Swansea’s Rangel a Guardiola fan

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City look to be sweeping all before them in the Premier League and Swansea City’s Spanish right-back Angel Rangel clearly admires his countryman.

Former Swansea manager Michael Laudrup starred for Barcelona in the late 80s and early 90s, crossing paths with a young Guardiola as he made his way into the Catalan Giants’ starting line-up.

And Laudrup – who passed the message on to 33-year-old Rangel in his time in charge at the Liberty Stadium – said it was clear from a young age that Guardiola was destined to become a manager.

“Michael Laudrup told me about how he was one of the senior players, aged 29 or 30, and Guardiola was just a youngster,” Rangel explained.

(Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

“But Laudrup said Guardiola already had the character of the manager.

“He used to tell Laudrup to keep it simple. Michael Laudrup could do the most difficult things in the world with the ball, but Guardiola was telling him to keep it simple!

“I think you could see that character you need to be a coach was already there.”

The 11-man style that cost Joe Hart his place in the City starting-XI is something else that Rangel feels sets Guardiola’s sides apart.

“In his Barcelona and Bayern Munich sides, the goalkeepers were like sweepers both on and off the ball,” Rangel said.

“It is not something we have seen a lot of in the Premier League. It’s like having 11 outfield players.”