Soccer

Dion Dublin believes Pep Guardiola is fireproof despite Man City slump

City have won just one of their last nine games.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is currently enduring his toughest spell
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is currently enduring his toughest spell (Adam Davy/PA)
By Jonathan Veal, PA

Former England international Dion Dublin says Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola remains fireproof even if his side’s slump continues.

City’s season has fallen in on its self in recent weeks, winning just one of their last nine games, which included a sequence of five successive defeats.

They look to be out of the Premier League title race already while also being far from certain to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League ahead of Wednesday’s tie at Juventus.

That run of form is unprecedented under Guardiola, who has said that he will not work in club management again after City.

But Dublin does not expect him to be putting his feet up any time soon.

“That is never going to happen, they are not going to get rid of him, I think he has got a bit in the bank to be honest,” Dublin told the PA news agency.

“Pep will leave the club when he wants to leave the club. Even if they lose another five or six games, it still wouldn’t change anything, in my opinion.

“They will turn it around, I don’t know when they are going to do it, but they are too good, he’s too good and they have too good players. We shouldn’t look into it too deeply.

Dion Dublin is involved in Chase’s coaching programme
Dion Dublin is involved in Chase’s coaching programme

“Everybody is surprised by City and their slump. I don’t think it’s going to continue, they will go on a run of winning games at some point, they are too good to continue in this state.”

Dublin is working on the Chase Football Coaching Programme, which provides fully-funded access to coaching qualifications for individuals from low-income backgrounds across the United Kingdom.

“It’s something that is just vital that everyone gets the same opportunities and even if you don’t have the finances, the door is ajar for you if you want to achieve your goals,” he added.

“It doesn’t matter what level you want to coach at, they are given the opportunity, a huge opportunity which wouldn’t be there.

“You have to start somewhere and you find your level when you work your way up the ladder.

“Just giving people the chance is what it’s about and then it’s up to the people involved who want to get into coaching.”

:: For more information on the Chase Football Coaching Programme, visit https://www.chase.co.uk/gb/en/chase-football-coaching-programme/