Man Utd star Ander Herrera sends message to incoming Man City boss Pep Guardiola

ANDER HERRERA has warned incoming Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola that he will be under intense pressure to deliver at the Etihad.

 

Ander Herrera has scored two goals in 17 Premier League appearances for Manchester United this term

 

The Manchester United midfielder also outlined he’s ready for the fight to maintain the Red Devils’ traditional stranglehold over their noisy neighbours.

City confirmed the appointment of Guardiola on Monday, with current boss Manuel Pellegrini stepping down at the end of the season when his contract expires.

United, who currently sit seven points behind City, were linked with a move for the Bayern Munich coach but lost the battle for his signature, as did Chelsea.

Guardiola is focusing on finishing strong in Germany with a Champions League trophy the ultimate goal, but Herrera indicated there will be little respite when he arrives in Manchester.

 

Despite the wealth at City and array of talent in the squad, Pellegrini’s side have never progressed beyond the last 16 of the Champions League.

That may change this term though, with City facing Dynamo Kiev later this month, following rivals United’s exit at the group stage, resulting in Europa League football.

However, Herrera is pessimistic about Guardiola working wonders at City immediately to help the club leapfrog United in the footballing pecking order.

“I’m looking at it from a positive point of view. They’re going to make us do better ourselves. Historically, City have always been below United, and this gives them a psychological advantage, because they are coming from behind,” Herrera told Spanish newspaper Marca.

“With Pep, with the multi-million pound outlay they’ve made and will spend with him, I expect the pressure to be higher for them.

 

“The fans are going to expect a lot: that they win the Premier League with a 10-point gap, that they reach the Champions League final.

“Pep seems a phenomenon to me. His teams always entertain me a lot, but at City the expectations will be very big.”

Herrera’s also admitted he would like to return to Spain with former club Real Zaragoza.

The 26-year-old has featured only sparingly under Louis van Gaal this season and speculation has increased surrounding the centre-midfielder’s future.