Manchester City need three exceptional players to transform their team, feels Xavi
Barcelona legend and Al Sadd manager Xavi Hernandez has revealed that in order to improve, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola need three exceptional players. The Cityzens were knocked out in spectacular fashion from the Champions League by Olympique Lyon and finished second in the Premier League.
Despite being the bookmakers' favourites to lift the Champions League trophy for their first time, Manchester City will instead have to watch as somebody else do it. The Cityzens, last week, were unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament by Olympique Lyon with the French side walking out as 3-1 winners and that saw a lot of criticism come their way. The loss has seen many question Pep Guardiola’s ability as a manager in Europe’s biggest club competition with many even questioning the players he has at his disposal.
However, while the Cityzens have already started to bolster their squad with the additions of Ferran Torres and Nathan Ake, Barcelona legend Xavi believes the club need more. The Al Sadd manager, who spent years training under Guardiola, admitted that Manchester City need to sign "three exceptional players" to win the Champions League. He further added that City doesn't need an overhaul but to sign those three players, they will need to part with a lot of money.
“To not win one of the Premier League or Champions League will be a big disappointment for Pep - those are the two he would have wanted. The Champions League even more so because Manchester City have never won it. They have some very good players, of course they do, but Pep needs to be supported in the transfer market this summer. It is not that they need many players - just three exceptional ones. We know that will not come cheap, but I would like to see Pep given the money to rebuild,” Xavi said, reported Goal.
While Manchester City have already started adding to their team, the Cityzens have lost Leroy Sane and David Silva with the latter signing for Real Sociedad on a free-transfer. It has many people concerned as to how the club will replace the legendary midfielder, especially after the influence Silva had on Guardiola’s team over the last few years. Xavi admitted that it will be tough and added that City also needs to look towards replacing Sergio Aguero as well.
“They have got to the stage that you see at all big clubs, where some very important players are coming to the end of their careers. Kompany was one of the best central defenders in the world and there are maybe one or two defenders in the world that can replace him at his peak.
“For Silva it is the same. He is a once-in-a-generation player and it is going to cost big money to try and replace him. Aguero has one season left. How many strikers in Europe are there that will guarantee you 30 goals a season like he has for so long?” he added.