Will Kelechi Iheanacho Play Under Pep Guardiola?

                

The arrival of Pep Guardiola is no doubt a boost for Manchester City and management will give all the necessary support needed for him to do well in his job. Pep is arguably one of the world's greatest coach his pedigree in Barcelona and Bayern speaks for him, having played in all semifinals of the champions league since his coaching career started.

Kelechi Iheanacho the young Nigerian wonder kid, will for the first time in his football career play under one of the world's biggest coach. He has proved himself at the age-grade level in UAE 2013, where he won the MVP award and eventually found his way to Manchester City. The 19 years old will have to do all he can to face the challenge of impressing his new boss who is known as an accomplished football manager.
    
First, Manchester City key players are ageing, the likes of Yaya Toure, Pablo Zableta, David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Aleksandr Kolarov to mention but a few are either close to 30 or above it, this means so much for the coach who is coming in, as he has to work hard to build a formidable Manchester City team that could match the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona and so on with what is available. Kelechi Iheanacho happens to be one of the youngest players available but he will really have to impress his new manager to get into the main team.

Pep Guardiola is an attacking coach and has the qualities to get the best out of any good attacker, his role with the like Pedro Rodriguez in Barcelona is a clear evidence, where he put confidence in the forward player and got the best of him. Pedro was part of the Barcelona team that achieved success with Pep during his sojourn in Barcelona. For Thiago Alcantara, Pep gave him the needed confidence in Barcelona, and moved along with him to Bayern Munich when he went to have a stint there.
               Guardiola giving instruction to Pedro


Pep is a manager that adopts the 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 formation, this style of play requires players that are skillful and attacking-minded in all the department on the field of play. Players that fits into this style of play most be able to hold unto the ball, dribble, be able to handle one-on-one situation as well as know when it is right to shoot. Iheanacho must make himself available to change to this style of play and improve on his use of both legs, as this happens to be one thing Lionel Messi was able to do under Pep Guardiola.

Interestingly, when John Mikel Obi was converted into a defensive midfielder by Jose Mourinho, Nigerians immediately concluded that Mourinho killed Mikel's style of play. Mourinho is a more defensive coach, while case here is the reverse. Pep loves to attack, dribble and knock the ball around. His arms will be wide open for Iheanacho who will no doubt be expected to rise to the occasion and become the first Nigerian to contend for the Ballon D'or in the nearest future.