After Spending 8 Years With Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, 60YO Exec Takes Saudi Pathway to Join Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq

In the last 7 years, Pep has taken Manchester City to unachievable heights, along with others associated with the club. The staff, the management, and the players everyone had their role to play. After 8 years of being with the club, an important part of the management, one of the city’s executives will bid adieu to the Blues.

During these 8 seasons, the City has become a top hub for European talents. Many top talents have been signed by the club, most notably Erling Haaland, Josko Gvardiol, Jack Grealish, and many more. With the departure of their executive, the City will have another front to focus on.

Manchester City bids adieu to their executive

Soccer is a complicated sport. Winning trophies doesn’t only require big talents but a good overall ecosystem. This ecosystem runs on the hard work of several people. One such important part, the Director of Football Development, is set to depart Manchester City soon.

Mark Allen, Director of Football Development at Manchester City, has signed with Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq. The 60-year-old former city executive is tasked to build the recruitment center for the club.

Al Ettifaq looks to be sorting its internal structure to have a better hold on the soccer culture at the club. Al Ettifaq has mostly invested in experience. This can be seen in their moves to sign Steven Gerrard and former Liverpool club captain Jordan Henderson, who are both laced with experience.

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Pep has other major concerns as well in different aspects that loom over his mind. The City manager has been complaining about the intense scheduling of fixtures since Kevin De Bruyne’s injury. The Spanish manager recently asked the players to take a step.

Pep Guardiola guides the player about the only way

Pep Guardiola has been fervently advocating for players to assert themselves in the face of mounting challenges. The challenge here is to make UEFA and FIFA bend their rules and focus on player’s health. Pep’s counsel extends to encouraging players to voice their grievances and urge them to demand change collectively. The Spaniard believes that if players unite and unequivocally declare “STOP,” it could pave the way for significant transformations in football’s demanding schedules.

As Manchester City navigates the FIFA Club World Cup and the potential fixture congestion, Pep Guardiola’s guidance becomes increasingly relevant. The looming possibility of a Champions League group fixture on December 12 or 13 threatens to disrupt their Premier League campaign. Consequently, matches against Crystal Palace and Brentford may face postponement.

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In the midst of these scheduling dilemmas, Pep Guardiola remains a staunch advocate for player empowerment. His call for players to stand up for themselves not only highlights the current issues but also points to a potential path forward. Do you think UEFA and FIFA should focus more on the player’s well-being? Let us know in the comments below.