ENGLISH football would “always be grateful” for the influence of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, ex-England striker Gary Lineker says.

City were confirmed as Premier League champions on Sunday after Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to West Brom.
It is their third title in seven seasons but their first under the Spaniard in his second season at City.

“I think unquestionably Guardiola will influence the style of football in this country,” Lineker said.
“Not only is it pleasing on the eye, but it’s bringing success.
“We all know that success is copied and imitated by other teams, other coaches and children playing the game.”

Guardiola became City’s manager in 2016 having led Bayern Munich to three successive Bundesliga titles. He was previously Barcelona’s most successful manager with 14 trophies in four years.

LINEKER ON CITY’S SEASON
I think Manchester City’s season has been phenomenal in many ways, not just the emphatic nature of winning the league, but the style of football that they have played has been so joyous at times.

It’s been a breath of fresh air in many ways – attacking, open, adventurous football with really good players.
Of course it’s been a successful season, because they’ve won the league and won it in style and they’ve won it comfortably.

It’s too early to assess the magnitude of the achievement of this Manchester City side. They’ve got to go on and probably win the Champions League at some point to compare them to the great Liverpool sides and the great Manchester United sides that we’ve seen.
It’s early now but you’ve got to start somewhere, and in terms of their own levels of greatness, they’ve started very well.

LINEKER ON GUARDIOLA
The seriously interesting thing is how Guardiola has improved so many footballers. Not footballers who are really young, but players like Kyle Walker, Fernandinho and even Kevin de Bruyne.
I think that’s where his levels of management are above everyone else’s, certainly this season.

I think Guardiola is great for the English game. So many people said he couldn’t play his style of football in the Premier League.

I’m glad he’s stuck with his principles, that he came through and his style of football which he has not only proved you can win with, but it’s so beautiful to watch at times.
We’ll always be grateful in the Premier League and English football because we all know that success is copied and imitated by other teams, other coaches and children playing the game.

I think unquestionably Guardiola will influence the style of football in this country, because not only is it pleasing on the eye, but it’s bringing success. (BBC Sport)