanc could all come into consideration, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Red Devils make a change.