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Thiago Siva might currently be playing for Chelsea, but he wasn’t always a big fan of the Premier League. However, his perception of the league changed when Pep Guardiola took charge of Manchester City. According to Silva, the Spanish manager’s arrival “developed the English League” and even inspired him to join Chelsea.

Under Guardiola’s leadership, Manchester City achieved unprecedented success. They won their first treble, their first Champions League title, and most recently, their first Club World Cup. While the 52-year-old’s impact on the Cityzens is undeniable, Silva believes that his effect on the entire league is equally significant as he changed the playstyle of the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola unknowingly inspired Thiago Silva to join Chelsea

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In a recent interview with ESPN, Silva took the time to praise Guardiola, whom he regards as a revolutionary coach. He admitted, “I did not have that great desire before, and I was not interested in playing in the English Premier League, and I did not expect to play in it one day.”

The Brazillian defender attributed the transformation of the PL to Pep Guardiola’s approach to the game. He explained, “They only relied on long balls, but the one who developed the English League was Guardiola, and they started playing ball on the ground.” Silva also acknowledged that while not all coaches imitate his style, each coach has his unique approach to the game.

The 39-year-old further added, “His own way, so when I received Chelsea’s offer I didn’t think twice.”  For Silva, he saw the opportunity to be a part of a club that changed due to the ex-Barca manager’s soccer philosophy. Now, let’s turn our attention to what players under Pep Guardiola have to say about their esteemed coach.

Bernardo Silva is enjoying his time at Manchester City

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During a recent interview, Bernardo Silva, the Portuguese midfielder, expressed his gratitude for the guidance and mentorship he has received from Pep Guardiola. Silva shared that learning from the legendary coach has always been a lifelong aspiration of his and added, “Being able to learn from him is undoubtedly something I’ll never stop wanting to enjoy.”

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Despite occasionally also being on the receiving end of intense yelling from the Man City coach Silva remains unfazed by it. This serves as a testament to the significant impact that Guardiola has had on both his own players and those of rival teams.

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