Press conference

‘Guardiola has had an enormous influence on me’

Pep Mikel

Mikel Arteta spent three years working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City - and admits his compatriot has had an “enormous influence” on him.

Our head coach will go up against his former club on Wednesday night, but he has nothing but respect for his opposite number.

“He was an influence for me since I was 15 years old and we met at Barcelona, both as players,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference.

“In my coaching career and my personal life, he has an enormous influence. If I have to talk about the person he is, his values, the way he has treated me and how he deals with the players and the staff around him, it’s phenomenal.

“As a coach, I have learned so much from him, we have spent some amazing moments together, some difficult ones as well, but the experience next to him has been incredible.”